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'Drag Race' Royalty Onya Nurve Exits 'Kinky Boots' Tour—Scarlett D. Von’Du Laces Up the Iconic Heels
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The Kinky Boots tour was supposed to be a glittering victory lap for Onya Nurve, fresh off her RuPaul’s Drag Race season 17 win—a moment where drag stardom and Broadway dreams collided in a burst of sequins and self-affirmation. Announced in July and celebrated with a signature Onya exclamation , Nurve’s casting as Lola was billed as a queer full-circle fantasy come true: a drag superstar stepping into one of modern theater’s most iconic, unapologetically queer roles .
But just days before the first audience would see Onya in those famous red boots, the tour made a quiet update to its website, removing Nurve’s name from the cast list. Posts featuring her vanished from official socials, and fans noticed the sudden switch. The speculation machine revved up across X and Reddit, where the r/rupaulsdragrace thread “What’s going on with Onya Nurve and the Kinky Boots Tour? ” became a hotspot for Drag Race sleuths .
When reached for comment, the Kinky Boots production confirmed: “On behalf of Kinky Boots on Tour, Justin Woody is no longer with the company. We are thrilled to share that Omari Collins will step into the role of Lola. We wish Justin well, and we look forward to bringing Kinky Boots to theatres all across the country” .
No reason was given for Nurve’s abrupt departure, but the tour’s spirit—much like Lola herself—remains unbroken.
For many LGBTQ+ fans, Onya Nurve’s casting was more than just another gig—it was a symbolic passing of the torch. Drag queens have long been the lifeblood of queer nightlife and culture, but seeing a Drag Race winner headline a major North American musical tour felt like a next-level affirmation. In her own words, Nurve called it “a full circle moment… so excited to continue to learn, grow, and take in every single thing this new chapter has to offer me” .
The role of Lola, after all, is more than a showstopper—it’s a cultural beacon. Kinky Boots has always been about the power of being fabulous in a world that often demands conformity. For queer people, the narrative is intimately familiar: “You change the world when you change your mind. ” When a drag queen takes center stage as Lola, she’s not just performing; she’s embodying resistance, resilience, and radical self-acceptance.
The show must go on—literally. Enter Omari Collins, known in the drag world as Scarlett D. Von’Du. Collins was originally cast as one of Lola’s Angels, the show’s high-heeled, high-octane chorus of drag royalty. In a jubilant post, Collins wrote, “THE BOOTS ARE BACK BABY! !! ! I am officially hitting the road with @kinkybootsontour! Catch us in a city near you! !” .
Scarlett D. Von’Du is no stranger to the spotlight. With a legacy rooted in both drag pageantry and musical theater, Collins brings a fresh energy and authenticity to Lola. The casting switch isn’t just a backstage shuffle—it’s a reminder that queer artistry is always evolving, always ready to take unexpected turns. Representation, like drag itself, is about reinvention and showing up for the community, even when the script changes at the last minute.
While fans and theater-watchers may never know the full story behind Onya’s sudden exit—production reps and Nurve’s team have remained tight-lipped—the moment has sparked conversations across queer media and social channels. Is this another case of backstage drama, or something more complicated? For now, only those inside the dressing room know for sure .
What’s undeniable is how quickly the news traveled—reflecting the intense investment queer audiences have in seeing themselves on stage, and in rooting for their champions. Kinky Boots isn’t just a musical; it’s a queer touchstone, and every casting, understudy, or star turn matters deeply to those who rarely see their stories told so boldly.
The new tour, kicking off November 19 in Elmira, NY, will visit over 60 cities, bringing Lola’s message of love, defiance, and self-creation to audiences from Boston to San Jose to London, Ontario . Whether you’re a longtime fan or a first-time theatergoer, you’re invited to witness queer history—one high-heeled step at a time.
For the LGBTQ+ community, every public win—and every backstage loss—resonates far beyond the theater. Queer roles played by queer artists matter; they challenge norms, inspire new generations, and remind us of the radical potential of visibility. Onya Nurve’s journey from Drag Race runway to Kinky Boots stage, even if cut short, is still a triumph. And Scarlett D. Von’Du’s leap into the lead cements the show’s legacy as a home for queer excellence and surprise.
As the curtain rises in Elmira and Lola belts out her first anthem, one thing is certain: the queer show goes on, and every cast change is just another chance for reinvention. Drag—like life—is all about the next act.
