2023 Tony winner J. Harrison Ghee will be out of Broadway's Some Like It Hot for "at least" the next six weeks, according to an Instagram story the actor posted August 30. Understudy DeMarius R. Copes will take over the role of Jerry/Daphne in Ghee's absence. The musical continues its run at the Shubert Theatre.
Ghee shares that the sudden departure is due to surgery the actor must undergo "to address some issues that have arisen," though they stress that there's nothing to be worried about. "I am so at peace and grateful for this moment of restoration, of healing to come, and I hope that you will continue to support the incredible cast of Some Like It Hot at the Shubert Theatre and go see the incredible DeMarius Copes, who will be taking over the role while I am out," Ghee says in the video. "I got a wonderful opportunity to see him do the role, and I'm so incredibly proud of my friend for showing up, living out loud, and filling this role with all of them."
Ghee won a 2023 Tony Award for their performance in Some Like It Hot, making history alongside Shucked Tony winner Alex Newell as the first openly non-binary performers to win the top Broadway honor.
The cast also includes Christian Borle as Joe/Josephine, Adrianna Hicks as Sugar, Kevin Del Aguila as Osgood, NaTasha Yvette Williams as Sweet Sue, Adam Heller as Mulligan, and Mark Lotito as Spats.
Adapted from the 1959 film written and directed by Billy Wilder, the musical features a book by The Inheritance Tony winner Matthew López and Amber Ruffin and a score by Hairspray's Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, with the former providing music and both contributing lyrics. Tony winner Casey Nicholaw directs and choreographs. Some Like It Hot opened at the Shubert Theatre December 11, 2022—read reviews for the show here.
Inspired by the French film Fanfare of Love, Some Like It Hot follows two Prohibition-era jazz musicians in Chicago (played on screen by Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon), who witness a mob hit and go into hiding by disguising themselves as members of an all-female band. Through their escape plot, the two become enamored with the band's singer and ukulele player, Sugar, played on screen by Marilyn Monroe. The film was previously adapted for the stage as the 1972 musical Sugar, with a score by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill and a book by Peter Stone.
READ: Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman Have Read Your Criticisms About Broadway's Some Like It Hot
The production features additional material by Borle and Joe Farrell, music supervision by Mary-Mitchell Campbell, music direction by Darryl Archibald, and orchestrations by Charlie Rosen and Bryan Carter, with vocal arrangements by Shaiman, dance and incidental music arrangements by Glen Kelly, and music coordination by Kristy Norter. The production is cast by The Telsey Office's Bethany Knox.
Christian Borle and J. Harrison Ghee in Some Like It Hot
Adrianna Hicks in Some Like It Hot
Kevin Del Aguila and cast of Some Like It Hot
NaTasha Yvette Williams and cast of Some Like It Hot
