When the press got to meet with the cast and creators of Broadway's new high-grossing Chess revival prior to the start of previews, the Broadway favorites told Playbill they think they've finally solved the tricky musical. See stars Aaron Tveit, Lea Michele, and Nicholas Christopher, plus director Michael Mayer, revised book writer Danny Strong, and more explain how they've transformed the cult favorite show into a bona fide hit in the video below.
Opening night is November 16, with the extended limited run set to continue through May 3 at the Imperial Theatre.
Christopher is leading the musical's Broadway return as Anatoly Sergievsky, with Tony winner Tveit as Freddie Trumper, Michele as Florence Vassey, Hannah Cruz (Suffs) as Svetlana, Bradley Dean (The Phantom of the Opera) as Molokov, Sean Allan Krill (Jagged Little Pill) as Walter, and Bryce Pinkham (Holiday Inn) as The Arbiter.
READ: Lea Michele Says the Chess Score Is a 'New Anthem' for Her
The company also includes Kyla Louise Bartholomeusz, Daniel Beeman, Shavey Brown, Emma Degerstedt, Casey Garvin, Adam Halpin, Sarah Michele Lindsey, Michael Milkanin, Aleksandr Ivan Pevec, Aliah James, Sydney Jones, Sean MacLaughlin, Sarah Meahl, Ramone Nelson, Fredric Rodriguez Odgaard, Michael Olaribigbe, Katerina Papacostas, Samantha Pollino, Regine Sophia, and Katie Webber. Casting is by Jim Carnahan and Jason Thinger.
With music from ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, and lyrics by Tim Rice, this revival is refreshed with a new book by Emmy winner Strong (Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 & 2), and a creative team featuring director Mayer (Spring Awakening) and choreographer Lorin Latarro (Waitress). Brian Usifer serves as music supervisor.
The creative team also includes scenic designer David Rockwell, costume designer Tom Broecker, lighting designer Kevin Adams, sound designer John Shivers, video designer Peter Nigrini, associate director Johanna McKeon, and associate choreographer Travis Waldschmidt.
Based on an idea by Rice (and originally featuring a book by Richard Nelson), Chess tells the story of American and Russian chess champions playing a match against each other—and competing for the same woman—at the height of the Cold War.
WATCH: Learn About Chess' Complicated Journey Back to Broadway in New Streaming Documentary
Chess is being produced by Tom Hulce, Robert Ahrens, and The Shubert Organization, along with Creative Partners Productions. The production is being presented by arrangement with Three Knights and Robert Fox Ltd.
Visit ChessBroadway.com.
Bryce Pinkham and company of Chess
Aaron Tveit, Lea Michele, and company of Chess
Nicholas Christopher and company of Chess
Nicholas Christopher and company of Chess
Lea Michele and company of Chess
Bryce Pinkham and company of Chess
Aaron Tveit and company of Chess
Lea Michele and Nicholas Christopher in Chess
Aaron Tveit and company of Chess
Aaron Tveit and Lea Michele in Chess
Hannah Cruz in Chess
