The off-Broadway production “Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody” is finally hitting home ice in Toronto. The queer hockey romance, inspired by a popular Canadian TV series, will have a three-night run at Soulpepper Theatre starting on July 9. Canadian director-producer Alan Kliffer sees the timing as perfect for bringing the show to Canada.
The idea for the musical parody came after writer-composer Dylan MarcAurele binged the TV series and pondered turning the romance between Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov into a musical. The concept quickly gained momentum, evolving from songwriting sessions to sold-out concert readings and eventually to a successful off-Broadway run that has been extended due to its popularity.
Soulpepper Theatre in Toronto serves as the ideal venue for the show’s Canadian debut, according to Kliffer, who praises the collaboration with artistic director Paolo Santalucia. The Canadian cast has been carefully selected to ensure a seamless transition for the production.
While the Toronto performances will be presented as staged concert readings rather than full productions, Kliffer promises an engaging experience with binder scripts, light costuming, and props. Following Toronto, the cast will head to Montreal’s Just for Laughs comedy festival before expanding the production to the UK later this year.
Looking ahead, Kliffer envisions a full-scale production coming to Canada and hopes to create a lasting impact with the show. Bringing the production to Toronto also offers a chance for the TV series’ cast and creative team to witness the musical firsthand.