The off-Broadway production “Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody” is bringing its queer hockey romance to Toronto’s Soulpepper Theatre for a limited three-night run starting on July 9. Canadian director-producer Alan Kliffer highlights the significance of timing and momentum in bringing the show to Canada.
The musical parody, inspired by the popular Canadian TV series “Heated Rivalry,” originated from writer-composer Dylan MarcAurele’s idea to turn the love story between characters Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov into a musical after binge-watching the series. The show quickly gained traction, evolving from songwriting sessions to sold-out concert readings and eventually to an off-Broadway debut on May 26, which has been extended due to its success.
Kliffer expresses excitement about debuting the show in Canada at Soulpepper Theatre in Toronto, emphasizing his positive working relationship with artistic director Paolo Santalucia. Santalucia believes that the show aligns naturally with Soulpepper’s ethos and praises its ability to engage a global audience with Canadian creativity.
The Toronto performances, scheduled from July 9 to July 12, will be presented as staged concert readings due to logistical constraints, promising an engaging experience with minimal props and costumes. Following Toronto, the Canadian cast will head to the Just for Laughs comedy festival in Montreal from July 17 to 19, with plans for a future UK production later in the year.
Kliffer envisions a larger-scale production in Canada and hopes that the Toronto staging will pave the way for this ambition. He looks forward to the possibility of the TV series’ stars and creative team attending the show in Toronto, expressing admiration for their work.