Chess on Broadway Tickets
About Chess
This fall, see powerhouse trio Tony Award® winner Aaron Tveit (Moulin Rouge!), acclaimed stage and screen star Lea Michele (Funny Girl, Glee), and breakout talent Nicholas Christopher (Sweeney Todd, Hamilton) in CHESS, 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.
Stars on stage
Aaron Tveit
Lea Michele
Nicholas Christopher
Hannah Cruz
Bradley Dean
Sean Allan Krill
Bryce Pinkham
Chess 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 Vassey), Nicholas Christopher (as Anatoly Sergievsky), Hannah Cruz (as Svetlana), Bradley Dean (as Molokov), Sean Allan Krill (as Walter), Bryce Pinkham (as The Arbiter)
Other info: Music supervision by Brian Usifer
Venue
Accessibility
Accommodations for patrons who are blind, deaf, partially sighted, and/or have hearing loss; partial wheelchair access, handrail access
More information about Chess
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.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get tickets for Chess?
Check the top of this page for current availability and exclusive offers on Chess tickets on TodayTix.
What is Chess 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.
Is Chess appropriate for kids?
No formal age recommendation is out yet, but audiences must be four and over to enter Broadway venues.
Is Chess good?
Reviews are not out yet, but this is a Olivier- and Tony-nominated musical with a starry cast singing a score that has been beloved for decades.
