In 1959 Lemmon, Curtis and Monroe lit up the silver screen in Billy Wilder’s classic film Some Like It Hot. Twelve years later, theatre creative giants Styne, Merrill, and Stone transformed the property into a new musical titled SUGAR. Set in prohibition-era Chicago and Miami, SUGAR tells the story of two unemployed musicians, Joe and Jerry, who after witnessing a mob murder, go undercover as women and join an all-female band. Complications ensue when Joe (now Josephine) falls for the beautiful band singer, Sugar Kane.
Produced by David Merrick and directed and choreographed by Gower Champion, SUGAR premiered in 1972 starring Robert Morse, Tony Roberts, Elaine Joyce and Cyril Richard. It ran for 505 performances and was nominated for four Tony© Awards. In 2002 a revised version, under the title SOME LIKE IT HOT, was mounted as a national tour and featured the original film’s star, Tony Curtis.
