SEPTEMBER 26 • 2024 | 103
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Hunt has had featured roles and
also served as dance captain or
associate choreographer in several
of the musicals synonymous with
splashy show-stopping tap numbers,
including Crazy for You, 42nd Street,
Singin’ in the Rain, Thoroughly
Modern Millie and, now, Some Like
It Hot, which just kicked off its first
national tour in September.
Based on the classic comedy film
that starred Marilyn Monroe, Tony
Curtis and Jack Lemmon, Some Like
it Hot, the musical adaptation, took
home four Tony Awards in 2023,
including Best Costume Design,
Choreography and Orchestrations.
It also won a Grammy Award
for Best Musical Theater Album.
The first national tour has most
of the original creative team
involved, including director and
choreographer Casey Nicholaw.
Some Like it Hot is set in Chicago
during the Prohibition. It’s a fun
musical cross-country caper of
Joe (Matt Loehr) and Jerry (Tavis
Kordell), two musicians who witness
a mob hit. To escape the gangsters,
Joe and Jerry flee the city by joining
an all-women’s band disguised
as Josephine and Daphne. Hunt
understudies Joe/Josephine and
gangster Spats as well as being a
swing for six ensemble roles.
“Getting to see Christian Borle
originate the role of Joe/Josephine
on Broadway was a treat. And now
getting to see Matt Loehr create
the role for himself through the
rehearsal process has been amazing.
He’s wonderful to watch,” Hunt
says. “I’ve looked up to Matt for
several years because, not only is he
a traditional song-and-dance man,
he’s also very funny. He’s played
all the roles that I would want to
play or have played at some point.
It’s a wonderful responsibility and
opportunity to understudy that role.”
SWEPT OFF THEIR FEET
Hunt met fellow performer Kelly
Sheehan 12 years ago in a tap class.
“
A friend of ours said we both had
nice teeth, so our babies would have
nice teeth, and that we should date.
And that was it,” Hunt says fondly
about Sheehan.
They got married on 2/22/22.
“So, I can never forget our
anniversary,” he laughs.
Hunt says that because he
and Sheehan have a similar skill
set, especially with tap dancing,
they have been lucky enough to
perform in about 10 shows together,
including seven years on tour with
White Christmas.
“We work really well together, so
it’s really fortunate,” Hunt says about
his wife.
While Hunt was in rehearsals
for Some Like it Hot, Sheehan was
the associate choreographer for
Bandstand the Musical. The show
wrapped at the end of August at the
REV Theatre Company in Auburn,
New York.
Sheehan joined Hunt for the
opening of Some Like it Hot in
Schenectady, New York. She will
visit him again when the tour comes
to the Fisher Theatre Oct. 1-13.
Since Hunt will be in Detroit for
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, he
hopes to attend services.
“It’s difficult to celebrate the
holidays on the road. But whenever I
go home to see my family, we’ll light
the candles for the Sabbath,” Hunt
says.
But, for now, he’s excited to be
a part of the launch of the first
national tour.
“If you loved the movie Some
Like It Hot, then you can expect
a very faithful adaptation of the
plot with our show. It’s really
presented through a modern lens
with a fresh take on the story and a
killer original score and incredible
dancing,” Hunt says.
“It’s so fast-paced, fresh and smart.
Our book, music and our actors
do an incredible job of keeping
everyone entertained and thinking
five steps ahead of the audience. So,
it’s just a blast. It’s so fun.”
TO PURCHASE
TICKETS:
For performance times
for Some Like It Hot,
appearing Oct. 1-13 at
the Fisher Theatre, 3011
W. Grand Blvd., Detroit,
and for tickets, go to
broadwayindetroit.com/
events/some-like-it-hot/.
MARC J. FRANKLIN
The original
Broadway cast of
Some Like It Hot
Kevin Del Aguila with the original
Broadway company of Some Like It Hot.
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