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Apparently, New York audiences are not done watching two very hot hockey players fall in love while singing about it (and big butts). Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody has officially recouped its investment Off-Broadway and extended its run yet again, proving that the horny little hockey musical nobody necessarily asked for is a bona fide New York theatre hit.
Inspired by the hit Crave/HBO Max series about professional hockey players Shane Hollander (played by Hudson Williams in the TV show) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), Dylan MarcAurele’s parody opened Off-Broadway at the Culture Club this past May for what was initially just an eight-week run. It has now been extended through January 17, 2027.
That's an impressive trajectory for a show in the grand tradition of unauthorized musical spoofs, alongside gloriously unhinged stage sensations like Titanique and Silence! The Musical. In his Time Out review, Adam Feldman gave the show four stars, calling it an “unexpected delight” and praising its double entendres and “knowingly silly” approach to the source material.
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The basic setup will be familiar to anyone who has been anywhere near the Heated Rivalry fandom: Shane and Ilya are hockey rivals whose relationship evolves into something considerably more intimate. The musical takes that premise and throws it into the machinery of traditional musical theater, complete with big romantic numbers, broad comedy and enough innuendo to make a hockey locker room blush.
Producer Alan Kliffer and general manager Christian Palomares shared the following statement: "Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Parody Musical recouped its half-million-dollar capitalization in just 13 playing weeks with a 174-seat house at a beloved venue that had been dark for over a year. This is an extraordinary moment in today's theatre landscape, especially so for a musical parody about gay hockey players from Canada. Focusing on strong word-of-mouth and moving with deliberate speed in all steps allowed us to grow the show from a fan phenomenon into a musical with its own credibility, and everything since has built on those initial strategies. This happy moment for our team is another strong proof point for investing in Off-Broadway and redefining what musical parodies can do."
Jay Armstrong Johnson and Troy Iwata currently lead the cast as Ilya and Shane, with Ryann Redmond, Ryan Duncan and Shelby Acosta rounding out the five-person ensemble. An original cast album is scheduled to drop September 18.
Directed by Alan Kliffer, the show's creative team includes choreographers Brooke and Tiffany Engen, music director Mateo Chavez, scenic designer Sully Ross, costume designer Brendan McCann, lighting designer Devin Cameron, sound designer Germán Martinez and intimacy coordinator and sensitivity specialist Ann James. MarcAurele also penned the orchestrations.
Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody performs at The Culture Club at 530 W. 27th St. For more information and to buy tickets, click here.