J. Harrison Ghee believes their ministry is to unfold queer, Black pleasure. Beaming from their picture-perfect dressing room in a yellow blazer, it’s onerous to not really feel the sunshine radiating from their smile. Maybe it’s as a result of they’re starring within the Broadway hit Some Like It Sizzling, based mostly upon the Marilyn Monroe-led movie of the identical identify, or perhaps it’s that the musical permits Ghee to revel of their completely happy place whereas broadcasting their mission to the world.
“Since I used to be a child, I used to be at all times informed that I had a calling and that there was a ministry in me. I used to be informed it needed to look a sure method or be a sure factor. I now know my ministry is larger than what anyone else might attempt to placed on me,” Ghee, who makes use of any pronouns stated with respect, explains. “It’s one thing I’ve to be true and genuine to, to what my spirit says, and the place I function from.”
Set within the Prohibition Period, Some Like It Sizzling focuses on two musicians, Jerry (Ghee) and Joe (Christian Borle), who flee their dwelling base of Chicago after witnessing a violent mob hit. Whereas on the run, they disguise themselves as Daphne and Josephine respectively, and be part of an all-female swing band to evade their assailants. Whereas Joe begins to fall in love with the lead singer, Sugar (Adrianna Hicks), Jerry begins to embrace Daphne an increasing number of, ultimately resulting in an necessary revelation.
This isn’t Ghee’s first position on the Broadway stage. After rising up in North Carolina and transferring to New York for school, Ghee went on to play Lola in Kinky Boots and André Mayem in Mrs. Doubtfire. Ghee, who has been concerned in Some Like It Sizzling as Jerry/Daphne since 2019, is rightfully incomes reward for the efficiency, particularly for his or her second-act showstopper “You May’ve Knocked Me Over With a Feather.” As Daphne involves phrases along with her personal id as each Jerry and Daphne, Ghee’s voice soars, giving the character an effortlessly assured aura. Many critics have commented on the sincerity of Ghee’s gender-euphoric efficiency, and audiences like it too, with standing ovations following the 11 o’clock quantity and numerous stage door compliments.
Ghee remembers a selected viewers expertise from the stage door safety guard, Leon. “On opening, he was sitting up within the balcony and sat subsequent to a cisgender, white man and a girl,” Ghee particulars. “Once I did my track, the person turned to the woman he was with and goes, ‘I must deal with my son higher.’ That’s why I do what I do, for moments like that to make you suppose or really feel in another way than once you got here into the constructing.”
Ghee joined ELLE.com over Zoom to debate studying from Daphne, not submitting to labels, and why change on Broadway could be uncomfortable—however crucial.
Kevin Del Aguila, Adrianna Hicks, NaTasha Yvette Williams, Christian Borle, and the corporate of Some Like It Sizzling
How did you get right here? What was your upbringing like?
I grew up in North Carolina, in church, in a really spiritual household. My father’s been a pastor for over 20 years. That’s the place I discovered the ability of my items, of with the ability to transfer folks. It wasn’t till junior yr, actually going into senior yr [of high school] that I made a decision to pursue being an artist. Earlier than that, I used to be going to do one thing secure for the sake of my household. I used to be going to do communications and may very well be a journalist or one thing. However then I used to be like, there’s a lot extra I wish to do, and entertaining strikes me, and in addition I get to maneuver others. So, then I moved to New York to review at [The American Musical and Dramatic Academy] and by no means seemed again.
Why do you like Some Like It Sizzling?
So many causes. The literal journey of my character I get to have each evening is so wealthy to discover, and that’s what I’m excited to share with audiences. Then, to get to play reverse Christian Borle [Joe/Josephine] each evening and to have the camaraderie now we have is simply so lovely, to have that belief in one other artist and that enjoyable. To sing this unbelievable music each evening by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. That is desires, proper? It truly is such an unbelievable group of people that I get to work with on each entrance. It makes it so, so particular.
On that notice, what has it been like working with this all-star forged and crew, which additionally consists of the long-lasting Adrianna Hicks? Is there anybody you’re feeling notably linked with?
It’s onerous to play favorites right here. Everybody brings such fact to the work and that’s what [director and choreographer] Casey Nicholaw stays on us about in telling the story. He’s like, come from an trustworthy place. Sure, we’re doing these farce moments. Sure, it’s comedy, however do it based mostly in fact. Everybody is basically bringing themselves to the work. I really like all the connections that now we have on so many ranges, like NaTasha [Yvette Williams] and I are from the identical hometown. We’re each from Fayetteville, North Carolina. Adrianna and I did a workshop of The Sting in 2017. We have been each have been discovering newness in ourselves as artists in such a method. So, to have this full circle second to come back again collectively on this method is so particular. She’s like a bit sister to me, and I identical to love her a lot. Christian, we actually do have this sibling vitality that’s simply so enjoyable, trusting, and goofy. I imply, Kevin Del Aguila! It’s simply morsels and treats throughout.
What does the position of Daphne imply to you?
There’s a bit Daphne in everyone. You need to discover your Daphne and that freedom to stroll in that pleasure. I used to be telling Amber [Ruffin, who wrote the book] earlier at the moment that I take pleasure in doing the work forward of time and having a grasp on the character, the story, the journey, and all of the issues. Then, I stay up for permitting the character within the present to show me and to develop me as an artist and as a human. I’m at all times like, effectively, what’s that going to show me at the moment?
Daphne has taught me to maintain dwelling out loud. I used to say I by no means imagined being a drag queen, however the seeds have been at all times planted from once I was youthful. I by no means knew that it could lead me to my Broadway debut in Kinky Boots as Lola. I attempted to cover these issues. For a very long time, once I did drag in New York Metropolis, I stored all the things separate. I didn’t wish to be pigeonholed. However [drag] made me particular. I needed to settle for that to have the ability to step into fuller variations of myself. It’s typically these issues that we attempt to cover or avoid everybody that actually are what make us particular and assist us shine. I hope to encourage and encourage folks. Don’t cover these particular attributes about your self. Have fun them. Permit them to dwell out loud.
Christian Borle (Joe/Josephine), Adrianna Hicks (Sugar), and J. Harrison Ghee (Jerry/Daphne) for Some Like It Sizzling.
The Broadway manufacturing is a bit totally different from the Marilyn Monroe film, particularly in Daphne’s story. What was the dialog like round these adjustments?
There was a degree of belief all through the inventive workforce that was positioned in me that I’m grateful for. It helped me to face true for me as a person. There have been issues that I might come into the room, and contours have been put into the present that I say in my life. The road the place Joe says to me within the present, “What do I name you? Jerry or Daphne?” and my response is, “So long as you do it with love and respect.” Folks requested my pronouns on a regular basis, and I say all issues with respect, as a result of I stroll within the energy that I maintain all vitality inside me—masculine, female, all the things in between. That’s who I’m as a person. It’s so fascinating to observe folks attempt to compartmentalize me or to make sense of me. I like to maintain folks guessing. You’ll not label or restrict me in a method that bounds me.
There’s additionally the truth that Jerry/Daphne and Sugar are each Black within the musical, which may be very totally different from the movie. Particularly, it’s a Black expertise offered in a constructive gentle whereas set throughout a time during which Black experiences weren’t typically constructive.
It’s positively one thing I don’t take flippantly. We get to be these characters who’re actual, who’re human beings who’ve emotions who expertise life. We defend Black pleasure. We’re human beings. It’s fantastic to get to have this queer, Black expertise. And have it simply be that.
J. Harrison Ghee and the forged of Some Like It Sizzling for his or her opening evening curtain name.
I’ve seen a little bit of criticism about how sure roles on Broadway, particularly in exhibits like Tootsie or Mrs. Doubtfire, perpetuate this trope of a “man in a gown” whereas not absolutely understanding gender id. Some Like It Sizzling has gotten some fireplace for this. How do you suppose the present handles that, and what are your ideas?
For myself as an artist, I’m very intentional in regards to the issues that I do and the way I strategy [them]. One of many issues I’m grateful for in each course of in every present is the dedication to communication, dialog. The work is at all times being put in, in the best way of being aware of all the things we’re doing and intentional about how we try this. For me, drag is a instrument of freedom. It has at all times been one thing I take advantage of as an honoring of the female vitality in my life that has at all times supported me. I don’t take it flippantly being a drag artist in that method, and strolling in my authenticity and trusting the work I’m bringing as a queer artist to those levels.
Persons are at all times going to have one thing or need one thing to latch onto and to criticize. Oftentimes, these criticisms come based mostly out of worry, and even ignorance. Folks had lots to say, however by no means noticed the factor for themselves, however assume we had simply copied and pasted. It’s once you come see and expertise the factor for your self that you just’ll perceive the work will at all times prevail. And once more, I’m happy with the work that we did on all tasks, and particularly on Some Like It Sizzling, and the reality that we stroll in on a regular basis.
I additionally wished to ask in regards to the Tony Awards. There have been quite a lot of conversations surrounding the Tony Awards, particularly how nonbinary artists don’t match into the actor or actress classes. Justin David Sullivan from &Juliet withdrew themselves from consideration only recently. What made you, as a nonbinary artist, keep in consideration within the main actor class?
Staying in was very intentional. I’m grateful my producers thought-about and requested me earlier than saying they’ll submit me for consideration, acknowledging I establish on this method. They stated that that is how the Tonys are working, that is what we’re submitting you as. I recognize that, they usually perceive the human that they obtained on this course of, they usually know that I’m not going to indicate up any lower than who I’m. Another person’s labels or limits usually are not going to certain me and my means to do something. My artistry and the work will converse for itself. What anyone claims or places on is further, they usually’re attempting to put another person’s expertise on me. I’m right here to be intentional about my ministry and my work. So once more, I’m defending Black pleasure over right here. That’s all I’m doing.
How do you hope Broadway will proceed to develop and alter? How has it already modified in fantastic methods?
Toni Morrison stated that artists’ existence is innately political. We touch upon the instances, we we should always do the issues that trigger conversations. Even throughout this course of, there have been instances in speaking about illustration or my journey as Jerry/Daphne of, what are we saying? How are we doing this? What are we figuring out? I needed to keep true to myself and floor and be like, can we be artists and simply create the factor that causes dialog, and never be frightened about how it’s criticized, however belief in no matter imaginative and prescient now we have, try this factor, and let the story converse for itself? Let’s be artists and belief that factor.
So, there’s room for all tales to exist and be informed. I say now we have to function on this aware sensitivity. This consciousness that there are such a lot of existences—even on this interview, of you bringing your personal existence to this dialog. You could reply to a factor in a sure method that has nothing in any respect to do with me as a human. However, I could have triggered one thing in you, and I’ve to know consciously and sensitively that I’ve nothing to do with that and be okay with it.
Broadway simply has to stay open to the dialog of preserving the choices open and never limiting ourselves to being one factor. I’m grateful that conversations are being had. When you’re ignorant to it and stay closed off, you then’re exhibiting your playing cards and also you’re like, “Okay, I can reply to that and function accordingly.” So long as you retain the dialog open, meaning there’s room for development. As we spent two years away from Broadway and it shut down, coming again to it, you see the place persons are taking the time to do the work or not. It’s going to be a transition time. It’s not a direct, like, snap your fingers, all the things’s new, let’s wipe the slate clear. It’s operated a sure method for a very long time, and that’s [why] we’re going to must expertise some rising pains. It’s going be uncomfortable for lots of people for a second, however we should be uncomfortable. It’s okay to not be okay.
This interview has been edited and condensed for readability.
Some Like It Sizzling is presently working on the Shubert Theatre. Tickets can be found for buy here.
Samuel is the Assistant to the Editor-in-Chief at ELLE Journal. His pursuits embody music, theater, books, video video games, and something to do with Taylor Swift. He famously broke each his arms on the similar time in fourth grade.