The Queen of Christmas has arrived to Broadway! Pop diva, and five-time Grammy winner, Mariah Carey made an appearance at Some Like It Hot on Broadway on February 10. Carey, who is a producer on the show, stepped out on stage during curtain call to say some effusive words about the production. It was one of the first times she has spoken publicly about the show, or made a public appearance on Broadway.
The show's composer Marc Shaiman introduced Carey at the evening's curtain call, saying, "She’s made her presence known backstage with gifts and all sorts of things, and she’s finally here tonight ... Some like it hot but she loves it cold, because cold means Christmas and she’s the Queen of Christmas. Ladies and gentlemen, Mariah Carey!" Shaiman had worked with Carey previously, on her album, Merry Christmas II You and co-wrote the song "The Star" with Carey.
Walking on stage to cheers, and dressed in a floor-length sparkling black coat and knee-high boots, Carey was visibly excited about the production, exclaiming, “Beautiful beautiful music, incredible show, just everything. I did have a special favorite place where the lighting was GORGEOUS!”
Speaking off the cuff, Carey talked about why she chose to produce the show, saying that the original 1959 film that the musical is based on, Some Like It Hot starring Marilyn Monroe, "has a very special significance for me because I grew up loving Marilyn Monroe. because my mom was a big fan of hers. And then I found out about her and I learned about her, and read books by Norman Mailer, which were too much to read for a little girl."
As the cast and creators of the show chuckled, Carey turned back to the musical itself, saying, "I'm so honored to be a part of, just to be able to say I’m a producer on this incredible, incredible show! I have no words because this is magnificent and I just want to say congratulations to everybody.”
Carey then closed out her remarks by addressing the audience directly, saying with utter queen-like confidence: “Thank you for being here on this special moment, where I get to be here on stage with the cast!” She then closed with, “Have an incredible rest of your lives!" And readers, we will.
See photos from Carey's appearance below.
Scott Wittman, Marc Shaiman, and company of Some Like It Hot
Scott Wittman, Marc Shaiman, and company of Some Like It Hot
Marc Shaiman, Mariah Carey, and company of Some Like It Hot
Mariah Carey and company of Some Like It Hot
Mariah Carey and company of Some Like It Hot
Mariah Carey and company of Some Like It Hot
Mariah Carey and company of Some Like It Hot
Mariah Carey and company of Some Like It Hot
Mariah Carey and company of Some Like It Hot
Mariah Carey and company of Some Like It Hot
Some Like It Hot follows two Prohibition-era jazz musicians in Chicago, 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. They also learn a thing or two about themselves in the process.
Some Like It Hot is adapted from the 1959 film written and directed by Billy Wilder, starring Marilyn Monroe. 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.
Leading the cast are Christian Borle as Joe/Josephine, J. Harrison Ghee as Jerry/Daphne, Adrianna Hicks as Sugar, Kevin Del Aguila as Osgood, NaTasha Yvette Williams as Sweet Sue, Adam Heller as Mulligan, and Mark Lotito as Spats.
See Carey's full remarks below.
