Story perspectives

Heated Rivalry Musical Launches in NYC, Heads to Edinburgh

5/28/2026

Summary

Heated Rivalry Opens

Heated Rivalry opened at Manhattan’s Culture Club on May 26, 2026, extending to September 7, 2026.
Dylan MarcAurele wrote the book, music, lyrics and orchestrations.
Alan Kliffer directed the 85-minute, intermission-free production.
The cast includes Jay Armstrong Johnson, Jimin Moon, Ryann Redmond, Cherry Torres and Ryan Duncan.
Fans in hockey jerseys and rainbow flags sold out tickets, prompting a UK premiere at Underbelly during the Edinburgh Fringe summer 2026.

Summary

Kliffer Invites

Director Alan Kliffer invited an audience member to play François Arnaud’s obsessive jogger.
Choreographers Brooke Engen and Tiffany Engen staged bunny-hopping numbers.
Set designer Sully Ross built panels that sometimes jam.
Sound designer Germán Martinez’s mix buries lyrics while spotlight operator Devin Cameron floods stage to stress budget.
Audience volunteers are selected for a segment that gives them a part while the venue forces six TV episodes into 80-minute musical.

History

Historical Context

On 19 June 1975 the Rocky Horror Show opened at London’s 60-seat Royal Court, based on Richard O’Brien’s glam-rock script. After moving to larger venues in 1973 and debuting in the United States in 1974, the production logged 2,960 performances and sold 1.2 million tickets by 1980, proving interactive theater’s commercial appeal. The 1976 midnight-screen craze, promoted by producer Lou Adler, cemented audience participation as a lasting trend.

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Heated Rivalry Opens

Heated Rivalry opened at Manhattan’s Culture Club on May 26, 2026, extending to September 7, 2026.
Dylan MarcAurele wrote the book, music, lyrics and orchestrations.
Alan Kliffer directed the 85-minute, intermission-free production.
The cast includes Jay Armstrong Johnson, Jimin Moon, Ryann Redmond, Cherry Torres and Ryan Duncan.
Fans in hockey jerseys and rainbow flags sold out tickets, prompting a UK premiere at Underbelly during the Edinburgh Fringe summer 2026.

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