"You identify with these characters so easily whether you are someone who struggles with your life or with something else," Bordelon adds. "We are in our 20s and the question we all ask ourselves is 'who am I?' The role, Charlie, also has the same issue about starting to pave his way and figuring out what he wants in his life."
For actor Jos N. Banks, playing Lola is his "dream role". He started with watching the musical and admiring everyone onstage, especially Billy Porter, who first played the role of Lola on Broadway and won the Best Actor at the Tony Awards.
It took Banks several attempts to join the musical before he was accepted three years ago.
"You feel loved and accepted in this musical. People belong to certain groups and we all need a place on this Earth. It's such a beautiful and powerful message delivered through the musical," Banks says. "People leave the show thinking that they can conquer the world and be their best selves because of Lola and her energy."
Banks, a Chicago native, started singing in choirs and tried out musical in high school. He suffered from stage fright and when he told his mother that he wanted to pursue a full-time acting career, she thought he was crazy.
He later studied musical theater and costume design at Millikin University, where his talent was not recognized and was subsequently released from his program.
"I believe in what I have and I wouldn't be here, performing worldwide, if I listened to the negative opinions about my talent," he says.
