Looking for Blue Suede Shoes

Hi Everyone, My name is Evan and I am directing All Shook Up with Hard Road Theatre Productions in Highland IL. I was wondering if anyone had any tips/hints or even actual products for what I am looking for. I am in need of around 30 pairs of Blue Suede Shoes. I found online a few different websites that sell them for around 26-36 dollars a pair, but thats a little steep for 30 actors. However, I know I can get my leads a pair, however, I was thinking of buying used ones for the rest of the cast, if I am able to find them. OR possible painting or dying a bunch of used ones for the ensemble...whether they be loafers, dress shoes, skethchers, or converse.

My questions...does anybody have any pairs of these shoes from a previous performance? If so are you willing to rent or sell?

Also...does anybody have experience with dying shoes? I have been told it can be done, but have no clue what it entails.

Thanks for your time!

Evan
EMF PRODUCTIONS      

It might be too late for you now, but when we did the show this summer, we just spray painted random shoes blue.  Most of us had old shoes that were just sitting in our closets, and the few that didn't were just able to buy cheap canvas shoes at Wal-Mart or similar discount stores.  We did have to touch them up over the course of the run, but we always used the same color and brand of paint.  Our theatre is small, but nobody mentioned the non-matching shoes since they were all the same color.