The Story Behind the Show
Based on the 1994 Harding/Kerrigan Olympic scandal and using real news stories, Tonya & Nancy: The Rock Opera is a collision of tragedy and comedy in this tale of two girls going for the gold! In 1994, skater Nancy Kerrigan was attacked with a 'knee whack' and suspicions focussed on fellow Team USA skater Tonya Harding. Mayhem ensued. With libretto and concept by Elizabeth Searle and music by Michael Teoli, the rock opera inspired by this scandal is a dark comedy done with heart. The story is in a sense beyond satire, since the level of absurdity and melodrama in the real events is already so high. Audiences can expect hilarity, poignant moments, a radical score and non-stop energy in this unique theatrical experience.
Searle explains, “It was one of the first crazy tabloid stories that took over 24/7 news coverage. One of my inspirations for pursuing it was that at that time, the conservative commentator George Will made the comment, ‘This is a ridiculous story that has nothing whatsoever to do with life in America today.’ And I thought, ridiculous story, yes, of course. But it has everything to do with life in America.”
Searle explains, “It was one of the first crazy tabloid stories that took over 24/7 news coverage. One of my inspirations for pursuing it was that at that time, the conservative commentator George Will made the comment, ‘This is a ridiculous story that has nothing whatsoever to do with life in America today.’ And I thought, ridiculous story, yes, of course. But it has everything to do with life in America.”
The History of the Show
The rock opera is based on the one-act chamber opera TONYA & NANCY: THE OPERA, libretto and concept by Elizabeth Searle; music by Abigail Al-Doory Cross. The opera premiered to national media attention-- from ESPN Hollywood, MSNBC, Sports Illustrated, NPR, the New York Times, the London Times, the AP, mention by Jon Stewart on the Daily Show and more. It was performed at the American Reperatory Theater’s Zero Arrow Theater and produced by Tufts Music in 2006. It was selected as one of the top three new one-act operas by Opera Vista in Houston in 2007 and was performed in excerpt at the Opera Vista festival. In 2010 and in 2014, a full production of the opera was produced by Mixed Precipitation chamber opera company in Minneapolis/St. Paul, with previews ‘on ice.’
In 2008, Elizabeth Searle and Michael Teoli expanded the opera into a Rock Opera which was produced by Triangle Productions in Portland Oregon and directed by Don Horn. The show featured libretto by Searle and score by Teoli, including ‘additional music’ by Abigail Al-Doory Cross and a co-adaptation credit to director Don Horn for the Portland script, which Searle wrote. The show opened in Portland in Feb. of 2008 and received strong reviews (“Brilliant and touching”; the Portland Mercury). Tonya Harding, a Portland native, enthusiastically attended the opening night performance. The show received national coverage on Good Morning America, CNN, and CBS Early Show, the Boston Herald, the AP and more. The show's run was extended and it was nominated for two Portland Area Music awards. Since its initial run, the show has been reworked, with songs showcased at a Boston Cabaret and selected for performance at the LA Playwrights' Arena, Hot Night in the City, in May, 2010. Searle wrote a new Book for the show.
In 2011 a new ‘club version’ of the show premiered at American Repertory Theater’s Oberon theater in Boston in January 2011 and drew enthusiastic sold-out audiences during two consecutive snowstorms. The show was produced by Paul Boghosian and Harborside Films and directed by Janet Roston. It was invited back for a ‘return engagement’ by popular demand for critically acclaimed performances in July, 2011. It was featured in the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Ice Network, WGBH Boston and elsewhere.
Since then the show has been a finalist in NYC’s NAMT musical competition. It was showcased as a staged reading in NYC in April of 2013, produced by Harborside Films and starring Broadway performers Melissa Van Der Schyff and Janine Divita. The show was most recently performed in Feb. of 2014 sold-out club dates in Hollywood, produced by the Los Angeles Rock Opera Company in association with Harborside. The chamber opera version of the show was also playing in Feb. of 2014 in MN. Once again, the show drew national media including NewsOxy and MSN.
In 2015, TONYA & NANCY will have full-production performances in NYC as an official full-performance show at the New York Musical Festival (NYMF). Details to follow. Other future full productions are in the works.
MEDIA MADNESS: a Highlights List
TONYA & NANCY: THE ROCK OPERA (NYC; 2015)
Media coverage for the run at NYMF started off with a photo from Tonya & Nancy and an announcement in THEATER MANIA on April 17.
TONYA & NANCY: THE ROCK OPERA (LA, 2014)
Media coverage for the 2014 LA production of the Rock Opera included feature articles on MSN, NewsOXY (ranked a 'Most Popular" article) BroadwayWorld/LA, deathandtaxes.com, LAStageTimes, LA Weekly and PerformingArtsLive (selected as a Featured Event of the Week); mention in LA Times and TimeOut/LA; piece in Boston Herald 'InsideTrack' and an interview feature on The Sheena Metal Experience Show on LA Talk Radio.
TONYA & NANCY: THE ROCK OPERA (summer, 2011)
MEDIA COVERAGE for the 2011 July production of the Rock Opera included a feature article in the BOSTON GLOBE, an interview on WGBH TV (Centerstage), selection as an Arts Pick on WBUR, reviews and write-ups in THE BOSTON PHOENIX, EDGE, STUFF MAGAZINE, THE DAILY DIGG, THE NOISE, hollywoodeast.com, Metro, Ice Network, ArtSake.
TONYA & NANCY: THE ROCK OPERA (winter, 2011)
MEDIA COVERAGE for the 2011 Jan/Feb production of the Rock Opera included two features in THE BOSTON HERALD, selection as a 'Best Bet' in the BOSTON PHOENIX, TV coverage on FOX38 Boston, WBZ4 TV (CBS, Boston); TrackGalTV and the Emily Rooney radio show on WGBH Boston.
MEDIA COVERAGE (2007-2009) of Tonya & Nancy: the Rock Opera:
(updated media list - 2005/06/07)
INTERVIEWS about the opera:
In 2008, Elizabeth Searle and Michael Teoli expanded the opera into a Rock Opera which was produced by Triangle Productions in Portland Oregon and directed by Don Horn. The show featured libretto by Searle and score by Teoli, including ‘additional music’ by Abigail Al-Doory Cross and a co-adaptation credit to director Don Horn for the Portland script, which Searle wrote. The show opened in Portland in Feb. of 2008 and received strong reviews (“Brilliant and touching”; the Portland Mercury). Tonya Harding, a Portland native, enthusiastically attended the opening night performance. The show received national coverage on Good Morning America, CNN, and CBS Early Show, the Boston Herald, the AP and more. The show's run was extended and it was nominated for two Portland Area Music awards. Since its initial run, the show has been reworked, with songs showcased at a Boston Cabaret and selected for performance at the LA Playwrights' Arena, Hot Night in the City, in May, 2010. Searle wrote a new Book for the show.
In 2011 a new ‘club version’ of the show premiered at American Repertory Theater’s Oberon theater in Boston in January 2011 and drew enthusiastic sold-out audiences during two consecutive snowstorms. The show was produced by Paul Boghosian and Harborside Films and directed by Janet Roston. It was invited back for a ‘return engagement’ by popular demand for critically acclaimed performances in July, 2011. It was featured in the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Ice Network, WGBH Boston and elsewhere.
Since then the show has been a finalist in NYC’s NAMT musical competition. It was showcased as a staged reading in NYC in April of 2013, produced by Harborside Films and starring Broadway performers Melissa Van Der Schyff and Janine Divita. The show was most recently performed in Feb. of 2014 sold-out club dates in Hollywood, produced by the Los Angeles Rock Opera Company in association with Harborside. The chamber opera version of the show was also playing in Feb. of 2014 in MN. Once again, the show drew national media including NewsOxy and MSN.
In 2015, TONYA & NANCY will have full-production performances in NYC as an official full-performance show at the New York Musical Festival (NYMF). Details to follow. Other future full productions are in the works.
MEDIA MADNESS: a Highlights List
TONYA & NANCY: THE ROCK OPERA (NYC; 2015)
Media coverage for the run at NYMF started off with a photo from Tonya & Nancy and an announcement in THEATER MANIA on April 17.
TONYA & NANCY: THE ROCK OPERA (LA, 2014)
Media coverage for the 2014 LA production of the Rock Opera included feature articles on MSN, NewsOXY (ranked a 'Most Popular" article) BroadwayWorld/LA, deathandtaxes.com, LAStageTimes, LA Weekly and PerformingArtsLive (selected as a Featured Event of the Week); mention in LA Times and TimeOut/LA; piece in Boston Herald 'InsideTrack' and an interview feature on The Sheena Metal Experience Show on LA Talk Radio.
TONYA & NANCY: THE ROCK OPERA (summer, 2011)
MEDIA COVERAGE for the 2011 July production of the Rock Opera included a feature article in the BOSTON GLOBE, an interview on WGBH TV (Centerstage), selection as an Arts Pick on WBUR, reviews and write-ups in THE BOSTON PHOENIX, EDGE, STUFF MAGAZINE, THE DAILY DIGG, THE NOISE, hollywoodeast.com, Metro, Ice Network, ArtSake.
TONYA & NANCY: THE ROCK OPERA (winter, 2011)
MEDIA COVERAGE for the 2011 Jan/Feb production of the Rock Opera included two features in THE BOSTON HERALD, selection as a 'Best Bet' in the BOSTON PHOENIX, TV coverage on FOX38 Boston, WBZ4 TV (CBS, Boston); TrackGalTV and the Emily Rooney radio show on WGBH Boston.
MEDIA COVERAGE (2007-2009) of Tonya & Nancy: the Rock Opera:
- PORTLAND OREGONIAN; SEATTLE TIMES: article on the Rock Opera; article picked up by AP Wire and Newhouse News; reprinted in New York Sun and elsewhere; Nov/Dec 2007
- BOSTON HERALD: Inside Track article 'Rock Star Treatment'; Dec. 2007
- KANSAS CITY STAR: article reprinted in Seattle Times and elsewhere; Dec. 2007
- BOSTON GLOBE: Interview with Elizabeth Searle about Rock Opera: "WHY TONYA HARDING VS. NANCY KERRIGAN MAKES A PERFECT ROCK OPERA", by Pagan Kennedy; Jan. 13 2008
- PORTLAND OREGONIAN: "Go Figure: Tonya Will Attend"; Feb. 5, 2008
- PORTLAND OREGONIAN: "'TONYA' ROCKS THE STAGE" (front page); Feb. 23, 2008
- PORTLAND TRIBUNE: TONYA AND NANCY: THE ROCK OPERA ; Feb. 19, 2008
- ASSOCIATED PRESS wire story on opera published nationwide; Feb. 22, 2008
- FOX Network News: rehearsal footage from Rock Opera broadcast Feb. 22, 2008
- GOOD MORNING AMERICA: story on Rock Opera broadcast Feb. 23, 2008
- CNN News: story broadcast Feb. 22, 2008
- PORTLAND MERCURY: review published, Feb. 27, 2008
- THE COLUMBIAN newspaper: review published Feb. 25, 2008
- CBS: THE EARLY SHOW: Elizabeth interviewed June, 2008
- Garrison Keillor, Writer's Almanac; Elizabeth featured; Jan. 2009
- NEWSDAY article; Elizabeth interviewed about the Rock Opera; Feb. 2009
(updated media list - 2005/06/07)
INTERVIEWS about the opera:
- ESPN2; Searle interview on the show ESPN Hollywood
- MSNBC; Searle interview on Tucker Carlson show, The Situation
- The Chet Curtis Report; New England Cable News; Searle interview on show
- Radio interviews in Portland, OR and Seattle, WA and Boston;
Radio interviews on Maine Public Radio and the Canadian Broadcast Corporation (Feb. '06). Interview on WLXZ, Boston and Literary Lights, Boston - FOX affiliate Channel 25 (Boston) and NBC affiliate Channel 7 (Boston);
interviews broadcast throughout country; clips on MSNBC; May, 2006 - NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO: Opera featured on IT'S ONLY A GAME; May, 2006;
rebroadcast in ‘best of’ show: Oct., 2006
- ASSOCIATED PRESS: OCT. 13, 2005 (article printed throughout USA and world)
- BOSTON HERALD: article in Inside Track; Oct. 13, 2005
- USA TODAY article: Oct. 14, 2005
- SPORTS ILLUSTRATED article: Oct. 19, 2005
- NEW YORK TIMES: Oct. 18, 2005
- LONDON TIMES: article, Oct. 29, 2005
- BOSTON GLOBE article: Nov. 6, 2005
- LONDON DAILY TELEGRAPH: Feb., 2006
- ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION; Feb., 2006
- MUSO Magazine (UK/USA) article; many
other music and theater magazines including PLAYBILL - BOSTON HERALD: May 1, 2006
- ASSOCIATED PRESS: May 1, 2006
(article and photos printed throughout USA and world) - PORTLAND OREGONIAN: May 7, 2006
- ESPN MAGAZINE: article and photo spread: June 5, 2006
- BOSTON HERALD: article and photo, June 16, 2006