Has Anyone Caught the HEATED RIVALRY Parody Musical?

[Magic2Do]

Has Anyone Caught the HEATED RIVALRY Parody Musical?#1

Posted: 5/20/26 at 8:34am

Okay so the Heated Rivalry parody musical (yes, the hockey romance one) is apparently a real thing playing right now, and people are coming out of it saying it is hilariously stupid in the best possible way. I love a good parody musical -- Titanique scratched that itch perfectly and clearly there's an audience for these silly devoted-fandom adaptations. Has anyone seen it? Worth tracking down? And is it just preaching to the converted (i.e., people who already love the source material) or does it work for people who have never read the books?
 

[dramamama611]

Has Anyone Caught the HEATED RIVALRY Parody Musical?#2

Posted: 5/20/26 at 9:54am

Have you seen the TV show?  While it could be amusing without knowing either of the sources, I think a lot would be lost. But I find that true of most parodies!

 

But I've heard good things about it two, both leads are terrific performers. Trying to plan my own trip to see it.

If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

[Lot666]

Has Anyone Caught the HEATED RIVALRY Parody Musical?#3

Posted: 5/21/26 at 7:47am

My husband and I saw it last Thursday night, and both of us LOVED it and would happily see it again. We also both love the TV show (and I've read all of Rachel Reid's books) and were initially concerned that a parody of it might be mean-spirited, but the musical manages to be laugh-out-loud hilarious while remaining reverential to the source material. There are some great voices in the cast, and the two leads bear a sufficient resemblance to Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams to pull it off. The performance we attended was sold out, and the audience roared their approval. It just opened last week, and I believe they have already announced an extension. 

It may not make sense to those who have not watched the TV show or read the books.

==> this board is a nest of vipers <==
"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene"
- Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage

[dramamama611]

Has Anyone Caught the HEATED RIVALRY Parody Musical?#4

Posted: 5/21/26 at 8:44am

Glad to hear it! I'm going the first weekend in June.

 

Question, someone mentioned that they use Connor's voice from his childhood YouTube vid to "prove" or imply the character is gay and found it distasteful. What's your take on it?

 

(And you're right about an extension.)

If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

[Lot666]

Has Anyone Caught the HEATED RIVALRY Parody Musical?#5

Posted: 5/21/26 at 8:59am

dramamama611 said: "Question, someone mentioned that they use Connor's voice from his childhood YouTube vid to "prove" or imply the character is gay and found it distasteful. What's your take on it?"

This is true, and it was the only (very brief, just a few seconds) segment in which we thought they may have crossed a line. We didn't feel that it was appropriate to use Connor's actual voice as a child for laughs, and it would in no way diminish the show to cut this part.

 

==> this board is a nest of vipers <==
"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene"
- Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage

Updated On: 5/21/26 at 08:59 AM

[dramamama611]

Has Anyone Caught the HEATED RIVALRY Parody Musical?#6

Posted: 5/21/26 at 2:09pm

Interesting.  I wasn't sure if the other person that brought this up (on Reddit, after all) was reading too much into it or not.  Sorry to hear, however, that they seem to be spot on about it.   Maybe they'll cut it.  But I won't hold my breath.

If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

[Wayman_Wong]

Has Anyone Caught the HEATED RIVALRY Parody Musical?#7

Posted: 5/21/26 at 2:17pm

Page Six: Stars of Off-Broadway 'Heated Rivalry' Parody Face Off With Ilya & Shane Lookalike Winners

Jay Armstrong Johnson & Jimin Moon
vs. Felix Eller & Aram Matagi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkIDYRdP0Yo&t=14s

Updated On: 5/21/26 at 02:17 PM

[Lot666]

Has Anyone Caught the HEATED RIVALRY Parody Musical?#8

Posted: 5/21/26 at 2:46pm

dramamama611 said: "Interesting. I wasn't sure if the other person that brought this up (on Reddit, after all) was reading too much into it or not. Sorry to hear, however, that they seem to be spot on about it. Maybe they'll cut it. But I won't hold my breath."

I really do wish they'd cut it (it's only a few seconds and completely unnecessary) because it was the only thing that felt mean in what we otherwise thought was a warm and funny show.

==> this board is a nest of vipers <==
"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene"
- Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage

Updated On: 5/21/26 at 02:46 PM

[MezzA101]

Has Anyone Caught the HEATED RIVALRY Parody Musical?#9

Posted: 5/27/26 at 1:52pm

For One Night I Became a Star of ‘Heated Rivalry’

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/27/theater/heated-rivalry-parody-theater-off-broadway.html?unlocked_article_code=1.llA.VQzn.QBnoxu3-x46J&smid=nytcore-android-share

[dramamama611]

Has Anyone Caught the HEATED RIVALRY Parody Musical?#10

Posted: 5/27/26 at 4:23pm

Adorable.    It would be awesome if any of the cast came to see it, you know they'd be pulled.   

 

 

If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

[jpbran]

Has Anyone Caught the HEATED RIVALRY Parody Musical?#11

Posted: 5/27/26 at 4:32pm

Just like the guy hosting SNL, it all seems soooo fast. (SNL gig was only a couple of months after hitting the public eye) This phenomenon is only 6-ish months in, and we already have a legit commercial launch of a parody musical. Wish things could percolate a bit more before becoming so all-encompassing. 

Updated On: 5/27/26 at 04:32 PM

[Ensemble1698878795]

Has Anyone Caught the HEATED RIVALRY Parody Musical?#12

Posted: 5/27/26 at 4:41pm

I saw this in previews. It's very smart and very good. The writing is as silly as the concept and if you're a fan of the show you'll have a blast. It joins the ranks of Titanique, but with original music. 

[Matt Rogers]

Has Anyone Caught the HEATED RIVALRY Parody Musical?#13

Posted: 5/27/26 at 6:07pm

Time Out NY - 4 stars

https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/theater-review-the-heated-rivalry-musical-shoots-and-scores-052726?fbclid=IwY2xjawSESNlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA80MDk5NjI2MjMwODU2MDkAAR7cUvNeHvpDo4a0Yc9MZvpMHsE6P3c2YATTGyAhYyyVFBpCWqJLic_dbVBjjA_aem_wuEJK5LHy96p5XcBGndczw&utm_id=97757_v0_s01_e233_tv2_tp1_a1dennhb5hee6q

[lovett1979]

Has Anyone Caught the HEATED RIVALRY Parody Musical?#14

Posted: 5/28/26 at 10:42am

I saw the show a few weeks ago and absolutely loved it. I am a total Heated Rivalry Loon and a theatre fanatic (obviously) so it really felt like it was written just for me. "Rose" has one line describing something that was LITERLLY me, and that I could never imagine anyone else having, so I think the writer and I are psychically linked or something, lol. The cast is phenomenal and the writing is really clever, with great music as well (I hope they make a cast album).

dramamama611 said: "Question, someone mentioned that they use Connor's voice from his childhood YouTube vid to "prove" or imply the character is gay and found it distasteful. What's your take on it?"

Yes, and this really bothered me. Especially because of the disturbing way a lot of online discussions have blurred the lines between Shane/Ilya and Hudson/Connor regarding their personal relationships and speculation about their sexual orientations, using something that is actually Connor (and as a child, no less) as "evidence" that Ilya is gay (implication being that the child in the video is clearly gay) was really disturbing to me. Again, I loved the show so, so much but that part of it is so offensive that I have trouble giving it full-hearted praise.