Tyler Glenn of Neon Trees to Make Broadway Debut in KINKY BOOTS; Carrie St. Louis and J. Harrison Ghee to Join Cast

So excited to have Carrie St. Louis back on Broadway!

Always liked Neon Trees, but just saw it with Jake Shears a few weeks ago... so I'll be Kinkied out for a while.

I like Neon Trees but Tyler Glenn is.... not who I would've expected, even for a stunt casting. I'm intrigued, though. With the timing and everything, seems like this is trying to replicate Brendon Urie as Charlie from last summer? He did a whole lot for the show's grosses, iirc. Does Neon Trees have the kind of fanbase that Panic! at the Disco does?

Updated On: 4/11/18 at 06:39 PM

I wonder if Tyler Glenn slipped in on Sunday to take some of the pressure off. Saw this tonight and the good news, is that for a show running this long, it's in surprisingly good shape.

The better news is that J. Harrison Ghee is a star in every sense of the word. I've said before that I think he's better than Billy Porter (whom I love). I've seen him 3 times in Kinky Boots and once at PaperMill in The Sting and he is an exceptional talent.

Carrie St. Louis is great and really nails The History of Wrong Guys.

My companion and I wonder about one Angel, in particular, who has seemed bored, every time we've seen the show. Is this an acting choice or is this individual just bored and sloppy? It's very noticeable and a little odd. The rest of the cast still seems to be having fun, though.

As for Mr Glenn, I'm entirely unfamiliar with Neon Trees, so he is new to me. I can only say he's okay, clearly nervous, but not a train-wreck, by any stretch. Not a super actor and kind of stiff, which I think will loosen up, the more he performs. Jake Shears had a nerves issue, but after about 10 minutes, settled in and seemed to just have fun. That didn't happen tonight.

My big issue with Mr. Glenn is his ability to sing the score. He can obviously sing and his lower register is totally fine. His upper register is an issue and he can't hit some of the notes. He performs more like a rock concert than a character. Soul Of A Man was fine, if I had been at a concert, but he's not a character singing the song. Even Jake Shears (and the two are very different) sang the song in character. It takes you, momentarily out of the show, but it's not a bad performance. I think he'll get better, but will remain overshadowed by his castmates.

I kept thinking if they want to stunt cast, in this "concert" vein, just pay Patrick Stump whatever he demands and put him in the show for three months.

Still an enjoyable, fun night and Mr. Ghee is something very special.