The Muny production of Chess opened at the St. Louis theatre July 5 and continues through July 11.
Directed and choreographed by Josh Rhodes, the company is headed by Jessica Vosk as Florence Vassy, Jarrod Spector as Frederick Trumper, John Riddle as Anatoly Sergievsky, Rodney Hicks as Walter de Courcey, Tally Sessions as Alexander Molokov, Phillip Johnson Richardson as Arbiter, and Taylor Louderman as Svetlana Sergievskaya.
Watch highlights from the opening night performance, including portions of "Where I Want to Be," "Nobody's Side," and more, in the video above.
The ensemble includes Annelise Baker, Jett Blackorby, Eric Allen
Boyd, Sydney Chow, Cicily Denise Daniels, Spencer Dean, Matt Faucher,
Anna Gassett, Brian Golub, Omega Jones, Sydney Jones, Gareth Keegan,
Sage Lee, Daniel May, Brady Miller, Trina Mills, Alysha Morgan, Kristen
Faith Oei, Alex Prakken, Emilie Renier, Shelby Ringdahl, Michael
Seltzer, and Avilon Trust Tate. The company is joined by the
Muny Teen and Muny Summer Intensive Teen ensembles.
Jason DeBord is music directing with associate direction/choreography by Lee Wilkins, associate music direction by Michael Horsley, scenic design by Edward E. Haynes, Jr., costume design by Emily Rebholz, lighting design by Rob Denton, sound design by John Shivers and David Patridge, video design by Alex Basco Koch, wig design by Tommy Kurzman, and production stage management by Kelsey Tippins.
Chess—a love story set against the Cold War chess battles
between the United States and Russia—features a score by ABBA’s Benny
Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus and EGOT winner Tim Rice.
The work debuted on the London stage with a cast led by Elaine Paige, Tommy Körberg, and Murray Head, while the Broadway company featured Judy Kuhn, Philip Casnoff, and the late David Carroll. The score includes such tunes as “Nobody’s Side,” “One Night in Bangkok,” “Anthem,” “I Know Him So Well,” “Pity the Child,” and “You and I.” The original Broadway cast recording was released on RCA Victor.
Chess is the third offering in The Muny's 2023 summer season, which continues with West Side Story July 15-21, Little Shop of Horrors July 25-31, Rent August 4-10, and Sister Act August 14-20.
For more information, visit Muny.org.
Check out new production photos below: