Latest news with #SomeLikeItHot
Los Angeles Times
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
‘Some Like It Hot' at the Pantages flips the script: dressing like a woman is no longer the joke
The premise of Billy Wilder's critically acclaimed 1959 comedy, 'Some Like It Hot,' starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, is almost as famous as its stars. Two jazz musicians witness a mob hit and disguise themselves as women in order to escape town as members of an all-female band. Hilarity ensues as the men fall in love with the band's lead singer (Monroe) while struggling to maintain their feminine wiles. The film faced and overcame threats of censorship when it became a major hit despite pushing boundaries around how gender and sexuality could be portrayed in mainstream cinema. Still, the men-in-ladies-clothing bit was a gag — riotous and ribald. Updating that aspect of the story for the 21st century, without beating audiences over the head with a message, became crucial to the creative team behind the 2022 musical, including book writers Matthew López and Amber Ruffin, composer and lyricist Marc Shaiman, and lyricist Scott Wittman. Their innovation was making Lemmon's character — a stand-up bass player named Jerry who disguises himself as a woman named Daphne — realize that he identifies more as female, and decides to remain so. The line that received the biggest round of applause during the L.A. premiere of the show at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre on Wednesday came toward the end when Daphne's partner and best friend, Joe (disguised as Josephine), asks what he should call his pal going forward: Jerry or Daphne. 'Either is fine as long as you do it with love and respect,' Daphne replies. Cue tears and cheers — no matter what city the show is playing in, said Wittman in a phone interview. 'They'll say that in places like Nebraska and Idaho and that's where the biggest roar has been,' he said. The moment feels good to crowds, in part, because it comes so honestly to the performer portraying Daphne. North Carolina native Tavis Kordell, 23, is a nonbinary actor who came into the fullness of their identity about three years ago. Their transformation from Jerry to Daphne onstage is tender, visceral and — by the show's conclusion — total. 'I feel like 8-year-old Tavis would be screaming right now, just to see the story that we're able to tell, a story that I never thought that I'd be able to tell, and to tell it so freely and so openly by taking it across the country,' Kordell said during an interview at the Pantages. 'I'm so glad that whether they're the loudest audiences or the quietest audiences, that this show is being received — that they're seeing it.' Shaiman and Wittman said Daphne's trajectory is in honor of friends they had in the 1970s and '80s when they hung around with Andy Warhol's flamboyant crowd in New York, at venues like Max's Kansas City. The men mention transgender icon Holly Woodlawn, as well as Jackie Curtis, who was once quoted as saying, 'I'm not a boy, not a girl. I am not gay, I am not straight, I am not a drag queen, I am not a transvestite, I am Jackie.' Shaiman, 65, said his generation didn't have the same words as Kordell's does to describe the many-splendored thing that is gender identity — or rather, what it means to simply exist in a body without gender boundaries. 'They just were them,' said Shaiman. 'They were just who they were, bravely leading lives where every day they had to deal with a certain amount of questioning.' If the experiences of transgender people flew very much under the radar 50 years ago, they are front and center in today's culture wars — with the Trump administration trying to reduce hard-won gains in civil rights and societal acceptance. Trans people have been pushed out of the military and told that their preferred pronouns would not be used on their passports. Healthcare for transgender youth has also been curtailed, with whole programs being shuttered, including the Center for Transyouth Health and Development at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. 'Some Like It Hot' is the second show to open at the Pantages after 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,' the Tony Award-winning play based on the bestselling book series by J.K. Rowling — a vocal critic of transgender people. Art, with its inherent power to engender empathy in audiences, is a powerful vehicle for change in this complex and often heartbreaking moment in history for the LGBTQ+ community, said Kordell and Shaiman. Seeing the kindness in people's responses to the show, including in the many letters both the writer and performer have received, has been particularly affecting. 'As Anne Frank said, 'There's good in everyone,'' said Shaiman. 'And so that's the silver lining — seeing how sweet and how good people want to be.' Kordell said they regularly get messages on Instagram about, 'how this show has inspired them, how they've been keeping up with my journey, how they've recently come into their own identities and how this has helped them to come out.' These stories are particularly special to Kordell who only recently came out to their parents. Kordell, who was raised in a Christian family with a conservative mindset, chose to approach each parent individually — mother first. 'I was crying. I was a mess,' Kordell said. 'And she was like, 'You can stop crying. I already know.'' Kordell smiles, recalling the rest. 'Do you have anything else you want to tell me?' their mother asked. 'No, ma'am,' Kordell said. 'Now go be free,' their mother said. Kordell's father was also accepting — although a bit more reticent. He called Kordell a few days later and said, 'You're my child. I love you no matter what.' When Kordell performed the show for their parents for the first time in Charlotte, N.C., they were again a wreck. It felt like a second coming out. They cried during their transformational number, 'You Coulda Knocked Me Over With a Feather,' in which they joyfully sing as Daphne, 'Yes, I have tried to love many ladies back when I sang in a much lower key, now you could knock me over with a feather, 'cause Joe, the lady that I'm lovin' is me.' After the show, Kodell's father gave them the biggest hug and said, 'I'm so proud of you.' 'This macho man has so much love for me,' said Kordell, their eyes filled with warmth. 'And he literally supports me — just so much. In our hometown, any opportunity he has to talk about me, to his co-workers, to his church family and stuff like that — he's like, 'This is my son.'' And that's the whole point of the subtle, yet profound, shift in the show, said Kordell and Shaiman. By simply allowing Daphne to be herself onstage, audiences around the country will hopefully see how authentic — and how easy to love — she truly is.
National Geographic
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- National Geographic
The wild, joyful, passionate world of Marilyn Monroe's superfans
The actress's greatest legacy might be the happiness she still inspires in so many people. More than 60 years after her death, photographer Amy Gaskin documented Monroe's international legions of admirers. Marilyn gives strength and hope to people worldwide. Through her remarkable rags to riches story, she inspires many to persevere against the odds. In Australia, Marilyn is the motivation for those whose lives are touched by cancer. They raise money for cancer research, support and prevention by swimming in the ocean dressed as Marilyn. Swimmer Belinda explains, 'My mum died of bowel cancer when she was 58, and I had a good friend whose son died at 32 of cancer. It seems everyone has a connection to cancer. This is our ninth year doing the swim.' Back left to right: Petal (Belinda's granddaughter, 6 years old). Mark, Monique Front left to right: Belinda, Wisha, Jacqui Brighton, South Australia August 4th marks 63 years since actress Marilyn Monroe died at her Los Angeles home in 1962 (her housekeeper discovered Monroe in the early morning of August 5th). Her tragic death at age 36 has undoubtedly fueled the world's enduring fascination with the actress and, more than half a century after her passing, she remains one the most recognizable faces in the world. Best known for her roles in the movies Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), The Seven Year Itch (1955), and Some Like It Hot (1959), Monroe established herself as the archetypal blonde bombshell, marrying sex appeal with uncanny comedic timing. But her legacy is more complicated than the nearly 30 films she appeared in: she is simultaneously an actress, an American icon, and a woman whose life was mired in sadness. Monroe's multifaceted appeal continues to fascinate fans across the world, documented here by photographer Amy Gaskin. Over 500 people have gathered, dressed as Marilyn, on the morning of the swim. The Marilyn Jetty Swim began in 2014 with just a small group. Founded by Sarah in honor of her mother, Esther, who died from uterine cancer, the crowd grows every year and has now raised over a million dollars.'As a breast cancer survivor, I am inspired by Marilyn for her ability to overcome adversity and to be resilient when faced with difficult situations. Whilst I was undergoing treatment, her story inspired me to remain strong and accept the many physical changes that I have had to go through,' explains Katrina.'Marilyn Monroe has inspired a generation of people like me to never give up, believe in ourselves, and always put our best foot forward, no matter how unattractive or depressed we feel,' says Cate. Cate lost both of her parents to cancer and had a scare herself. Brighton, South Australia Gaskin discovered this ardent fandom during the early days of the pandemic when she visited Monroe's crypt in Los Angeles's Westwood Memorial Park, a cemetery that is the final resting place for numerous celebrities. The photographer was intrigued by the 'wet lipstick marks decorating [Marilyn's] resting place,' present even while much of the world was social distancing. It piqued Gaskin's curiosity, and she began photographing visitors at the grave. They shared with her stories of why Monroe was important to them. In these photographs, Gaskin captures the undying dedication of the many superfans who visit Monroe's grave and demonstrate their devotion to the icon across the world. These fans don her iconic look because they find commonalities with the woman she was, not the woman they imagine she might have been. They find consistent, real joy in Monroe. For the superfans documented in Gaskin's images, Monroe is everything from a source of inspiration to an icon of resilience, a role model of body positivity, and a shared source of community. A mother hopes Monroe inspires her daughter; fans find community with one another and dress up in Monroe's iconic outfits, wearing the white halter dress with the pleated skirt from The Seven Year Itch or the platinum blonde wig cut to mimic Monroe's stylish bob. 'If you love Marilyn, I know you are a kind person,' a member of the Marilyn Remembered Fan Club told Gaskin. Established in 1982, the fan club, an international group of devotees, gathers online to post photographs of Monroe and raise money to place flowers at her grave. (To mark her 92nd birthday in 2018, the group placed flowers from Parisian Florist, the Los Angeles-based florist that Monroe's ex-husband Joe DiMaggio used, on her grave.) In Palm Springs, CA, Marilyn is a symbol of hope. The 26-foot-tall sculpture "Forever Marilyn" is being installed to revive the city's tourist economy decimated during the COVID-19 pandemic. 'We are hoping she'll be a magnet and the 800-plus businesses downtown that have suffered will get some relief,' says Aftab Dada, Chairman of PS Resorts, the tourism group that brought the sculpture to Palm Springs. The sculpture was created by Seward Johnson and is based on a photo by Bernard of Hollywood. During installation, Karina R., of the Seward Johnson Atelier, carries supplies in the early morning during a record heatwave. That kind of devotion to the star isn't unusual. As these photographs make clear, Monroe's superfans continue to find their own sense of belonging in her life and work. Greg, the president of a fan club dedicated to Monroe and photographed here, collects the actress's personal items. He told Gaskin that his collection began as a way to 'get to know her better.' Surrounded by Monroe-inspired dolls and photographs of the actress, his attachment to her is clear. Undoubtedly, Monroe's biography inspires them as much—if not more—than her work. Born to a single mother in 1926, Monroe's childhood was unstable, spent moving between different households after her mother was institutionalized. Each turn of her story is marked by tragedy: sexual abuse, failed high-profile marriages, and an early death. Melissa in Dubuque, Iowa, shares a sense of intimacy with Monroe, relating to her 'hardships and traumas,' she told Gaskin. 'Marilyn taught me a lot of things without saying a word to me.' In Monroe's story, fans find a woman who persevered through hardship. She is a quintessential American success story: overcoming the odds to find fame and fortune. Though it's impossible to know what Monroe would have wanted her legacy to be, perhaps it's the legions of admirers who see hope and inspiration in her life. As Gaskin's photographs make clear, Monroe's appeal shows no signs of diminishing. With arms in the air, Kelly, left, from Los Angeles, and Haley, right, from Indiana, visit Marilyn's crypt. 'I've always felt connected to Marilyn. She was more than just a symbol of fame and beauty—she longed to be truly loved and accepted. She grew up feeling unwanted, searching for a sense of belonging, and that deeply resonates with me. I didn't grow up feeling good enough either, and knowing that someone as iconic as Marilyn felt those same emotions reminds me that vulnerability doesn't make us weak—it makes us human. Her story encourages me to embrace who I am, even when I feel like I'm not enough,' explains Haley. Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park & Mortuary in Los Angeles, CA Donna, from the UK, plans to be buried near Marilyn. She recently purchased a crypt near Marilyn's, even though she and her family live in England. 'I was the black sheep of the family. I felt different, but I didn't know why until I got older. When I first came out, my mom didn't speak to me for a year. She was born the same year as Marilyn, but they were very different in their views.' Donna said. 'Marilyn is very relatable, with what she went through and what she achieved. She stuck up for human rights and didn't like racism. She wasn't afraid to say what she felt. I wanted to be like that. Through her actions and acceptance of all types of people, she was trying to say 'love is love.' It doesn't matter your color, sexuality, or anything like that. She was very much ahead of her time. I feel close to her when I visit LA. I get so emotional. I just cannot imagine my life without her in it.' Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park & Mortuary in Los Angeles, CA The Marilyn Remembered Fan Club hosts the annual memorial service for Marilyn Monroe in the same chapel where Joe DiMaggio (Monroe's ex-husband) held her funeral more than 60 years ago. The club was formed four decades ago by a group of people who met by chance on the anniversary of Monroe's a Club member, says, 'Marilyn brings us all together. If you love Marilyn, I know you are a kind person.'Another Club member, Jeanne W., says, 'Marilyn's story of coming from a background of having no real stability inspires me. I love her resilience and determination to create a beautiful life for herself.' Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park & Mortuary in Los Angeles, CA Greg is president of the original Marilyn fan club. He has a vast collection of personal items that belonged to Monroe. 'I wish that I had known her, and that's why I started collecting— so I could get to know her better. She started from nothing and rose to being one of the greatest movie stars of all time.I didn't know her of course, but I've met dozens of people that did know her. They said that she had a very warm, giving, loving personality. She was the kind of person you'd want to hang around. She overcame so much, and that inspires many people. She fought the studio system and got her own production company. She had no major education yet she kept studying and learning on her own to become the accomplished person that she was. As a child, she was shuffled to several foster homes and lived in an orphanage. She never had a stable home. Her mother was alive, yet was unable to take care of her. This must have been very difficult for Marilyn to deal with. Her story is inspirational.' Los Angeles, CA Swim founder Sarah helps her daughter, Isla, 11, dress as Marilyn to help raise money for Cancer Council SA. Sarah believes that participating helps her daughter learn body positivity, while honoring her grandmother, who died from cancer.'I want my daughter to have these values about her body and to help others. I want her to feel good about herself in the world,' Sarah says."I hope my kids never get cancer. But if they do, I hope treatment can be easier, more effective, smarter. Somebody has to do something to get us there, and it might as well be all of us. I like to think, 'Just give us the right bathing suit, a blonde wig and a touch of red lippy and we can conquer the world!'' Brighton, South Australia Melissa always travels with her suitcase full of Marilyn photos. She has come to Los Angeles from Dubuque, Iowa, for the anniversary of Monroe's death and has decorated her hotel room with all things Marilyn.'I'm not alone. I have Marilyn all around me. I talk to her every day. Marilyn taught me a lot of things without saying a word to me. I relate to her hardships and traumas growing up.' 'Marilyn brought us all together. There's something inside each one of us that she loves about each of us,' Melissa said. "You'll be surprised how many Black women love Marilyn. Marilyn was one of the first people to help Ella Fitzgerald get a performing job. Marilyn gives me the strength to be who I am. She has given me strength at my lowest points. Be true to yourself. Don't fake it. Do it for yourself, not anybody else. She really loved African Americans and didn't discriminate at all. I love that she used her privilege for something good. It makes her goals board is on my wall. It has motivational quotes and pictures of Marilyn which inspire me to chase my dreams.' Saviyance Detroit, MI 'Marilyn brought us all together. There's something inside each one of us that she loves about each of us.' Dolls in a collection. The doll on the left holds a bottle of Chanel No. 5. perfume, which Marilyn had a passion for. She was famously said to wear only this perfume to bed and was rumored to have 26 bottles. Simon, center, gets ready for the big swim with help from friends Kaerena, left and Cate, right.'I lost my mother to cancer, and I started taking part in cancer fundraising walks. Sarah came to our office looking to recruit people for the swim. It sounded like a bit of fun to raise funds for cancer research, so I joined up and have taken part now for many years,' Simon explains. Hallett Cove, South Australia Marilyn parties attract a range of enthusiasts. Monica enjoys dressing like Marilyn for special occasions and is bringing a dish to the party. 'My Marilyn friends are like my second family. They watched me grow. I can't imagine my life without Marilyn. I find peace and solace whenever I think of her. Her vulnerability and the things she has conquered and accomplished are both inspiring and relatable. She means everything to me,' says Monica. Los Angeles, CA This is a long-term project by award-winning photographer Amy Gaskin, who lives in Los Angeles, and who has been studying the Marilyn phenomenon for years. What began with noticing fresh lipstick on Marilyn's crypt has now taken Amy on a worldwide journey. 'I didn't realize Marilyn inspires so many people,' Amy said. 'The more I researched, the more facets of Marilyn I uncovered. I discovered that people relate to Marilyn on many different planes. They relate to the person and her life experiences, rather than the film star. Her influence and inspiration has spread like ripples in a pond throughout the world." Amy's research has involved interviewing and photographing hundreds of Marilyn admirers from many continents over many years.
Sky News AU
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Jamie Lee Curtis is ‘prepping' to leave Hollywood as she blasts plastic surgery as ‘genocide'
Her Friday is getting freaky. Jamie Lee Curtis said she's preparing to leave the spotlight – in part thanks to her experience of watching her famous parents' careers as they aged, and thanks to watching plastic surgery take off. 'I witnessed my parents lose the very thing that gave them their fame and their life and their livelihood, when the industry rejected them at a certain age,' Curtis, 66, told The Guardian, in an interview published Saturday. 'I watched them reach incredible success and then have it slowly erode to where it was gone,' she added. 'And that's very painful.' The 'Halloween' star's famous parents were Janet Leigh – who was in Alfred Hitchcock's 'Psycho,' and Tony Curtis ('Some Like It Hot'). Leigh died in 2004 at age 77, while her dad died in 2010 at age 85. They were married from 1951 until their 1962 divorce. Curtis also slammed plastic surgery as being 'the genocide of a generation of women by the cosmeceutical industrial complex, who've disfigured themselves.' 'The Last Showgirl' actress has been married to British actor Christopher Guest since 1984, and shares daughters Ruby, 29, and Annie, 38, with him. 'I believe that we have wiped out a generation or two of natural human [appearance],' she explained. 'The concept that you can alter the way you look through chemicals, surgical procedures, fillers – there's a disfigurement of generations of predominantly women who are altering their appearances.' She blasted AI as aiding and abetting this, 'because now the filter face is what people want. I'm not filtered right now. The minute I lay a filter on and you see the before and after, it's hard not to go: 'Oh, well that looks better.' But what's better? Better is fake.' Curtis did not name names of celebs who have admitted to getting plastic surgery, such as the Kardashians. 'There are too many examples – I will not name them – but very recently we have had a big onslaught through media, many of those people,' she stated. Despite her plans to step back from the spotlight, Curtis still has a recent slew of hot projects, as well as upcoming movies and TV shows. She finally won an Oscar in 2024 (for 'best supporting actress' in 'Everything Everywhere All At Once'), and has a recurring side role as Carmy's (Jeremy Allen White) mother in the Emmy-winning drama 'The Bear,' which has been renewed for a Season 5. She's also in the 'Freaky Friday' sequel 'Freakier Friday,' (hitting theaters Aug. 8) and she recently confirmed that she will take over the late Angela Lansbury's iconic role of Jessica Fletcher in a 'Murder, She Wrote' reboot. Coming up, she'll film 'Ella McCay' alongside Woody Harrelson and her 'The Bear' co-star Ayo Edebiri (premiering in December) and will star. in the Prime Video series 'Scarpetta' with Nicole Kidman (which doesn't have an announced premiere date yet). 'I have been self-retiring for 30 years. I have been prepping to get out, so that I don't have to suffer the same as my family did,' she told The Guardian. 'I want to leave the party before I'm no longer invited.' 'I have become quite brusque,' the 'True Lies' actress added. 'And I have no problem saying: 'Back the f*** off.'' Originally published as Jamie Lee Curtis is 'prepping' to leave Hollywood as she blasts plastic surgery as 'genocide'
New York Post
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Jamie Lee Curtis is ‘prepping' to leave Hollywood as she slams plastic surgery as ‘genocide'
Her Friday is getting freaky. Jamie Lee Curtis said she's preparing to leave the spotlight – in part thanks to her experience of watching her famous parents' careers as they aged, and thanks to watching plastic surgery take off. 'I witnessed my parents lose the very thing that gave them their fame and their life and their livelihood, when the industry rejected them at a certain age,' Curtis, 66, told The Guardian, in an interview published Saturday. Advertisement 9 Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh and Jamie Lee Curtis attend the American Women in Radio & Television Genii Awards on May 30, 1991. Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images 9 Jamie Lee Curtis in 1978. Getty Images 9 Jamie Lee Curtis at the premiere 'Freaky Friday' in Mexico City on July 24, 2025. MARIO GUZMAN/EPA/Shutterstock Advertisement 'I watched them reach incredible success and then have it slowly erode to where it was gone,' she added. 'And that's very painful.' The 'Halloween' star's famous parents were Janet Leigh – who was in Alfred Hitchcock's 'Psycho,' and Tony Curtis ('Some Like It Hot'). Leigh died in 2004 at age 77, while her dad died in 2010 at age 85. They were married from 1951 until their 1962 divorce. Curtis also slammed plastic surgery as being 'the genocide of a generation of women by the cosmeceutical industrial complex, who've disfigured themselves.' Advertisement 'The Last Showgirl' actress has been married to British actor Christopher Guest since 1984, and shares daughters Ruby, 29, and Annie, 38, with him. 'I believe that we have wiped out a generation or two of natural human [appearance],' she explained. 'The concept that you can alter the way you look through chemicals, surgical procedures, fillers – there's a disfigurement of generations of predominantly women who are altering their appearances.' 9 Jamie Lee Curtis in 1985's 'Perfect.' ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection 9 Jamie Lee Curtis in 2003's 'Freaky Friday.' ©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection Advertisement 9 Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh with their two daughters, Jamie Lee and Kelly Lee. Bettmann Archive She blasted AI as aiding and abetting this, 'because now the filter face is what people want. I'm not filtered right now. The minute I lay a filter on and you see the before and after, it's hard not to go: 'Oh, well that looks better.' But what's better? Better is fake.' Curtis did not name names of celebs who have admitted to getting plastic surgery, such as the Kardashians. 'There are too many examples – I will not name them – but very recently we have had a big onslaught through media, many of those people,' she stated. Despite her plans to step back from the spotlight, Curtis still has a recent slew of hot projects, as well as upcoming movies and TV shows. She finally won an Oscar in 2024 (for 'best supporting actress' in 'Everything Everywhere All At Once'), and has a recurring side role as Carmy's (Jeremy Allen White) mother in the Emmy-winning drama 'The Bear,' which has been renewed for a Season 5. 9 Jamie Lee Curtis in 'Halloween II' in 1981. ©Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection 9 Jamie Lee Curtis at the Cannes Film Festival on. June 16, 2025. Lensi Photography / Advertisement 9 Jamie Lee Curtis in 1985's 'Perfect.' ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection She's also in the 'Freaky Friday' sequel 'Freakier Friday,' (hitting theaters Aug. 8) and she recently confirmed that she will take over the late Angela Lansbury's iconic role of Jessica Fletcher in a 'Murder, She Wrote' reboot. Coming up, she'll film 'Ella McCay' alongside Woody Harrelson and her 'The Bear' co-star Ayo Edebiri (premiering in December) and will star. in the Prime Video series 'Scarpetta' with Nicole Kidman (which doesn't have an announced premiere date yet). Advertisement 'I have been self-retiring for 30 years. I have been prepping to get out, so that I don't have to suffer the same as my family did,' she told The Guardian. 'I want to leave the party before I'm no longer invited.' 'I have become quite brusque,' the 'True Lies' actress added. 'And I have no problem saying: 'Back the f–k off.''
CBS News
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Colorado musicians will play a major role in "Some Like It Hot" shows at Denver Center for the Performing Arts
Find out how the sounds of "Some Like it Hot" will come together on the stage in Denver Find out how the sounds of "Some Like it Hot" will come together on the stage in Denver Find out how the sounds of "Some Like it Hot" will come together on the stage in Denver A musical take on the classic movie "Some Like It Hot" is on its way to Denver, with shows playing the Buell Theatre July 8-20. The show, which takes place in the era of mobsters and big bands, features an orchestra largely made up of Colorado musicians. "'Some Like It Hot' is a jazz age, Depression-era, Prohibition era-show," said Mark Binns, music director for the tour. "The show is just filled with the sounds of (the 1930s) era. The big band jazz-type sound you're used to hearing." Mark Binns, music director for the tour CBS Binns said being a part of the production was an easy decision due to his love for the sounds of that decade. "I got the call to do 'Some Like It Hot' and I jumped at it because jazz really is the music in my soul," Binns said. "I love getting to do jazz. There normally isn't a show that is this heavy with jazz and swing on Broadway, it is rare when a show like this comes along." However, the tour only has four full-time musicians. The four travel the nation with the rest of the cast and crew. However, to make the sound as authentic to the era as possible, there is a need for more musicians. So, the tour sends out a team to each city in advance to hold auditions to be a part of the orchestra in each stop of the tour. "We pick up seven local horns in every single city. So, we have two trumpets, two trombones and four reed doublers. And, we pick up a local bassist," Binns told CBS News Colorado's Dillon Thomas. "So, that is eight musicians, which is double than the number that actually tour it and play it all the time." However, the touring members of the show don't even meet the musicians they will play with in each city until the first night of the first show in each respective city. So, the music is sent to each person who auditions and is selected to play for "Some Like It Hot" in advance as a way to prepare for the live shows. "So, as you can imagine, it gets pretty complicated at times," Binns said. "Because we move in on a Tuesday in a new city, we rehearse for 5 hours, we sound check and we open." Thomas was given an exclusive advanced preview of the production during its visit to Philadelphia. There, Thomas said he never knew the band had just met each other, as the music was seamless and upbeat throughout. To help make sure there isn't much of a learning curve, Binns said the musicians in each city are also given access to visual assets to help them prepare for the musical. "We send them a conductor cam. So, a shot of me conducting the show so they can follow along with it and practice," Binns said. "And you just hope they can come in, knock it out and play a few hours later in front of a couple thousand people." "Some Like It Hot" plays the Denver Center for the Performing Arts starting July 8. For more information on tickets visit CBS Colorado is a proud partner of the DCPA.
