Some Like It Hot Turns Up the Heat at The National Theatre

The heat is on at The National Theatre, where the Tony-winning musical comedy Some Like It Hot is now lighting up Pennsylvania Avenue through December 7, 2025. This big, brassy adaptation of the 1959 film arrives in DC with a reputation for award-winning showmanship, and the touring production more than lives up to that hype, delivering an evening packed with laughs, high-voltage dancing, and unexpected heart.

Some Like It Hot at The National Theatre in DC

Set in the roaring 1920s, the story follows two struggling jazz musicians who witness a mob hit in Chicago and escape town by disguising themselves as women and joining an all-female band. On the road to sunny California, they meet a star singer determined to chart her own future, an eccentric millionaire with a talent for falling in love, and a crime boss who refuses to stay left behind. Classic farce collides with lush musical storytelling as mistaken identities, gangsters, and romances all careen toward a joyously over-the-top finale.

What makes this production stand out is how fully it embraces the idea of the “great big musical.” Reviewers have been raving about the sheer scale of the show: glittering Art Deco sets that glide smoothly from speakeasies to hotel ballrooms, costumes that shimmer with flapper-era glamour, and lighting that washes the stage in jewel-tone color. The design team gives DC audiences a Broadway-sized spectacle, with every scene framed like a glossy movie musical sprung to life.

Above all, the choreography keeps getting singled out as one of the evening’s biggest thrills. The tap numbers explode with precision and personality, filling the stage with swirling chorus lines, aerial kicks, and rhythmic riffs that feel both vintage and fresh. Several reviewers call out how the dancers seem to pour out endless energy, turning ensemble scenes into showstoppers that draw repeated mid-show applause. It’s the kind of dance-driven staging that reminds audiences why this musical swept so many awards during its Broadway run.

The performances are another major highlight. Critics describe the touring leads as a finely tuned comedy trio: the two musicians playing off each other with impeccable timing—one more swaggering and impulsive, the other increasingly flustered by life in heels—while their leading lady brings powerhouse vocals and emotional grounding. The chemistry among the three drives both the laughs and the story’s more tender moments, and the supporting cast is praised for sharp character work that turns gangsters, bandmates, and hotel guests into memorable personalities rather than background figures.

The score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, with its jazz-infused, brass-heavy sound, is frequently described as one of the production’s secret weapons. Numbers that open the show and close the night are called out for grabbing the audience immediately and sending them home buzzing, while the ballads allow the central characters to wrestle with identity, ambition, and love in ways that feel modern but still rooted in classic Broadway style. Reviewers consistently praise how the music and lyrics balance clever humor with genuine feeling, making the show as moving as it is funny.

The creative team’s updates to the story are also getting strong local praise. Rather than simply re-staging the film, this version leans into themes of chosen family, gender expression, and the freedom to define oneself, all while keeping the fizzy screwball pace. Critics note that the book and direction manage to honor the beloved original while giving its characters richer inner lives and a more inclusive perspective, making the show feel right at home with contemporary audiences without losing its old-school charm.

Taken together, the DC reviews of Some Like It Hot paint a picture of a touring production firing on all cylinders: a gleaming design, knockout choreography, a charismatic cast, and a score that swings. For National Theatre audiences, Some Like It Hot offers exactly what a big musical comedy should—spectacle, romance, and a steady stream of jokes—wrapped around a story that ultimately celebrates joy, authenticity, and the courage to step into a new version of yourself. With performances running only through December 7, 2025, it’s a limited engagement that local theatergoers who love classic Broadway style with a contemporary spark will not want to miss.