Sassy, Sexy and Smoking’ Hot – You’ll Be Wowed at Some Like It Hot at the National Theatre
Some Like It Hot
Broadway at The National
at The National Theatre
Jordan Wright
December 1, 2025
Leandra Ellis-Gaston (Sugar) and the First National Touring Company of Some Like It Hot. (Photo/Matthew Murphy)
Calling all hoofers, tappers and high kickers. This show is for you… and everyone else too! It’s a dance-a-palooza musical comedy with dolls and lover boys and tunes drenched in Cole Porteresque lyrics. With sassy, sexy and smokin’ hot chorines, Sweet Sue and Her Society Syncopators rule the Cheetah Club and you’ll soon find yourself in Chicago in 1933 at the height of Prohibition in a speakeasy.
When pals Joe, a sax player and Jerry, a bassist, both hoofers, find themselves without work, they head to a club owned by mob boss, Spats. As the Tip Tap Twins (Joe is White and Jerry is Black) the hoofers convince Spats to hire them. At the club they soon witness a shootout masterminded by Spats and raided by the Feds and are forced to flee for their lives. With no money and less prospects, they discover the only gig in town with Sweet Sue’s all-girl band. They soon devise a plan to dress in drag nailing the audition and becoming part of Sue’s tour as Josephine and Daphne. Trying to keep ahead of Spats’ mob and the Feds who expect the men to sing like canaries, they cozy up to the gorgeous chorus girls and Joe falls head over heels for Sugar, the band’s adorable lead singer.
Between the huge dance numbers, eighteen songs and a swell orchestra, is a 31-member cast with the energy of a supernova. Sweet Sue is played brilliantly by Dequina Moore with a powerhouse voice reminiscent of Ethel Merman.
The First National Touring Company of Some Like It Hot. (Photo/Matthew Murphy)
The twist? There are many along with the jokes, but what you should know is Daphne finds his/her authenticity as a gay man and fireworks ensue with Osgood (a most appealing Edward Juvier), a soda pop scion and owner of San Diego’s Coronado Hotel where the ensemble is booked.
Although this cast is flawless – Broadway caliber flawless – I found Tavis Kordell absolutely riveting. Couldn’t take my eyes off him. 6’ 2’’ (without the heels he wears as Daphne) he towers over everyone executing his dance moves with elegance and grace. A quintuple threat as a dancer, actor, mezzo-soprano, musician and gorgeous man, I had to check his bio to learn more about his stage experience. What I found was a UNC grad with only regional and collegiate drama experience. Seriously? Watch for his star power solo on “You Coulda Knocked Me Over With a Feather”.
Matt Loehr as Joe/Josephine is a Broadway veteran and first-class hoofer with tons of Tony Award-winning shows listed in his bio. In the number “Dance the World Away” which he sings and dances in a starry set with Leandra Ellis-Gaston (Sugar) as his dream lover, you’ll swear you’re watching Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
Matt Loehr (Joe), Leandra Ellis-Gaston (Sugar), Tavis Kordell (Jerry), and the First National Touring Company of Some Like It Hot. (Photo/Matthew Murphy)
When you go to this spectacular show, and you should, you’ll come away feeling you’ve hit the jackpot of talent. Dazzling sets by Scott Task, eye-popping costumes by Gregg Barnes and unforgettable choreography and direction by Casey Nicholaw.
Highly recommended!!! With a massive cast of 30 performers, dancing and singing their way into your heart.
Darien Crago as Nellie/Syncopator; Devin Cortez as Mack; Jamal Stone as Sonny; Devon Goffman as Spats; Matt Allen as Mulligan; Michael Skrzek as Toothpick Charlie/Bar Manager; Devon Hadsell as Minnie; Nissi Shalome as Dolores/Syncopator; Ashley Marie Arnold as Ginger/Syncopator; Emily Kelly as Vivian/Syncopator; Kelly Berman as Syncopator; Madeline Kendall as Syncopator; Ranease Ryann as Syncopator; Stephen Michael Langton as Man with a Suitcase. Gangsters, Porters, Bellhops et al: Devin Cortez, Jonathan Duvelson, Drew Franklin, Stephen Michael Langton, Michael Skrzek and Jamal Stone.
Book by Matthew Lopez and Amber Ruffin; Music by Marc Shaiman; Lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman; Sound Design by Brian Ronan; Orchestrations by Charlie Rosen and Bryan Carter.
Through December 7th at the National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004. For tickets and information call the box office at 202.628.6161 or visit www.TheNationalDC.com.