This past Broadway season saw every house bursting with activity with 40 shows running. Currently all but a handful of those shows are still running.
While it is a nice problem to have, new and upcoming shows are finding it hard to locate an empty house to prepare for new shows. The revival of “Chess” has found their new home – the Imperial Theatre. It is a bit of a homecoming for the show, the Imperial was the site for the original running of the production.
Previews are set for October 15 with an official limited engagement run opening on November 16 and running through March 15, 2026.
Set during the Cold War, the musical tells the story of an American and a Soviet chess masters who are competing for a championship…and the same woman.
Tony award winning actor Aaron Tveit, Lea Michele, and Nicholas Christopher are set to star in the musical. Other actors for the show will be announced in the coming weeks.
ABBA stars Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus wrote the music with lyrics by long time Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber partner Tim Rice writing the lyrics. Emmy award winning writer Danny Strong wrote a new book. Michael Mayer will direct the production with Brian Usifer as musical supervisor and Lorin Latarro as choreographer.
“Chess” first appeared on Broadway in 1988; this will be the musical’s first revival.