Chess on Broadway tickets
About Chess on Broadway
See powerhouse trio of Tony Award® winner Aaron Tveit (Moulin Rouge!), acclaimed stage and screen star Lea Michele (Funny Girl, Glee), and 2026 Tony Award nominee Nicholas Christopher (Sweeney Todd, Hamilton) in this five-time Tony Award-nominated revival. Chess is a seductive showdown of love, loyalty, and power on a global stage: As two of the greatest chess players in the world compete for something beyond victory, the woman between them is caught in a high-stakes battle of desire and devotion.
Featuring a legendary score by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA and EGOT winner Tim Rice (Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar), an exhilarating new book by Danny Strong (Dopesick, The Butler), and direction by Tony winner Michael Mayer (Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Funny Girl), Chess is Broadway’s boldest move yet and the must-see event of the season.
Run time
2hr 40min. Incl. 1 intermission.
Venue
Categories
Age
Ages 12+. Children under 4 years old will not be admitted.
Start date
October 15th, 2025
End date
June 21st, 2026
“Spectacular vocals shine despite a muddled story”
Incredible Voices Carry a Complicated Show
Audiences are unanimous about one thing: the vocal performances in Chess are absolutely spectacular. The three principal leads deliver powerhouse singing that consistently wows crowds, with many prais...
What It Feels Like
- Vocally stunning
- Emotionally mixed
- Musically rich
You’ll Love This If…
- You love powerhouse Broadway vocals
- You enjoy ABBA-style theatrical scores
- You appreciate star-studded casts over tight storytelling
Chess is a drama about people playing the game of chess, but also navigating life like a chess game. A period piece that handles war.
It’s a decent show, but it’s got its flaws. Really impressed by the wonderful performances of all the actors involved—but it’s the actual book that’s pretty lackluster. Overall it was still very memorable but not a perfect show by any means.
Amazing! Loved it. Amazing! Loved it.
Stars on stage
Aaron Tveit
Lea Michele
Nicholas Christopher
Hannah Cruz
Bradley Dean
Sean Allan Krill
Bryce Pinkham
Chess on Broadway cast and creative team
By: Danny Strong, based on an idea by Tim Rice
Songs by: Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus (music) and Tim Rice (lyrics)
Director: Michael Mayer
Choreography: Lorin Latarro
Cast list: Aaron Tveit (as Freddie Trumper), Lea Michele (as Florence Vassy), Nicholas Christopher (as Anatoly Sergievsky), Hannah Cruz (as Svetlana), Bradley Dean (as Molokov), Sean Allan Krill (as Walter), Bryce Pinkham (as The Arbiter)
Sets: David Rockwell
Costumes: Tom Broecker
Lighting: Kevin Adams
Sound: John Shivers
Other info: Video design by Tony Award nominee Peter Nigrini, music supervision by Brian Usifer, music direction by Ian Weinberger
Venue
Accessibility
Wheelchair seating in Orchestra with step-free access; no elevator to Mezzanine/Balcony; assistive listening and audio description available.
More information about Chess on Broadway
Chess opened in the West End in 1986, came to New York in 1988, and now, almost four decades later, finally comes back to Broadway. As with other new musicals such as Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita, Chess released a highly successful concept album prior to the first theatrical production in order to raise money. All things considered, that was fairly easy: the songs are by the Swedish pop group ABBA, known for songs like "Dancing Queen" and "Mamma Mia."
Tim Rice, known for his lyrics for hit shows like Aida and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, came up with the idea for Chess, also writing the original book. Rice also said that the success of the Netflix show The Queen's Gambit helped buoy popularity for a return of this play.
Chess also earned a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Best New Musical, furthering the stardom of original leading lady Elaine Paige.
What to watch for
- Josh Groban, recently on Broadway for Sweeney Todd, has appeared in Chess; his Sweeney understudy, Nicholas Christopher, now assumes a leading role here.
- Lea Michele reunites with director Michael Mayer; the two worked on Spring Awakening, making Michele a star.
- Aaron Tveit is a leading man on Broadway with credits in Catch Me if You Can, Next to Normal, and others.
- Lea Michele was on Broadway as a child in Ragtime, returning to New York this season, and was most recently in Funny Girl.
Audio Described / Captioned Performances
Audio description and personal captioning are available on your mobile device by downloading the GalaPro app from Apple or Google. Hand-held devices are available to borrow at the Shubert Audience Services kiosk.
Frequently asked questions
What is the running time of Chess on Broadway?
Chess on Broadway runs for 2hr 40min. Incl. 1 intermission.
What is the age recommendation for Chess on Broadway?
Ages 12+. Children under 4 years old will not be admitted.
What is Chess on Broadway about?
Chess is a musical about a World Chess Championship, an American facing off against a Russian, and the woman torn between the two of them.
Who wrote Chess?
Chess features a legendary score by ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, lyrics by Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony winner Tim Rice, and a new book by Emmy winner Danny Strong (Dopesick, The Butler).
What are the songs in Chess?
Chess features a pop-rock score with soaring solos and duets, including "Anthem" and "Heaven Help My Heart."
Who directs Chess?
Tony winner Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening, Hedwig and the Angry Inch) dirercts this new revival.
How do you get tickets for Chess on Broadway?
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Tickets
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