BUFFALO, N.Y. — "Some Like it Hot" began its national tour Tuesday night at Shea's Buffalo.
The Tony Award-winning musical just left Broadway, making Buffalo one of the first cities to catch the show. Based on the 1959 movie staring Marilyn Monroe, the musical combines classic Broadway with some modern twists and themes.
Orchard Park native and SUNY Fredonia graduate Devon Goffman plays Spats Colombo, a mobster in the show. He said that returning home for him and performing at Shea's has been emotional.
"I saw my very fist musical here when I was 5 years old. I saw fiddler on the roof with my mom," Goffman said.
In his free time he is seeing all his friends and family, but also taking time to speak with local students about his career.
"Its not hard for me to go around and tell a bunch of theater kids that its a great life to do shows for a living," Goffman said.
He attributes his success to those who encouraged him to pursue theater, saying, "Teachers, mentors, people believing in me and saying I could do it."
Jamie LaVerdiere plays Mulligan in the show and says it moves him nearly every night.
"You're going to laugh, hopefully you are going to cry. I cry every night in the Second Act. I won't tell you the song, I don't want to ruin it. It's a classic period piece that also has this modern sensibility layered into the adaptation that I think is really relevant to the world that we are living in today," LaVerdiere said.
He has also enjoyed spending some time in Buffalo.
"I love football, I love chicken, specifically wings, and I love theater, and to come in and to go right to the bar across the street and watch Josh Allen go nuclear," LaVerdiere said.
Throughout her travels, Tarra Connors Jones has never performed at Shea's before. She said that she and the rest of the cast were amazed at the beautiful building and the energy in the theater on opening night.
"This theater is incredible," Jones said. "My first time in Shea's, and just standing in this lobby is one of the most impressive things I've experienced in a very long time, I don't even know where to look."
"Some Like It Hot" runs at Shea's through Sunday, you can purchase tickets online or at the Shea's box office.