Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody will turn its 7 p.m. performance on Friday, October 30 into a Halloween costume night at The Culture Club, with the cast judging the audience’s outfits on stage after the show.
Audience members are invited to come dressed as characters from the show, whether that means Shane, Ilya, Susan, a hockey puck or a favorite obscure reference from the show. The best costumes win prizes, and the judging takes place once the performance ends. Producer Alan Kliffer, who also directs, announced the event on October 8.
The musical spoofs the hockey series Heated Rivalry, following the golden-boy player Shane Hollander through a rivalry that becomes considerably more than that. The score leans on pop, and the running gags include walk-on parts for Rose Landry and Ilya’s Ass.
The production was first booked for eight weeks. It has since recouped and extended three times, and now runs Off-Broadway at The Culture Club, 530 West 27th Street, through Sunday, January 17, 2027.
Jay Armstrong Johnson plays Ilya Rozanov and Troy Iwata plays Shane Hollander, with Ryann Redmond, Shelby Acosta and Ryan Duncan completing the ensemble. Aaron Alcaraz, Dean Cestari and Sujaya Sunkara are the standbys.
Dylan MarcAurele wrote the book, music and lyrics and did the orchestrations. Choreography is by Brooke and Tiffany Engen, music direction by Mateo Chavez Lewis, scenic design by Sully Ross, costumes by Brendan McCann, lighting by Devin Cameron and sound by Germán Martinez. Ann James is intimacy coordinator and sensitivity specialist, and casting is by Geoff Josselson Casting. Klif Entertainment produces, with Christian Palomares as executive producer.
The original cast album came out on Center Stage Records on September 18 and is on the major streaming services.
Tickets for Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody are on sale now.
