“Heated Rivalry ”Parody Musical Gets Steamy with Shirtless First-Look Pics at Stage Show's Spot-On Ilya and Shane
“Heated Rivalry ”Parody Musical Gets Steamy with Shirtless First-Look Pics at Stage Show's Spot-On Ilya and Shane
Dave QuinnWed, April 15, 2026 at 12:40 PM UTC
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Jay Armstrong Johnson and Jimin Moon in 'Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody'Credit: Marc J. Franklin -
Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody is coming to Off-Broadway for a limited eight-week run starting May 12
First-look photos capture stars Jay Armstrong Johnson and Jimin Moon as lovers Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander
The stage show is based on Rachel Reid's bestselling hockey romance novel and its popular HBO Max adaptation
They better keep the air conditioning blasting in the theater, because the Heated Rivalry musical looks hot.
Off-Broadway's upcoming unauthorized stage parody — based on the beloved hockey romance book and its HBO Max series — has unveiled its first official photos, offering a steamy glimpse at stars Jay Armstrong Johnson and Jimin Moon in action.
The photos, snapped by shutterbug Marc J. Franklin, capture both the physicality and intimacy of the rivals-turned-lovers dynamic that has made the source material such a fan favorite, with the actors mirroring the energy — and look — of Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander, the fan-favorite characters Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams made famous on screen.
Jay Armstrong Johnson and Jimin Moon in 'Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody'Credit: Marc J. Franklin
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Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody begins performances May 12 at the 6th Floor Theater at 530 West 27th Street (formerly The McKittrick Hotel). Opening night is set for May 26, with the show currently scheduled to run for eight weeks only.
Directed by Alan Kliffer and written by Dylan MarcAurele, the cheeky, music-filled send-up is inspired by Rachel Reid's bestselling 2019 hockey romance novel, which follows the secret, slow-burn relationship between rival NHL stars Ilya and Shane.
Johnson and Moon lead the production as Ilya and Shane, respectively, bringing to life the intense rivals-to-lovers dynamic that has fueled the story's devoted fanbase.
Both actors bring extensive stage experience to the production. Johnson's credits include Broadway's Catch Me If You Can, Hair, Hands on a Hardbody, Parade and On the Town, while Moon earned acclaim understudying the lead role of Joe in last season's revival of Sunset Boulevard after appearing in Lempicka and Aladdin.
Joining them are joined by Ryann Redmond (Frozen, Bring It On), Cherry Torres (Hamilton) and Ryan Duncan (Gettin' The Band Back Together).
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Cherry Torres, Jimin Moon, Ryann Redmond, Jay Armstrong Johnson and Ryan Duncan in 'Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody'Credit: Marc J. Franklin
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Described as a “hot and steamy romp,” the parody features a pop-infused score of original songs, along with over-the-top elements including scene-stealing cameos from characters like “Rose Landry” and even “Ilya's Ass,” plus time jumps that “absolutely no one can keep track of,” according to the official release.
"See all of your favorite moments from the series that made you wet (with tears) up close on the small-stage by an incredible cast of Broadway actors who thought they were auditioning to be in Season 2," the description reads, adding that "audiences will find themselves hot, bothered and possibly saying, '...Girl!' Because with love, sometimes it comes when you least expect it... and sometimes, it comes hands-free."
Heated Rivalry became a breakout novel within Reid's Game Changers series, building a fiercely devoted fanbase for its emotional storytelling and rare depiction of queer love in professional sports.
That audience only grew with the story's leap to television, which turned its central romance into a pop culture obsession and made breakout stars of Storrie and Williams.
A poster for 'Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody'Credit: Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody'
The musical first gained buzz with eight sold-out concert presentations earlier this year, prompting the move to a fully staged Off-Broadway run.
MarcAurele penned the musical's book, music, lyrics and orchestrations. Choreography will come from Brooke and Tiffany Engen, with Sully Ross (scenic design), Brendan McCann (costume design), Devin Cameron (lighting design) and Germán Martinez (sound design) rounding out the creative team.
Tickets for Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody are on sale now.
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