If closeted gays seem so 2010s, you’re not entirely wrong. What’s old is new again as Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody arrives Off-Broadway in a campy, queer, and surprisingly heart-tugging nod to the hit HBO Max series.
Dylan MarcAurele has written the book, music, lyrics, and orchestrations for this slick stage spoof of Rachel Reid’s novel and its titillating TV adaptation. The series stars Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams as testosterone-driven hockey players Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander, who meet on the ice and turn up the heat in bedrooms and hotel rooms across North America.
From puck to *uck
The parody debuted this spring as a series of concert performances and now occupies the makeshift Culture Club (formerly The McKittrick Hotel), with most of the cast intact, including Jay Armstrong Johnson as Ilya, the bad-boy Russian center. Jimin Moon (Sunset Boulevard) skates into the role of Shane, originated by Zachary Noah Piser (now starring in Broadway’s Maybe Happy Ending).
Fortunately, the pheromones rage on. It’s easy to be enraptured by Johnson and Moon, who, under Alan Kliffer’s direction, strike the delicate balance of camp and chemistry. They’re in fantastic company, with a supporting cast of powerhouse character actors and vocalists, including Ryann Redmond, Cherry Torres, and Ryan Duncan, who swap wigs and props faster than an SNL skit without commercial breaks.
Sully Ross’s scenic design—a series of cramped flats—feels as if it might collapse at any moment, but it adds fuel to Brendan McCann’s costume and prop design, which pays homage to queer theatermaking predecessors like Ridiculous Theatrical Company’s Charles Ludlam and Everett Quinton.
Still, Heated Rivalry is its own beast, bolstered by a familiar IP that will put butts (though not quite as muscular as Ilya’s) in seats. There’s no shortage of similar shows on Broadway right now, Titaníque and Schmigadoon! among them, at a higher price point. Cost aside, the musical delivers a delightful queer romp, perfect for Pride month or anyone craving a chicken smoothie. IYKYK. And if you don’t, you’ll still have a great time.
It wants better content.
Is ‘Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody’ worth seeing?
As horny and heartfelt as the source material, Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody brings the goods Off-Broadway.
- The Culture Club, 6th Floor Theater, 530 West 27th Street, New York, NY
- Notable performers: Jay Armstrong Johnson, Jimin Moon, Ryann Redmond, Cherry Torres, Ryan Duncan
- Running time: 85 minutes, no intermission
- Performances through September 7, 2026
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