Charman's drama, which centers on the 1997 chess match between Kasparov and the IBM computer Deep Blue, will run July 10-21 at the Manchester International Festival, with a New York engagement to follow Sept. 4-18 in the Armory's expansive Wade Thompson Drill Hall.
Donmar Warehouse artistic director Josie Rourke will direct the piece that stars Fraser ("Les Misérables," The Phantom of the Opera, The Pirate Queen) as well as Kenneth Lee ("Delocated") as Doctor Hsu, Lorenzo Allchurch, Antonia Bernath, Cornelius Booth, Nicholas Croucher, Daniel Harries, Rob Lines, David Mumeni, Phil Nichol, John Ramm, Lucille Sharp, Brian Sills and Trevor White.
Here's how it's billed: "In 1997, Garry Kasparov, the world’s greatest chess player, arrived in New York City for the biggest match of his life. His opponent wasn't a fellow Grandmaster but a faceless super-computer, Deep Blue, built by tech-giant IBM. The man versus machine match was IBM’s bid to raise its profile and its stock price. An international celebrity and the undisputed master of his art, Kasparov came to America for freedom and glory. What he didn't expect to confront was the lifelong dedication of another man, Deep Blue's wunderkind inventor Doctor Hsu. Both geniuses, they staked their reputations on the tournament. What followed was one of the most compelling stories of our time. The production will use the unique scale and epic beauty of the Armory to explore this clash of breathtaking human genius with matchless computer power."
The Machine has physical design by Lucy Osborne, lighting design by Mark Henderson, sound design by Ian Dickinson, choreography by Jonathan Watkins and video design by Andrzej Goulding.
For ticket information and a complete list of the Armory's 2013 programming, visit armoryonpark.org. The Park Avenue Armory is located at 643 Park Avenue.