Its 2013 ????

[Bunes]

Posted: 11/29/13 at 5:39am

WOW some Americans are idiots and big headed. Kinky Boots is about tolerance what is such a bad message for kids about that??? Shouldn't we as people be more tolerant to one another and more supportive of people who are different to us. After all we are ALL different. I cannot people thought a show about tolerance is bad thing to promote to America.

[blaxx]

Posted: 11/29/13 at 5:41am

It always helps to, you know, give a reference or context to what you're talking about.

A link helps with that.

[Bunes]

Posted: 11/29/13 at 5:43am

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Twitter-Erupts-Over-KINKY-BOOTS-Performance-on-NBC-20131128 I am sorry as a person who is disabled it makes my heart sink when people do not accept people for who they are.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/29/13 at 7:11am

But Lola is straight.

Obviously.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 11/29/13 at 9:18am

It does say there were also "tons and tons" of positive tweets - but there are always intolerant people in the world who are more than willing to share their feelings...often about things they know nothing about. I am not really hearing anything newsworthy or surprising here.

I am sure Macy's expected this as well. Good for them for going forward with it. Suddenly shopping at Macy's sounds somewhat more appealing (but not on Black Friday - no one could get me to buck those crowds!).

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 11/30/13 at 8:35am

Bunes- Yes, accepting people as they are is a wonderful message for children. That being said, trying to explain to a 5-6 yr old why a man is wearing women's boots is not something that most parents want to get into while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving parade. I have not checked it for sure but I bet the rating advisory of "Kinky Boots" is for children over the age of 12 at least. I feel this is a case where "Kinky Boots" needed to know it's audience and show something else from the show.

[Bunes]

Posted: 11/30/13 at 9:08am

yankeefan touché

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 11/30/13 at 11:36am

I agree that Kinky Boots does not always translate well to other mediums. That being said...

"trying to explain to a 5-6 yr old why a man is wearing women's boots is not something that most parents want to get into while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving parade."

Hmmm....Kid.."Mommy, why is that man wearing women's boots?" Answer: Me.."It's a costume for a show he is in." Response. "Oh ok."

I am not sure what the advisory is for Kinky Boots but lots of kids are there without much issue. It's just a fun show.

I saw of posted picture of two of the kids from Annie dressed up for Halloween as Charlie and Lola. Tyrah wore a red dress and red boots and Brooklyn wore Charlie's shirt and tie, his boxers and a pair of red boots. I think they were 9 & 8 years old...and were adorable. They didn't see the "weird" - they saw the fun and love. You see what you look for it seems.

Updated On: 11/30/13 at 11:36 AM

[theatregeek6]

Posted: 11/30/13 at 12:21pm

Yankeefan7

With all due respect you explain it is a costume. Like why were there 4 Matilda's.? Why is Trunchball a man?

I am fairly conservative and raised 2 theatre loving children. Parents who want advisories on everything are shirking their duties to raise well rounded adults. Again JMHO

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 11/30/13 at 12:24pm

2014 is right around the corner. Maybe everyone will be more tolerant in the upcoming year.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 11/30/13 at 4:23pm

Theatregeek6 - Absolutlely you could say it is a costume and just as likely IMO a 5-6 yr old would ask why a man is wearing a women's costume. I am sure there are some 5-6 yr olds that would say ok and let it go also but most kids like to keep asking questions.

My wife and I have raised two daughters who are theatre geeks and are currently professionals in the arts (Dance). We made sure when we took them to Broadway when they were young that the show was appropiate for their age at the time and to be prepared for any questions they might have about content of show. IMO - the Broadway shows for the Macy's Thanksgiving parade should be family friendly due to the age of people watching the show. Finally, I plan on seeing "Kinky Boots" in 2014 and am quite sure I will really enjoy it.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 11/30/13 at 4:31pm

"I am not sure what the advisory is for Kinky Boots but lots of kids are there without much issue. It's just a fun show. "

I am sure it is a fun show and plan to see it next year but I really doubt there are many 5-6 yr olds in the audience. Plus, there is a difference when you take a child to a Broadway show because you can do research about the content of the show. It is a bit harder to do that when a show is on the Macy's Thanksgiving parade because they are only doing a short piece of the show.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 11/30/13 at 4:37pm

"Absolutlely you could say it is a costume and just as likely IMO a 5-6 yr old would ask why a man is wearing a women's costume. I am sure there are some 5-6 yr olds that would say ok and let it go also but most kids like to keep asking questions."

Right. So, why is this situation more problematic than any other time a kid asks "Why?" over and over?

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 11/30/13 at 5:03pm

"I really doubt there are many 5-6 yr olds in the audience."

I doubt there are many 5-6 year olds in the audience of FIRST DATE and yet they performed without any hullabaloo surrounding their performance. They even use the word "F*CK" in that show!

[Bwaydide92]

Posted: 11/30/13 at 5:20pm

The fact that Kinky Boots was allowed to perform at the parade shows that the FCC approved of everything that they were doing. There was no cussing, nudity, or violence that needed to be censored. Do you really think that Macy's, NBC, or the FCC would really put their own necks on the line for a Broadway show? No they wouldn't. If people didn't agree with or like what was performed than that's their own personal problem.

Yankeefan7. Also, Macy's and NBC announce who is performing at the parade well before Thanksgiving, so home viewers still have plenty of time to research. If they chose not to then that's not anyone else's responsibility. And I don't think that a show about a drag queen with a posse of drag queens at her disposal would really be able to pick a different part of the show that was just as "offensive".


And this is not directed to any individual but:

If Macy's did have Kinky Boots perform something without anyone in drag then they might as well have not had Motown perform at all. Remember there was a time when people didn't want to see Black people on television at all. Especially not a situation in which they were being celebrated.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 11/30/13 at 6:42pm

"I really doubt there are many 5-6 yr olds in the audience."

There are more kids there than you would think. And obviously those parents chose to allow their children to see the show. I doubt anyone went in blindly.

But I still say it's more of a family show than one might think. It's not a story about "drag queens". It happens to have drag queens in the show but in a sense only to illustrate a point. You have a "regular working class guy" and he seems very different than a more "out there" character, ie. say a drag queen but when they both sit down and talk, they realize they have a lot more in common they they ever realized. And they become friends as they help each other in ways they didn't even expect.

Should I be upset about the costumes? You see more skin on Dancing with the Stars. Should I be upset that men are dressed as women? If so, it's a good think Ms. Trunchbull was not showcased in the Matilda segment.

As a parent AND teacher, I welcome opportunities to discuss things with my kids = and I don't feel the need to go into any more depth than I feel they can handle. But I also don't expect children to ask questions at only appropriate times. They react to life as it happens..and if a question occurred during the parade so be it. The more you talk to your kids the better. And in a sense.. the more awkward the better. I can decide when it's appropriate to discuss something - but kids ask when they want to know. (Not that I am referring to you and your family Yankeefan - you sound like you had a good dialogue with your kids as they grew up. I am making a general comment.)

[Theater'sBestFriend]

Posted: 11/30/13 at 7:19pm

How dare Macy 's ruin the holiday with that revolting display of tolerance? The next thing you know, parents will have to explain to their children that some boys don't like football, while some girls do, and we shouldn't bully them. Then we're just a step away from a secular republic with tolerance for religious diversity. What kind of Thanksgiving message is that for children??

I fully appreciate parents' concerns about what their children see and how to explain it. But why do people think kids don't understand gender roles, and that some people may differ? Can someone explain to me why they think a child knowing that in a child's terms is dangerous? If you are concerned about kids, have you considered the possibility that NOT discussing that fact comfortably might harm them? Children notice who adults tolerate, and who they don't. Bullies choose their targets accordingly. Can any parent say for sure their child or their child's friend won't be gay or transgender? Isn't it nice to have an opportunity to teach acceptance and love for thy neighbor?

For those who fear that tolerance is not compatible with a moral message for kids, please consider this first (if you still feel there's a danger, you can simply switch your TV off, rather than censoring the rest of us):



Kinky Boots Sermon Updated On: 11/30/13 at 07:19 PM

Posted: 11/30/13 at 11:10pm

I wasn't offended in any way shape or form by the performance, but people must understand that some people (conservative or not) are immensely offended by anything that isn't their definition of "normal" and like to simply pretend it doesn't exist.

That being said, why would they perform the Finale? It seemed an odd choice to me for that reason alone.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 12/1/13 at 7:06am

"Yankeefan7. Also, Macy's and NBC announce who is performing at the parade well before Thanksgiving, so home viewers still have plenty of time to research. If they chose not to then that's not anyone else's responsibility. And I don't think that a show about a drag queen with a posse of drag queens at her disposal would really be able to pick a different part of the show that was just as "offensive".

Yes they do but not everyone is a Broadway fan that watches the parade and that may not be the first thing on their mind to check into. I have no problem with the show, I am just saying I can understand some parents not wanting to have to go into explaining to young childen why a man is wearing women's boots. If my children were still young and saw it would I have complained, the answer is no but once again that is me.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 12/1/13 at 7:11am

"Right. So, why is this situation more problematic than any other time a kid asks "Why?" over and over? "

I did not said it was problematic just stated that while watching a holiday parade a parent really may not be in the mood for questions about men wearing women's boots.

[Theater'sBestFriend]

Posted: 12/1/13 at 2:43pm

Nothing could be more important than protecting children. I truly appreciate and share the concern about that issue. My point is that if those criticizing the inclusion of Kinky Boots in the national parade broadcast want to raise that serious topic, they should argue it seriously. I saw nothing remotely harmful to children in it, and despite all the criticisms that were tweeted I heard no evidence that it was.

Quite on the contrary, I think the intolerant responses of the critics are far more likely to harm kids. Just consider: of the children who saw their parents disapprove of the inclusion of Lola and the Angels in the parade, how many will turn out to be LGBT as they grow up? How will their parents' condemnation affect how they feel about themselves down the road? And won't the rest be taught to fear and hate others simply for being different?

Protecting children is often invoked as a pretext by bigots. It was by Anita Bryant in the 1970's when she supported legislation against gay teachers, and it is by Vladimir Putin in Russia today in supporting nationalistic thuggery against LGBT people there. The horrors of prejudice are all too real. I hope those who are serious about protecting kids will seriously consider the harmful effect on them of needless fear and loathing. Kids are taught how to love and hate, and how to feel loved or hated.






Updated On: 12/1/13 at 02:43 PM

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 12/1/13 at 4:26pm

God forbid parents have to do something they don't feel like doing, especially taking an opportunity to teach their children a positive lesson about diversity.

Or maybe some people aren't cut out to be good parents.

Updated On: 12/2/13 at 04:26 PM

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 12/2/13 at 8:29am

"God forbid parents have to do something they don't feel like doing, especially taking an opportunity to teach their children a positive lesson about diversity."

Parents have plenty of time to teach children about diversity plus children live it every day they are in school. Children go to school with children of different races, gender and family situations. Do we really need the Macy's Thanksgiving parade to teach children about diversity?

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 12/2/13 at 8:51am

The parade isn't teaching children about diversity. The parade features performances from Broadway shows.

I can't figure out if you're just trolling. Are you really implying that the parade inconvenienced bigots?

Updated On: 12/2/13 at 08:51 AM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/2/13 at 9:18am

I think it's nice how a thread started by an idiot troll has instigated a dialogue in such important issues as this thread is bringing up.