SEPTEMBER 26 • 2024 | 103
J
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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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