'Heated Rivalry' Musical Parody Hits Broadway After Sold-Out Run

The musical 'Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody', written by Dylan MarcAurele, is set to premiere on Broadway after eight sold-out concert presentations in March. MarcAurele, known for his musical parodies of films like 'M3gan' and episodes of 'The Real Housewives', was inspired by the Canadian series. The show includes songs like 'Big Ass, Cold Heart' and 'Shane Hollander Slap That Stick', and features an added character named Susan, a devoted fan and somewhat unreliable narrator. MarcAurele, a musical theater composer, decided to adapt the series into a musical after watching it for only 20 minutes, highlighting the iconic bike scene.

The character of Susan, played by Ryann Redmond, came about from the need to connect with the growing number of female fans of the series and to have an efficient narrator with only four cast members. MarcAurele explained that the idea of a 'lovable wine mom' guiding the story resonated with him, especially due to the series' emotional connection with its audience. The musical includes a big opening number with the chorus singing: 'Gay hockey players with big butts'.

Due to demand and a desire to capitalize on the series' success, MarcAurele only had three weeks to write the musical before the March presentations. The cast had only a few days of rehearsal. Broadway actor Jay Armstrong Johnson was cast to play the character of Ilya Rozanov, facing the challenge of mastering the Russian accent in a short period of time. Armstrong commented that he initially thought a poor Russian accent might fit in the parody, but the director and MarcAurele corrected him, forcing him to hire a dialect coach.

After the sold-out presentations, the musical is preparing for a full eight-week run, with choreography, starting May 12 at the 6th Floor Theater. Armstrong will reprise his role as Ilya, along with Jimin Moon and returning cast members Redmond, Cherry Torres, and Ryan Duncan, all with Broadway experience. The production seeks to pay homage to the emotional resonance of the series, as expressed by MarcAurele, who identifies with the character of Shane Hollander.

It is unclear if the creators of the original series are aware of the musical parody. A press representative for Crave, the series' original streaming platform, did not respond to requests for comment. MarcAurele emphasizes that, although it is a parody, his musical also pays homage to the emotional resonance he found in the series. He says: 'Embarrassing to say, but I really identify with Shane Hollander. He’s this person who tries so hard to be the best hockey player that he can be, the best son that he can be, and you see his journey as a gay person. There’s just so much of it that resonated with me'.