Originally published Sunday, November 18, 2007 at 12:00 AM
"Tonya & Nancy" | the rock opera?
A musical version of the Tonya Harding-Nancy Kerrigan scandal is set to open Feb. 21 in Portland, Harding's hometown. "Tonya & Nancy Nancy:...
The Oregonian
PORTLAND — A musical version of the Tonya Harding-Nancy Kerrigan scandal is set to open Feb. 21 in Portland, Harding's hometown.
"Tonya & Nancy: The Rock Opera" features 20 freshly crafted rock 'n' roll songs bearing such titles as "Whip Her Butt," "Watch Your Back" and "When You Wake Up Sleeping in Your Car in Estacada."
On Jan. 6, 1994, a man clubbed Kerrigan, Harding's Olympic figure-skating rival, on the right knee as she left a practice session for the national skating championship. Six days later, Harding's bodyguard confessed to the attack and implicated Harding, her ex-husband and a couple of friends in a conspiracy to knock Kerrigan out of the competition.
Two months later, Harding pleaded guilty to hindering prosecution in the case and was banned for life by the U.S. Figure Skating Association.
"The whack is only part of their wacky, wacky world," said Don Horn, producer and director of the new show.
Horn said he first had the notion to stage the show after reading a newspaper article describing how Elizabeth Searle, a Massachusetts novelist, and her niece, Abigail Al-Doory, a classical composer, had written and staged a one-act chamber opera based on the Harding-Kerrigan affair. He liked the idea, he said, but thought it could improve if the script delved deeper into the skaters' histories, personalities and entourages.
"Why did these girls ever get to where they came to be? ... Maybe it needs to be something else, like 'Jerry Springer: The Opera.' "
Horn contacted Searle, who wrote the original libretto, and they have collaborated ever since, beefing up the script and writing new music. They enlisted help from composer and arranger Michael Teoli, whose résumé includes work on music for "Bee Movie," "The Simpsons Movie" and "The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King."
The result includes "incredibly catchy" music, said Searle, a self-described rock 'n' roller and novelist who devoured newspaper clippings about the Harding-Kerrigan scandal and its aftermath. She used direct quotes from the clips when she wrote the libretto for the chamber opera, and she dredged up more juicy details, Searle said, for the rock opera.
"I've been haunted by this story for years in my writing life," she said. "This is the first time I feel like: Finally, I've said everything I want to say. ... Every aspect of the story that interested me" is in the new show's script or lyrics.
When asked whether he'll invite Harding, who now lives in Washington, an ebullient Horn replied: "C'mon, girl!"
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company
As glam as he wants to be: Adam Lambert's real debut
CD review | BlakRoc's 'BlakRoc'
Elton John & Billy Joel reschedule Seattle concerts
Supergroup Them Crooked Vultures land at the Paramount
A wild and crazy list of best comedy albums ever

New Beginnings Christian Fellowship
Coming in this Sunday's Pacific Northwest Magazine: Pastor Braxton's mission is to preach a message that appeals to everyone.
general classifieds
Garage & estate salesFurniture & home furnishings
Sporting goods
just listed
6.5 kw Kohler gas generator - $599
Alto Saxophone - $400
ATV POLARIS TRAILBLAZER - $1800
More listings
POST A FREE LISTING
shopping
events for Tuesday, Nov. 24
- November happy hours and Thanksgiving weekend...
- Seattle Premium Outlets Midnight Madness Sale...
- Two-week opening at Midori Inc.
- Fall/Winter Sale at Clover
editors' picks
- Independent bookstores
- Vintage, consignment and used clothing
- Local jewelry designers
- Neighborhood shopping
- Two men in Everett shoot each other early today
- Steve Kelley | Next Seahawks GM should be Mike Holmgren
- Mariners Blog | Jose Lopez appears to be on his way out
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Amazon, Wal-Mart escalate Web price war
- As glam as he wants to be: Adam Lambert's real debut
- Sprouts, raw fish on attorney's 'do not eat' list
- Bellevue Blog | Bellevue residents blast new bikini espresso stand
- Big demand, grim outlook for state Basic Health Plan
- Husky Men's Basketball Blog | An interview with Enes Kanter's coach
- Illegal workers quietly let go
441 - Bellevue residents blast new bikini espresso stand
248 - Jose Lopez appears to be on his way out
230 - Big demand, grim outlook for state Basic Health Plan
198 - Next Seahawks GM should be Mike Holmgren
148 - Washington State coach Paul Wulff says he's excited about Cougars' future
137 - Hate crimes against gays, religious groups up, FBI says
84 - Some fans at Fort Bragg see themselves in Sarah Palin
81 - Man shoots self at Westlake Center
68 - Teen pimp found guilty of human trafficking
55
- Sprouts, raw fish on attorney's 'do not eat' list
- Tattoos at Mill Creek church pierce skin, soul
- Food-safety lawyer's wish: Put me out of business
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Architects, chefs find 'kid' within to build Gingerbread Village
- Nicole Brodeur | Homeless woman bent on giving
- Portland cafe's specialty: medical-marijuana tokes
- Big demand, grim outlook for state Basic Health Plan
- Hutch gets $10M from Bezos family for immunotherapy research
- Rediscovering Moab, 'the most beautiful place on Earth'




