When writer-composer Dylan MarcAurele watched the first episode of the hit Canadian series Heated Rivalry, he ended up binge-watching the entire show in one sitting. As he watched, he jotted down standout moments from the queer hockey romance — including the memorable bike scene, where a workout session between hockey stars Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, played by Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, turns unexpectedly intimate and emotionally charged.
About 20 minutes into the series, MarcAurele found himself wondering: “What if this were a musical?”
Known for creating musical parodies inspired by the horror film M3gan and episodes of The Real Housewives, MarcAurele wrote the show within a few weeks. What started as an intense creative sprint filled with songwriting and brainstorming quickly evolved into two sold-out concert readings before landing an off-Broadway run in New York, with previews beginning May 12.
The parody musical marks the latest chapter in the growing Heated Rivalry phenomenon. Originally a bestselling novel by Canadian author Rachel Reid, the story was adapted into a successful television series that has since sparked fan fiction, celebrity praise and an enthusiastic fan base eager for more.
A ‘love letter’ to the series
With season two of the TV adaptation expected in April 2027, the musical arrives at a perfect moment for fans craving more of the show’s signature queer joy. The creative team views the production as a fun, communal way to keep the story and its characters alive in the meantime.
MarcAurele describes the musical as a playful blend of queer pop-culture fandom and classic musical theatre influences. He points to grand, emotional productions like Anastasia and Chess as inspirations, while also leaning into campy humour, ballet-inspired hockey choreography and the energetic spirit of High School Musical.
While writing, he wanted to heighten the campiness and dramatic stakes without losing the sincerity of the characters’ emotions. He also aimed to create something nostalgic and reunion-like that longtime fans would appreciate.
Canadian director-producer Alan Kliffer describes the production as a “love letter” to the series. He says the rapid transition from concert readings to a full production in just two months felt less like pressure and more like a “happy accident” driven by the show’s cultural momentum.
Toronto-based film critic and Exclaim! Magazine film editor Rachel Ho believes that quick turnaround was necessary. “You have to strike when the iron is hot,” she said, explaining that modern audiences expect immediacy.
“Our attention spans are maxed out,” she said. “If you don’t get it done within a few months’ time … what’s the point?”
The team moved quickly, bringing in twin choreographers Tiffany and Brook Engen and assembling an experienced Broadway cast that includes Jay Armstrong Johnson as Ilya and Jimin Moon as Shane.
Finding the Ilya accent
Armstrong Johnson, who has worked professionally in theatre since 2007, says Kliffer first approached him through Instagram DMs, inviting him to participate in a concert reading without even requiring an audition. He accepted immediately.
“It seemed like a perfect opportunity for something fun and ridiculous,” Armstrong Johnson said.
Already a fan of the series because of its joyful portrayal of queer love, he describes it as “one of the more perfect pieces of television.”
At first, Armstrong Johnson assumed he could casually improvise Ilya’s Russian accent, joking that if it sounded off, it might make the performance even funnier. But MarcAurele and Kliffer pushed for authenticity instead.
To prepare, he hired a dialect coach — much like Connor Storrie did for the television series. Alongside studying Storrie’s performance, he relied on his musical-comedy background to strike the right balance between humour and emotional honesty.
“We’re both curly-headed boys from Texas,” Armstrong Johnson said. “So I’m really taking his inspiration and trying to do right by him.”
A narrator who plays it straight
MarcAurele also added a narrator character named Susan, described as a “wine mom.” According to him, she is a straight woman from Minnesota stuck in an unhappy marriage who, after her children are asleep, “wants to watch gay hockey players with big butts having sex.”
The character, played by Ryann Redmond, is meant to acknowledge how the series has attracted audiences beyond queer viewers. Rachel Ho believes the narrator cleverly highlights why Heated Rivalry resonated with such a broad audience.
Traditionally, Ho explains, queer stories were primarily created for queer communities because they offered belonging and representation. She says Heated Rivalry also provided comfort and emotional safety because it remained light-hearted and accessible while still exploring meaningful themes.
Still, Ilana Lucas, president of the Canadian Theatre Critics Association, has some reservations about framing the story through a heterosexual narrator.
“I’m always a little cautious of stories that say we need a straight framing device around this gay story,” she said, though she added that she would reserve judgment until seeing the production.
“It could just be very fun,” she said, “That the show does look at the fact that it became such a phenomenon where that really wasn’t expected.”
Armstrong Johnson says he has also noticed online concerns from fans worried that the parody could disrespect the source material or slip into homophobia. However, he stresses that the production is created entirely by queer writers, performers and directors, leaving no room for that kind of approach.
“It really is a love letter and a send-up of this thing that has had all the gays and theys and girlies in a chokehold for the last six months,” he said.
New York premiere, next stop Canada?
MarcAurele and Kliffer say reactions from early concert readings suggest the parody appeals to both dedicated fans and newcomers, with audiences leaving both laughing and emotionally touched.
“I hope that fans know that we’re just as much in love with the show as they are,” Kliffer said.
Because of that positive response — and the momentum surrounding the TV series — Kliffer decided to debut the musical in New York first in order to reach the widest possible global audience and media attention.
Lucas says she remains cautiously optimistic about the musical’s eight-week off-Broadway run.
“If it has success in New York then maybe it’ll come here, because it’s a Canadian phenomenon, right?”
Harnaik Singh Rathor is the Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of StudioX News Canada, Canada's multilingual digital news network serving diaspora communities across 44 languages. With a background in media production, public relations, and multicultural communications, he founded StudioX Film and TV Corporation to bridge the gap between mainstream Canadian media and the country's diverse immigrant communities. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), RTDNA Canada, CPRS Vancouver, Unifor, NEPMCC, and the Canada Freelance Union. He holds CAVCO Personnel Number SINH0106. Based in Surrey, British Columbia. | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harnaiksinghrathor/ | Muck Rack: https://muckrack.com/harnaiksinghrathor | Email: editor@studioxnews.ca
