Ministry of Pop Culture

Ministry of Pop Culture

'Heated Rivalry' and the Rise of the Parody Musical

A new "Heated Rivalry" musical off Broadway is a riot, while "Schmigadoon!" and "Titanique" cleaned up at the Tony nominations. Are we in a new era of the great meta-musical?

Jennifer Keishin Armstrong's avatar
Jennifer Keishin Armstrong
May 15, 2026
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Jay Armstrong Johnson and Jimin Moon in Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody. (Marc J. Franklin/Playbill)

Three characters, all named Susan, take the stage in a small theater on the seventh floor of a building in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood, pretending to fold laundry as they sing a delicate ode to the passionate interest that unites …

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