Venezia: Getting a kick out of a photo shoot

Sometimes I feel like I’m on a strange reality show, only mine is in print, as I intertwine with the stories I write about.

Like a few months ago when I got a call asking if I’d be willing to be photographed in a pair of thigh-high, red, patent-leather, high-heel boots.

Sure, it’s not every day I get that kind of request, but I didn’t have to think twice about it.

I was in.

I had a pair just like that in my closet and was ready dig them out.

Why do I even own a pair of wildly inappropriate boots at my age? Let’s just say they’re from another time in my life — and that’s a whole other column.

But before you let your imagination run wild, the reason Tim Dunn, director of public relations for the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, called was a promotional campaign for the national touring company of the award-winning musical “Kinky Boots,” coming to the Costa Mesa from Dec. 11 to Jan. 11.

The boots I’d be wearing were an exact replica of those worn in the show.

So why ask me?

“We had the boots here for our season preview, and the press rep for the show said we could hold on to the pair for a bit if we wanted and use them to promote the show,” Dunn said.

“We thought it would be fun to get pictures of prominent Orange County people in the boots to build awareness and excitement for the show.”

I loved the idea, and had the privilege of being the first person shot in the boots.

Among the “Kinky Boot” wearers who are now appearing on the center’s Facebook and Instagram pages promoting the show are:

• Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, managing partner of South Coast Plaza and founder and executive director of the Festival of Children

•Kedric Francis, executive editor of Coast magazine

•Heather Karlik, manager of Porsche Design, South Coast Plaza

•Roberta Wood, manager of Donna Karan, South Coast Plaza

•Chef Adrian Campa, Leatherby’s Cafe Rouge

•Diane Pritchett, South Coast Metro Alliance

•Stacey Taylor, Mesa Water District

•Kathleen Luppi, Daily Pilot reporter

•Kelley Moody, reporter, Greer’s OC

• Ed and Wing Lam, founders and owners of Wahoo’s Fish Taco

A number of center employees also donned the boots.

A few days after Dunn’s initial call, he showed up at my house with a photographer.

I greeted them in black tights, red dance pants, a white button-down shirt and some big hair — my best drag-queen, platinum-blonde wig.

Dunn wasn’t surprised. He’s known me for years and has seen me make some outrageous fashion choices.

This week my photos, as well as my “Kinky Boots” comrades, premiered online.

For those unfamiliar with this musical, “Kinky Boots” premiered on Broadway in 2013, bringing together four-time Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein (book) and Grammy Award-winning pop icon Cyndi Lauper. The show won six 2013 Tony Awards, the most of any show in the season.

The plot follows Charlie Price, who has reluctantly inherited his father’s shoe factory, which is on the verge of bankruptcy. “Trying to live up to his father’s legacy and save his family business, Charlie finds inspiration in the form of Lola,” a press release for the show explains.

“‘Kinky Boots’ is an incredibly fun, high-energy musical that’s about standing up for who you are,” said Todd Bentjen, vice president for marketing and communications for the Segerstrom Center.

For more information and tickets, visit SCFTA.org

. To see the promotional photos, visit https://www.facebook.com/SCFTA.

And if you’re wondering, I always welcome the opportunity to put on a pair of kinky boots.

BARBARA VENEZIA, whose column appears Fridays, lives in Newport Beach. She can be reached at bvontv1@gmail.com.