Photo Flash: Abingdon Theatre Company Celebrates Opening NIght of TONYA & NANCY: THE ROCK OPERA:

Abingdon Theatre Company, in association with Paul Boghosian and Jim Kierstead, Executive Producer, will present a special one-night only concert of Tonya & Nancy: The Rock Opera, a darkly comedic original musical done with a great deal of heart, with libretto and concept by Elizabeth Searle and music by Michael Teoli, on Monday evening, February 4, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street).

Directed by Rachel Klein, the eight-member cast will feature Sara Jean Ford as Nancy, Becca Kotte as Tonya, Cheryl Stern as Mom, Jared Zirilli as Jeff, with Heidi Friese, Chase Kamata, Ryan MacConnell and Colin Barkell. Henry Aronson is Musical Director.

This work of fiction, inspired by actual events, utilizes the 1994 Tonya Harding and NANCY KERRIGAN media scandal to explore America's obsession with celebrity scandals and its "go for the gold at all cost" attitude. With libretto and concept by Elizabeth Searle and music by Michael Teoli, audiences can expect hilarity, poignant moments, a radical score and non-stop energy in this unique theatrical experience.

The show has drawn national media and has played in Boston, Los Angeles, Portland, Oregon (where Tonya Harding attended the premiere), and in NYC in a sold-out run at NYMF, as well in Chicago, where it was named one of the Top Five musicals of the year by New City Stages and nominated for two Jeff Theater Awards. The rock opera's 2018 concert at 54Below was produced by Broadway Records for a CD that earned 'high marks' on BroadwayWorld. Future productions of the show are in the works on both coasts. Media coverage for the rock opera has included "Good Morning America," "ESPN Hollywood," "CBS," "MSNBC," Sports Illustrated, NPR and much more. Last year, Broadway.com wrote: "Before there was the new Tonya Harding biopic I, Tonya, there was Tonya & Nancy: The Rock Opera, an uproarious musical."

For more information, please visit www.tonyaandnancytherockopera.com

Photo Credit: Clay Anderson