XPost: alt.fan.tonya-harding, alt.skate.figure

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The Portlandian, the Internet's premier source of Tonya News

February 12, 2020 Edition -
(C) 2020 Portland Ice Skating Society
http://www.pdxiss.org *****************************************************************

Welcome to the first edition of "The Portlandian" for the New
Year.

The end of 2019 marks not only the end of another year but also
the end of a decade. The Teens have been great for Tonya - they
began on high note with her marriage in 2010 and the birth of her
son the following year, something that she didn't think was
possible. And it's finished off with a critically-acclaimed movie
that has rehabilitated her public image, an appearance in the
finale of Dancing With The Stars and her taking first prize on
Worst Cooks.

It's been a decade that has seen more progress for Tonya than
even the most optimistic Tonyaphile would have ever dreamt of.
Let's hope that the 20's will win her more fans and prove to be
even better.


TONYA-RELATED WORKS WIN CRITICAL ACCOLADES

The end of the decade has also seen movie critics looking back,
and "I Tonya" has been named on numerous "best of" lists by many
sources, including "best biopics" and "best movies of the 10's"
lists. Here's just some:

https://www.thewrap.com/10-best-biopics-of-the-2010s-from-i-tonya-to-the-wolf-of-wall-street-photos/

https://www.refinery29.com/en-ca/2019/12/9022333/best-biopics-biographical-movies

https://screenrant.com/most-iconic-portrayals-famous-people-celebrities-big-screen-movies/

https://screenrant.com/best-movie-performances-decade-2010s/

https://www.denofgeek.com/us/movies/285041/100-best-movies-of-the-decade

https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3043812/best-sports-biopics-2010s-fighter-moneyball-and-i-tonya

https://www.mandatory.com/culture/1532570-the-20-best-biopics-of-the-21st-century

https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2019/12/column-best-and-worst-movies Chapel Hill, NC.


Meanwhile, Sarah Marshall and Michael Hobbes' "You're Wrong
About..." podcast has been named one of the best of last year by
Time magazine and Vogue - and the Tonya episodes are specifically
mentioned!

https://time.com/5737235/best-podcasts-2019/

https://www.vogue.com/article/best-podcasts-for-travel


ROCK OPERA HITS THE ICE IN FLORIDA

"Tonya & Nancy: The Rock Opera" made its Florida debut at
Theatrezone in Naples last week, to a positive review in the
local paper:

https://www.naplesnews.com/story/life/neapolitan/2020/02/07/tonya-and-nancy-play-theatrezone-revisits-1990-s-figure-skating-scandal-naples-theater/4677973002/

The entire cast delivers in every number, but it's McArdle's
literal "two-faced" scene when she sings as both moms. The
accomplished international star — who starred as the original
"Annie" on Broadway — sings with conviction as two different
people, which brings the loudest applause and cheers.

"Tonya & Nancy: The Rock Opera" skates on the edge of drama,
comedy and sarcasm (and there's lots of it), with a few well-
timed f-bombs. A few opening night miscues of a line flub and
a microphone feedback blare does not take away from this
exemplary show.

One of the main scandals from the '90s, the sordid "skate-
gate" and "war between the skates" was reality that was better
than fiction for those of us who lived through it.

Yet this TheatreZone offering deftly navigates that episode
while also poking fun at it. That's not an easy task but
there's no better director to pull it off than Mark Danni,
TheatreZone's founding artistic director.

An earlier article by Harriet Howard Heithaus (and try saying
that name after a few beers) also has some photos:

https://www.naplesnews.com/story/entertainment/2020/02/05/naples-theatrezone-relives-nancy-and-tonya-saga-rock-opera/4595898002/

"I was obsessed with that since forever. I was writing about
this way, way before the movie," she said, referring to "I,
Tonya," the biographical film of Harding as the outcast in ice
skating's "princess" milieu for her working-class demeanor and
background.

The story never left Searle's mind, and when her niece asked
her to collaborate on a composition project, a chamber opera,
Searle turned again to the two.

"We never looked back," she said. "I thought, this is the way
to tell the story." The half-hour chamber opera, with music by
Abigail Al-Doory Cross, is actually still making the rounds of
opera companies.

But if that was a good idea, meeting rock composer Michael
Teoli was an even better segue for Searle.

"Rock opera is such a good medium for this story, because it's
so gritty," she declared. "Everybody sings their feelings.
It's a dark comedy, but it's also pretty intense because we
try to get at what these girls went through."


The local ABC affiliate interviewed the two leads, Nikki Miller
(Tonya) and Whitney Winfield (Nancy), and also director Mark
Danni:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKfxgG3PWls


Theatrezone's own YouTube channel has some scenes of rehearsals:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0nEA1cbr3g

Another article:

https://www.happeningsmagazine.net/theatrezone-in-naples-to-present-tonya-and-nancy-the-rock-opera/


Performances are being held at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 13, 14, 15 & 16
with matinees at 2:00 p.m. on Feb. 15 & 16 at the G&L Theatre,
Community School of Naples, 13275 Livingston Road, Naples, FL.

Tickets range from $50-$75 and may be purchased by phoning
888-966-3352, ext. 1, or head to:

https://theatre.zone/show/tonya-nancy-a-rock-opera/


TONYA ON INSTAGRAM

Tonya has been a busy girl on Instagram since our last issue.

Back in November, Tonya posted several more photos: one of
herself in camo gear, another of her in the snow on Thanksgiving,
and a third of her in the snow in a bikini, the latter proving
that she has lost a lot of weight over the past 18 months since
DWTS!

- https://www.instagram.com/p/B5Yn6LTHI9-/ (Bikini)

- https://www.instagram.com/p/B5YVgapnrvA/ (Snow)

- https://www.instagram.com/p/B5LrnOeHCSZ/ (Camo)

When Tonya does Christmas, she does it right, as she shows with
this picture of her tree:

- https://www.instagram.com/p/B6g-Q_Xn_US/

Tonya felt so good about the New Year that she posted the same
picture twice!

- https://www.instagram.com/p/B6xUUL7HxHj/
- https://www.instagram.com/p/B6xXocTncgM/

Another couple of posts from Tonya, who was in Chicago in January
doing another speaking engagement. The group in question asked
for no publicity, but she did post a couple of photos from her
time in the Windy City:

@rpmsteak the best food ever and the most gracious restaurant
owners I have ever met! If you have not tried this you have
got to try it!

- https://www.instagram.com/p/B7STdwRnR3n/

Thank you to miss Lindsay cancer survivor Tonya Survivor thank
you for all your support and thank you for being you! God
bless.

- https://www.instagram.com/p/B7U3miMn3er/

Tonya takes on the Dolly Parton Challenge:

- https://www.instagram.com/p/B7y3T8mnUt0/

- https://time.com/5770992/dolly-parton-challenge/ (if you don't
know what it is).

Finally, Tonya has a new addition to her family: a puppy called
Dorado (Spanish for "golden"):

- https://www.instagram.com/p/B76l5TnHohv/

She says that "Rocket Kitty doesn't mind I'm so glad and our son
called him his brother".


MORE CAKES FOR TONYA - "GRATULERER MED DAGEN" FROM NORWAY

Last issue we celebrated Tonya's birthday with a cake. But we're
not the only ones with this custom.

Eventyrplassen Vannførelaget is a community group in Oslo,
Norway, who are also hard-core Tonyaphiles. In keeping with their
long-standing tradition, they've also celebrated her birthday
with a cake. A member of the group explains:

Hello. This year Tonya's birthday was on a Tuesday,
Vannførelagets weekly meetingday. We celebrated her with this
cake. The text on the top of the marzipan-cover is Tonya 49
years. Greetings from Vannførelaget.

http://pdxiss.org/images/TonyaCake2019_EV.jpg

Here's an earlier cake that they did for Tonya's 47th birthday a
couple of years ago:

http://pdxiss.org/images/TonyaCake2017_EV.jpg

And one all the way back in 2000:

http://pdxiss.org/images/cake2000.jpg

http://pdxiss.org/images/cutting_cake.jpg

Let's hope this is a tradition that continues for many years to
come!


TONYAPHILES AT NATIONALS

We are also pleased to report that Tonyaphiles made their
presence felt at the recent U.S Figure Skating Championships that
were held in Greensboro, NC. last month.

Ms. Harriet Marcus of the nearby city of Raleigh wore one of our
Tonya t-shirts to the event. She has kindly allowed us to share
this photo of her modeling the shirt:

http://pdxiss.org/images/Tonyaphile_t-shirt_2020-USnats.jpg

If you'd like emulate her, you can download the files from here:

http://pdxiss.org/tfront.jpg

http://pdxiss.org/tback.gif

Let's hope that this is another tradition that will build up
steam over the coming years.


NEW TONYA-RELATED CONCEPT ALBUM RELEASED

The rock opera isn't the only musical Tonya-related work on the
radar at the moment. Back in October, New York-based funk/rock
outfit The Ninth released their first album, "Olympic
Dream/Nightmare", that also draws inspiration from the '94
scandal.

The project was originally the idea of guitarist Ben Halperin. "I
always thought that Nancy versus Tonya was the greatest sports
story of all time. How is it that the highest profile attack on a
competitor in sports occurred in women's figure skating?? There's
also a classic underdog, mustachioed super villain, improbable
comeback and a bittersweet ending that's often overlooked", he
told Broadway World recently.

Halperin originally conceived of the work as a musical, but
changed tack when he learned of the existence of the rock opera,
instead turning it into a concept album. The fact that others
have tackled the same material, including the movie "I, Tonya",
doesn't concern him. "After all, there have been, like, five
Spiderman movies recently, and this story is at least as good."

https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/The-Ninth-Share-Theatrical-Concept-Album-OLYMPIC-DREAMNIGHTMARE-20191121

"Olympic Dream/Nightmare" is an online-only release and can be
found on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, Pandora, and Bandcamp:

https://theninththeband.bandcamp.com/album/olympic-dream-nightmare

Track listing:

1. Olympic Dream/Nightmare 04:17
2. Saving Grace 03:15
3. Trailer Park 03:05
4. Watch Ur Back 06:36
5. Pipe Dream 03:16
6. Why Me?? 04:32
7. The Jump 03:53
8. Oksana 03:51
9. Big Night in the Limelight 06:55
10. Bad Guy 04:26


JUMP COMPILATIONS ON YOUTUBE

As we all know, Tonya's signature move was the triple Axel. But
what is often forgotten is that she also had a pretty mean triple
Lutz as well. Now somebody has put together a compilation of
Tonya's triple Lutzes from 1986 to 94:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZmzOxgvjHo

The final 3-Lutz of her eligible career - from her Lillehammer
Long Program - was also one of her best. Here it is, and in
SloMo and HD:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_2zevo3bco

Tonya's landing of the triple Axel at the 1991 Nationals also
resulted in her being named ABC's Athlete of the Week:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSn6VAYiyyo

This clip aired on February 23rd, 1991 during "The NutraSweet
World Champions Figure Skating Exhibition" on WIXT Channel 9 in
Syracuse, NY.

Here's another clip of Tonya attempting a Triple Axel in
practice, probably in 1994:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDypShSlHqY

If you want to compare Tonya's technique to others, here's a
bunch of compilations of ladies' triple axels and quads:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE9YPn6SZTE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjHEiy0ZRzM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhM9jyRTS9s

Lastly, here's an analysis of Midori's 3-axel - she's 72 cm off
the ice according to this guy's calculations:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bCtybmVUYU


TONYA SKATING ROUTINES ON YOUTUBE

The Skating Lesson channel also has several of Tonya's routines:

1989 UsNats SP:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ohkjjSXepg

1989 UsNats LP:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZYWdevA90Y

1989 SkAm SP:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWnpeCCncB8

1992 UsNats SP:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TXBLheKACE

1993 UsNats SP: (with the wardrobe malfunction)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHNJcMN4duU

1994 Ladies SP: practice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wfQWpAwhIA

1994 UsNats EX:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K35wnTpzQFE

They've also got the TV movie "Tonya & Nancy: The Inside Story" -
no, your speakers aren't broken, the sound is only on one
channel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heuvk-JL6c8

1994 Olys LP - take 2. This may be from Canadian TV from the
sound of the voiceover:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-NnVy6fQXo


MORE TONYA COSPLAY

We're being a bit picky now - gone are the days where anyone with
a club and a bandaged knee gets listed. Now we're only selecting
the best ones, such as those who have gone to the trouble to
create a decent costume, or which are just plain odd. The first
one definitely falls into both categories:

Tonya and a Tardis: this bizarre Skategate/Doctor Who crossover
featuring Amy Baldwin (Tonya) & Shelley Greene (Nancy) was
spotted at Ace Comicon in Chicago several months ago:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3yZwlJnzyL/

A few more photos:

Amy Baldwin
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3v6_kpnkKD/ (with Jon Snow) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3vYvqVnu4u/ (Chris Hemsworth) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3vWY4-HmHB/ (Tom Holland) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3fu0TKnNiU/ https://www.instagram.com/p/B1sVjrHnfTV/ (Montage)

Shelley Greene (missgreeneinthelibrary) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3fwsmqAzey/ (second place face) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3vAlSSgdxz/ (with Deadpool)


These were not the only Tonya/Nancy cosplayers in Chicago - this
other pair was at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo in April
2018:

- https://www.instagram.com/p/BhRClIbAIGB/


Tonyaphiles down under:

We've mentioned Corrine from Melbourne in Australia a couple of
times before - she was out and about a few months ago upholding
Tonya's flag:

Flashing back to @therealtonyaharding and @margotrobbie this
Friday - because badass winners are grinners (and this costume
took 60 hours to make!)

- https://www.instagram.com/p/B0GE8VbjAWH/

Here she is at Supernova in Melbourne back in April 2018:

- https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh1I5f9FebC/

And what Aussies can do, Kiwis can do as well. Larissa Stevenson
in Methven, NZ is the first first New Zealand one we've seen:

- https://www.instagram.com/p/B1kK9kNgz2Z/


More from Tonyaween:

torogers13: (Toni Rogers) says: "Throwing it back to last
Halloween, since Tonya and Nancy were never given their proper
dues on social media.

- https://www.instagram.com/p/B4SMH8DhHwO/

abbyyleigh: (McCullough Creative) and friend score points for
recreating the classic "olympic practice" photo in the second
frame:

- https://www.instagram.com/p/B4TS5N-Hjet/

brescia.dover pays homage to the triple axel:

- https://www.instagram.com/p/B4SpilRhYBq/

pappanther - another Triple axel tribute:

- https://www.instagram.com/p/B4ALIHQJOho/

squadgoalschi at Gracie O'Malley's Wicker Park, Chicago:

- https://www.instagram.com/p/B4EI-qnlyES/

Cher Horowitz: This one comes complete with a "Jeff". She says
"Reposting because in true Harding style, I also made my own
costume???? If I’m honest though, Oksana remains my favorite
skater of all time."

- https://www.instagram.com/p/B4LfG8dBmfk/

- https://www.instagram.com/p/B4I_3NKhPmE/

brooklynnlr: (Brooke Reinhart) - recreates the pose from the
movie poster:

- https://www.instagram.com/p/B4JQcmZBMw5/

kbco9 from Colorado:

- https://www.instagram.com/p/B4JgOAQAqqm/


We finish off with a couple of "gender diverse" entries:

holdybear4 from Utah:

- https://www.instagram.com/p/B4SnzntBnLR/

Divine Emmeline of Chicago:

- https://www.instagram.com/p/Bpu-fsUHVCk/
- https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsh6SjTDrzW/
- https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl8dTQSlbrX/


TONYA FAN ART ROUNDUP

We're slowly catching up with the huge backlog of fan art out
there. So much good stuff, so little space:

rituraj - what is sorely needed in real life - an "I Tonya" comic
book adaptation:
- https://www.instagram.com/p/B4rNk9vjI6_/

Amanda MacFarlane (theanimatedlife) - A watercolor of Tonya tying
her skates:
- https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl3Km0BgD0V/

The Incident continues to be fertile ground for artists, even if
it's not always totally accurate:

mario_zucca - a diptych inspired by The Incident:
- https://www.instagram.com/p/BxZvzFMDs1L/

Plus a couple of bloody Tonyas:

Antony Harwood
- https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz72ecJJwBN/

Susana Lopez (draw_susy_draw) "Also an I, Tonya screenshot study
because this movie is one of my favorites ever, idk maybe I just
enjoy watching people curse and be violent while wearing sparkly
dresses":
- https://www.instagram.com/p/B1U_7lWhNyw/

Check out the accompanying video that shows how this was done.

Jaime San Felippo (jaimeboy) - tattoo of Tonya holding Nancy's
severed head.
- https://www.instagram.com/p/B2AgvgShvin/

Jasmine (Art by Jazzles), from Australia has used a scrapbook
format. "Went with the given 80s/90s vibes from the movie &
colour scheme. I couldn’t really decide on what I wanted for the
layout so I just winged it I guess (but technically, I’m always
winging it)"
- https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz9bbCBnysb/

Frowny Faces (frownyface dolls) - a Tonya sock puppet:
- https://www.instagram.com/p/B0evmBbnufH/

Kevin Litle (kglpdx) has the one wallet that's even cooler than
Samuel L. Jackson's one in "Pulp Fiction" - it's got Tonya
landing her triple axel on it! "Oh excuse me, let me pay for
dinner out of my new #tonyaharding #wallet #livinglegend
#tripleaxel"
- https://www.instagram.com/p/B0mb6csh-Sx/

duanececcarelli - a very weird drawing depicting Tonya as a bat-
like creature: "Omaggio al film 'I,Tonya' con i personaggi del
mio progetto The Grinning Cricket". (Homage to the film "I,
Tonya" with the characters of my project The Grinning Cricket.)
©Duane Ceccarelli
- https://www.instagram.com/p/B0qaM6ihzHB/

Charlie (couchbearandpig) - Tonya in her brown fur-lined jacket:
- https://www.instagram.com/p/B0vGqwql7yf/

Anxia-Tees, Phoenix AZ. - LaVona t-shirt drawing:
- https://www.instagram.com/p/B07HH8Cn4cZ/

Kim Croshaw - "Dream team", from the famous '92 Olympic team
photo:
- https://www.instagram.com/p/B1UqSI0nvs5/

daniela_soto_figueroa Viña del mar, Chile - cartoon of Tonya
preparing for her Lillehammer LP:
- https://www.instagram.com/p/B1XkmIaFeFp/

From a "draw a scene from a movie" competition in Russia:

Tamila (boredmilano)
- https://www.instagram.com/p/B1oLXaXpDbM/ Lillehammer
- https://www.mystypic.com/p/2118993612051330764

Olga Voronina @brightbird_ri - young Tonya shooting rabbits:
- https://www.mystypic.com/p/2126908302202907227

@milesha.sai - 3axel drawing
- https://www.mystypic.com/p/2117719527927390622
- https://www.mystypic.com/p/2117746924760431363 (video showing
how this was done, set to the music of "how can you mend a broken
heart?" from the movie.)

@__fifaza__ - 3axel
- https://www.mystypic.com/p/2119537031320316791

@kirochka_i - a rare picture inspired by Tonya's boxing career:
- https://www.mystypic.com/p/2118818936276764384

Mad Horses @poison_juice - Tonya on TV, after winning the '94
Nationals:
- https://www.mystypic.com/p/2118201551546851826

@lisaneprel - Velikiy Novgorod, Novgorodskaya Oblast, Russia -
the mirror scene:
- https://www.mystypic.com/p/2127711574945791255


Barsuchka, Ryazan, Russia. - crayon drawing of the mirror scene:
- https://www.instagram.com/p/B2G496ioLmD/


Some fans have drawn their own alternative film posters:

Joao Pedro Petersen
- https://www.instagram.com/p/B0qpnDuAx6I/

Steve Lopez (steve.is.walking) Sydney AU:
- https://www.instagram.com/p/B1LYEYUhdJf/

imbuckybxrnes (Danielle/Multi Fandom)
- https://www.instagram.com/p/B2rxEhUl435/

Cedric Vu (cedvuart) - Los Angeles CA:
- https://www.instagram.com/p/B3FpYKYh90N/

kirawlietart:
- https://www.instagram.com/p/B4aQDbaDal2/

Ghostdog - Michel Carfagna - (michell_carf) weird-looking IT
poster:
- https://www.instagram.com/p/B4e0BY8IHuf/

MonsterSora - pencil sketch of Tonya, inspired by the movie
poster:
- https://www.instagram.com/p/B3M8rRPIKBs/ (oct 5)

Artpoots(Oct 5) White-Pink Geranium - Ingenious Talent
"hey guYs here’s my painting of @therealtonyaharding !! I painted
her last year for inktober so I thought why not try to paint her
again to see my improvement! I really think my art has gotten
better since last year and I absolutely loVE how this came out so
let me know what you think"
- https://www.instagram.com/p/B3NMv_ShPz3/


Triple axels:

Normiebitch (ronzor) - a pixelart
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3P8dedoiQg/

Adhika adhikaprajnaputra - a pencil sketch of the Triple axel:
- https://www.instagram.com/p/B3UfUhdnAFL/


maakodolls (Maria Kogan)- a Tonya doll made from an Abbey
Bominable (Monsters High) doll. She says: "And that's the reason
why #margotrobbie took soooo much time ?? I don't like working
with #AbbyBominable. Not only because of her blue skintone, but
especially because of her huge clawed paws. Sawing them it was
really something!!!"
- https://www.instagram.com/p/B36weLOi7kI/
- https://www.instagram.com/p/B36mS7VCDiT/

Megara Yoshida: https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Yi_kJhwDy/ - Tonya
headshot

olly_eye - (Lydia) pencil sketch of Tonya skating:
- https://www.instagram.com/p/B3gLzyfFod_/

quiethuman (Sky Semenuk) Philly, PA: watercolor of Tonya in her
Olympic team uniform: "Got to meet the amazing
@tanshoesandpinkshoelaces today & give her this Tonya Harding
painting (You’re Wrong About fan-art?)! Anyway, go listen to her
podcast and learn about stuff"
- https://www.instagram.com/p/B4suZeNjDUL/

Karsyn Jade (kjadeskating) - a cartoon inspired by the finale of
Tonya's 1991/92 Long Program featuring ZZ Top's Sleeping bag:
- https://www.instagram.com/p/B43Fp2YhLSs/

*****************************************************************
VISIT THESE GREAT TONYA WEB SITES:

PortIce - http://www.pdxiss.org
David House - http://www.tonyaharding.org
Charlie Main - http://www.charliesweb.com/tonya/tonya.html
Puppetboy - http://www.usapaul.net/tonya/
Valerie Smith - http://www.olywa.net/radu/valerie/LilHam.html
Swan Lake - http://members.tripod.com/~TonyaHarding/index.html
Blades of Gold - http://members.tripod.com/tmhfan/index.html *****************************************************************

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