1 week ago
Chess, nan Broadway philharmonic revival, will adjacent June 21, 3 months earlier than expected and nan last capacity of prima Lea Michele.
The show, which besides stars Aaron Tveit and Nicholas Christopher, had been expected to waste tickets done astatine slightest September 13 pinch singer-songwriter Joanna “JoJo” Levesque having been announced arsenic a replacement for Michele. Levesque had been scheduled to statesman performances June 23.
Producers person not disclosed a capitalization fig for nan production, but they will not recoup nan investment.
The early closing was announced coming by producers Tom Hulce, Robert Ahrens and The Shubert Organization, who said successful a associated statement, “We are immensely proud of nan bonzer activity this formed and imaginative squad person done successful reimagining Chess for a caller procreation of theatergoers while honoring nan passionate fans who person championed this philharmonic for astir 4 decades. To spot longtime fans and first-time audiences alike clasp this accumulation truthful wholeheartedly has been incredibly rewarding for everyone progressive and a powerful reminder of why Chess has endured for truthful galore years.
“The opportunity to witnesser Aaron Tveit, Lea Michele, and Nicholas Christopher execute this legendary people by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, and Tim Rice alongside a institution filled pinch immoderate of Broadway’s astir singular talent is thing that will enactment will audiences agelong aft they depart nan Imperial Theatre,” nan connection continues. “Bringing Chess backmost to Broadway for nan first clip successful astir 40 years has been an tremendous privilege, and we are highly proud of everything this accumulation accomplished during its historical Broadway run.”
Tveit and Christopher play rival Cold War chess grandmasters – 1 American, 1 Soviet – who conflict for world supremacy arsenic good arsenic nan affections of nan female (Michele) who manages nan American player.
Chess‘ container agency has been declining reasonably steadily since its highest past fall, erstwhile nan accumulation reported a play gross of $2,066,742 for nan week ending November 30, 2025. Recent play grosses person been astir half that much, pinch nan astir precipitous tumble happening erstwhile Michele was connected picnic nan first week of April: Box agency for that week plunged to $585,803, pinch only 66% of seats astatine nan Imperial occupied.
The accumulation besides grounded to overly impressment Tony Award nominators, pinch Michele and Tveit unopen retired completely, and nan accumulation itself failing to people a Best Revival/Musical nomination. Chess‘ 5 Tony nominations were for Best Performance by a Leading Actor successful a Musical (Christopher), Best Performance by a Featured Actor successful a Musical (Bryce Pinkham), Best Performance by a Featured Actress successful a Musical (Hannah Cruz), Best Orchestrations (Brian Usifer) and Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Kevin Adams).
The Broadway formed besides includes Bradley Dean and Sean Allan Krill and an ensemble of Kyla Bartholomeusz, Daniel Beeman, Shavey Brown, Emma Degerstedt, Adam Halpin, Aliah James, Sydney Jones, David Paul Kidder, Sarah Michele Lindsey, Sean MacLaughlin, Robin Masella, Sarah Meahl, Michael Milkanin, Ramone Nelson, Fredric Rodriguez Odgaard, Michael Olaribigbe, Katerina Papacostas, Aleksandr Ivan Pevec, Samantha Pollino, Adam Roberts, Regine Sophia and Katie Webber.
The revival features a caller book by Danny Strong (replacing nan 1988 original by Tim Rice), pinch euphony and lyrics by ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus and Rice, based connected an thought by Rice. The caller accumulation was directed by Michael Mayer and choreographed by Lorin Latarro pinch original orchestrations by Anders Eljas, orchestrations by Anders Eljas and Brian Usifer and euphony supervision by Brian Usifer.
Ghostlight Records precocious released nan Chess 2025 Broadway Cast Recording, disposable successful integer and streaming formats and, later this year, connected CD and vinyl.
Chess is produced connected Broadway by Tom Hulce, Robert Ahrens and The Shubert Organization on pinch Creative Partners Productions. The lengthy roster of co-producers includes Mary Maggio, Nederlander Presentations Inc., Stephen & Nancy Gabriel, Carl Moellenberg, Danny Strong, Benny Andersson, Tim Rice, Björn Ulvaeus, Ludvig Andersson, Robert Fox, Lea Michele, Scott Abrams, 2 On The Aisle, The Broadway Investor’s Club, Ruth Hendel, John Gore Organization, Michael Mayer & Stark Sands, Judith Ann Abrams & Peter May, James Bolosh & Hillary Wyatt, Ira Pittelman, Kate Cannova, Jamie DeRoy, Chema’s Checkmates, Bradford & Melissa Coolidge, Jonathan Farkas, Jeffrey Finn, Willette & Manny Klausner, Kors Le Pere Theatricals, Lang Entertainment Group, Maestro Invest, Stephanie P. McClelland, No Guarantees Productions, Ostar Adam Riemer, Vivek J. Tiwary, Tom Tuft, Lee / Schild, Bijoux / Glass, Byrnes Lamon, Davault Braun, Dickinson / Federman, Kolson / Prisand, Mo Maxi, Nabatoff / Kamler, Trichter / Fink, Burkhardt Stern, and O’Connor / YSSM.
Chess is presented by statement pinch Three Knights, nan Shubert Organization and Robert Fox Ltd.
