2025-2026 Kinky Boots Tour - Cast Updates

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 11/15/25 at 12:24pm

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.

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 11/15/25 at 2:17pm

Wow, I wonder what happened. Justin was on TV three days ago talking about this tour. 

[quizqueen101]

Posted: 11/15/25 at 2:20pm

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

[GottaGetAGimmick420]

Posted: 11/15/25 at 3:39pm

They're currently looking for another replacement (it's on the audition boards) for the US

[Scarlet Leigh]

Posted: 11/16/25 at 10:33am

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.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 11/16/25 at 10:36am

All this drama for a non-equity tour that probably shouldn't be going out on the road again.

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 11/16/25 at 11:57am

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.