Colorado Musicians Set to Shine in "Some Like It Hot" at Denver Center

A vibrant musical adaptation of the classic film "Some Like It Hot" is set to grace the Buell Theatre in Denver from July 8 to 20. This production, steeped in the sounds of the jazz age and the Prohibition era, will prominently feature an orchestra composed mainly of Colorado musicians.

Mark Binns, the music director for the tour, expressed his enthusiasm: "'Some Like It Hot' is a jazz age, Depression-era, Prohibition era-show. The show is just filled with the sounds of (the 1930s) era. The big band jazz-type sound you're used to hearing." His passion for this musical genre made joining the production an easy choice.

"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 shared. "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."

Despite the excitement, logistical challenges arise. The tour travels with only four full-time musicians, who accompany the cast and crew across the nation. To achieve an authentic sound reflective of the era, additional local musicians are recruited in each city. "We pick up seven local horns in every single city," Binns explained. "So, we have two trumpets, two trombones, and four reed doublers. And, we pick up a local bassist," he noted, emphasizing that this doubles the number of musicians performing.

Interestingly, the touring musicians do not meet their local counterparts until the first performance in each city. To facilitate preparation, music is sent to selected auditionees ahead of time. "So, as you can imagine, it gets pretty complicated at times," Binns remarked. "Because we move in on a Tuesday in a new city, we rehearse for 5 hours, we sound check and we open."

An exclusive preview during the production's stop in Philadelphia revealed that despite the musicians' unfamiliarity with one another, their performance was seamless and energetic. "I never knew the band had just met each other," said a reporter who attended.

To further ease the transition for local musicians, Binns provides visual aids for practice. "We send them a conductor cam. So, a shot of me conducting the show so they can follow along with it and practice," he explained. "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" will take center stage at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts starting July 8. For ticket information, visit denvercenter.org.

Note: The Denver Center for the Performing Arts has partnered with various media outlets to promote this event.