2025-2026 Kinky Boots Tour - Cast Updates

The 2025-2026 Non-equity tour of Kinky Boots has suddenly removed Justin Woody (aka Onya Nurve) as Lola. The role will now be played by Omari Collins (aka Scarlett D. Von’Du). Onya Nurve is a drag superstar and won the 17th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. This will be Omari’s 7th production of Kinky Boots and they were initially cast as a Lola understudy.

The tour launches performances this coming Wednesday, November 19th in Elmira, NY.

Oh I’ve got my tickets to see it at the state theater of Nj in February 

OH there is tea on this one.... I just don't know how much to spill. ALLEGEDLY Justin/Onya was making some pretty big demands and threatened to quit if they were not met. So production said "bet" and cut them loose. There might [ALLEGEDLY] be more to and if so I'm sure that might bubble to the surface as well, but this all happened within the last like 72 hours so it was all a last minute breaking point.

Scarlet Leigh said: "OH there is tea on this one.... I just don't know how much to spill. ALLEGEDLY Justin/Onya was making some pretty big demands and threatened to quit if they were not met. So production said "bet" and cut them loose. There might [ALLEGEDLY] bemore to and ifso I'm sure that might bubble to the surface as well, but this all happened within the last like 72 hours so it was all a last minute breaking point."

Hmmm. Unfortunately I don’t doubt this but will wait to hear more/otherwise. Onya’s a drag race winner, who are known to have egos/attitudes/etc in relation to their specific industry, and Onya specifically has been caught with their foot in their mouth a few times already. They are a terrific performer and I hope whatever happened here is a lesson learned from. 
 

ACL2006 is so right. All the drama for a non-equity tour of a show from twelve years ago is something else. 

TheatreFan4 said: "So Onya is now saying that the large reason she was let go was because she was expected to do her own makeup. Is anyone aware if this is the whole truth to the situation. Also, does anyone if doing their own makeup was standard on the other tours of this show?"

I call Bull. If I remember correctly, Lola is a pretty basic beat by drag standards, unless they changed it.

Saw it today in Chicago. In better shape than expected. Were the child actors removed for budgetary reasons? Was that a Stage 42 development? Also removed the oft-repeated “and those who’ve yet to make up their minds!” line. 
(edit: looked it up; changes WERE made by Harvey F for the move off-Broadway)

Updated On: 6/21/26 at 02:06 AM