Blab Entertainment
Broadways Some Like It Hot Musical and Universals Upcoming Rom-Com One Night Only Highlight Shifts in Representation and Satire
From the bright lights of the Shubert Theatre to the silver screen, two fresh projects are redefining how mainstream entertainment tackles identity and satire.
The Broadway musical Some Like It Hot opened in December 2022 and closed its final curtain on December 30, 2023. The stage adaptation of the 1959 film bears a book by Matthew López and Amber Ruffin, with music and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. It earned 13 Tony Award nominations—including Best Musical—and collected four trophies in 2023. Lead actor J. Harrison Ghee, who plays Jerry/Daphne, captured the Tony for Best Leading Actor in a Musical, becoming one of the first openly non‑binary performers to receive the honor.
The production’s spectacle is unmistakable: large‑scale numbers, glittering costumes, and intricate tap‑dance choreography that echo the original’s slapstick roots. Critics have praised how the show reimagines the film’s drag comedy as a trans‑affirming narrative. Jerry’s epiphany—that they have always been meant to live as Daphne—unfolds through moments such as the number “You Could’ve Knocked Me Over With a Feather,” where the lyric “the lady that I’m loving is me” replaces the film’s classic “nobody’s perfect” line with a tender declaration of self‑acceptance.
The musical’s evolution sparked broader conversations about visibility for transgender and non‑binary performers on Broadway. Ghee’s Tony win was celebrated by the LGBTQ+ community and even mentioned during a White House visit that coincided with Pride month. The show’s success signals a growing appetite for inclusive storytelling in mainstream theater, and its run has become a touchstone for what representation can look like on the Great White Way.
In a different arena, Universal Pictures announced that the romantic comedy One Night Only will hit theaters on August 7, 2026. Directed and produced by Will Gluck—known for Easy A, Friends with Benefits, and the Peter Rabbit series—the film stars Monica Barbaro as Allie and Callum Turner as Owen. Written by Travis Braun, the story is set in an alternate future America where sex between unmarried partners is prohibited for all but one night a year. The premise has been described as a satire of consumerism and the political climate, with reviewers noting its playful take on a “sex purge” scenario.
Critical reception to One Night Only has been mixed but largely upbeat. Seattle Refined called it a “fun romp” that forgives plot holes for its comedic intent. Indy100 and Exclaim praised the film’s light‑hearted approach to familiar rom‑com tropes, while Cinema Daily highlighted its inventive twist on genre conventions. The satire has been interpreted as a commentary on living in a “semi‑normal” life under a conservative government, using the absurdity of a one‑night‑per‑year rule to lampoon modern consumerism.
Both projects illustrate how contemporary entertainment navigates cultural moments. Some Like It Hot re‑imagines a classic comedy to foreground trans representation, while One Night Only leverages a speculative premise to comment on current social and political anxieties. The musical’s run concluded on December 30, 2023, and the film is slated for a summer 2026 release, positioning it within Universal’s slate of mid‑budget comedies.
Together, the works underscore the importance of representation and satire in shaping audience expectations. Ghee’s Tony win and the musical’s inclusive narrative signal a shift toward broader visibility on stage, whereas One Night Only demonstrates how comedy can serve as a vehicle for social commentary. As the entertainment industry continues to evolve, these projects provide concrete examples of how storytelling can reflect and influence contemporary cultural conversations.
The Broadway musical Some Like It Hot opened in December 2022 and closed its final curtain on December 30, 2023. The stage adaptation of the 1959 film bears a book by Matthew López and Amber Ruffin, with music and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. It earned 13 Tony Award nominations—including Best Musical—and collected four trophies in 2023. Lead actor J. Harrison Ghee, who plays Jerry/Daphne, captured the Tony for Best Leading Actor in a Musical, becoming one of the first openly non‑binary performers to receive the honor.
The production’s spectacle is unmistakable: large‑scale numbers, glittering costumes, and intricate tap‑dance choreography that echo the original’s slapstick roots. Critics have praised how the show reimagines the film’s drag comedy as a trans‑affirming narrative. Jerry’s epiphany—that they have always been meant to live as Daphne—unfolds through moments such as the number “You Could’ve Knocked Me Over With a Feather,” where the lyric “the lady that I’m loving is me” replaces the film’s classic “nobody’s perfect” line with a tender declaration of self‑acceptance.
The musical’s evolution sparked broader conversations about visibility for transgender and non‑binary performers on Broadway. Ghee’s Tony win was celebrated by the LGBTQ+ community and even mentioned during a White House visit that coincided with Pride month. The show’s success signals a growing appetite for inclusive storytelling in mainstream theater, and its run has become a touchstone for what representation can look like on the Great White Way.
In a different arena, Universal Pictures announced that the romantic comedy One Night Only will hit theaters on August 7, 2026. Directed and produced by Will Gluck—known for Easy A, Friends with Benefits, and the Peter Rabbit series—the film stars Monica Barbaro as Allie and Callum Turner as Owen. Written by Travis Braun, the story is set in an alternate future America where sex between unmarried partners is prohibited for all but one night a year. The premise has been described as a satire of consumerism and the political climate, with reviewers noting its playful take on a “sex purge” scenario.
Critical reception to One Night Only has been mixed but largely upbeat. Seattle Refined called it a “fun romp” that forgives plot holes for its comedic intent. Indy100 and Exclaim praised the film’s light‑hearted approach to familiar rom‑com tropes, while Cinema Daily highlighted its inventive twist on genre conventions. The satire has been interpreted as a commentary on living in a “semi‑normal” life under a conservative government, using the absurdity of a one‑night‑per‑year rule to lampoon modern consumerism.
Both projects illustrate how contemporary entertainment navigates cultural moments. Some Like It Hot re‑imagines a classic comedy to foreground trans representation, while One Night Only leverages a speculative premise to comment on current social and political anxieties. The musical’s run concluded on December 30, 2023, and the film is slated for a summer 2026 release, positioning it within Universal’s slate of mid‑budget comedies.
Together, the works underscore the importance of representation and satire in shaping audience expectations. Ghee’s Tony win and the musical’s inclusive narrative signal a shift toward broader visibility on stage, whereas One Night Only demonstrates how comedy can serve as a vehicle for social commentary. As the entertainment industry continues to evolve, these projects provide concrete examples of how storytelling can reflect and influence contemporary cultural conversations.
