Chess 1986 - Articles Page 4

Opened: May 14, 1986
Closing: April 08, 1989

Chess - 1986 - West End History , Info & More

Prince Edward Theatre
(Leicester Square/Tottenham Court Road) Old Compton Street London

A superb cast of West End stars including James Fox (Fame Academy, Jesus Christ Superstar), Shona White (Wicked), Tam Mutu (Love Never Dies), Rebecca Lock (The Phantom of the Opera, Avenue Q), James Graeme (The Phantom of the Opera), David Erik (Dirty Dancing, The Phantom of the Opera) and Steve Varnom (The Woman in White) lead a cast of 30 actors and musicians in this unmissable production.



Written by Tim Rice and ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, CHESS has one of the greatest musical theatre scores of all time including One Night In Bangkok, Pity The Child, Anthem, You And I and, of course, I Know Him So Well.



Two of the world's greatest chess masters battle it out at the world chess championships but their greatest contest is for the love of one woman. Amidst political intrigue and international conspiracies, the American and the Russian fight to win the heart of Florence Vassy in a romantic triangle that mirrors the heightened passions of the Cold War all set to an explosive score by the composers of Mamma Mia and the lyricist of Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita.



Make your move now and book for the must-see musical event of the year!

Chess - 1986 - West End Cast

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Chess - 1986 - West End Articles Page 4

SITI Company's John Cage-Inspired Play CHESS MATCH NO. 5 Starts Tonight at Abingdon
by BWW News Desk - Mar 9, 2017


Abingdon Theatre Company, under the artistic direction of Tony Speciale, presents the world premiere of CHESS MATCH NO. 5, conceived and directed by Anne Bogart, with text arranged by Jocelyn Clarke from the words of John Cage.

PNC Pops to Welcome Best of Broadway for 'STANDING OVATIONS'
by BWW News Desk - Feb 17, 2017


The PNC Pops proves 'there's no business like show business' during an evening of Broadway showstoppers with 'Broadway Standing Ovations' on February 17-19 at Heinz Hall.

Menier Chocolate Factory Announces Full Casting for Revival of Terence Rattigan's LOVE IN IDLENESS
by BWW News Desk - Feb 13, 2017


With She Loves Me currently running at its home base, Travesties and David Baddiel: My Family Not the Sitcom taking up residence in the West End, and Funny Girl in rehearsals ahead of a major national tour, the Menier Chocolate Factory today announces full casting for their major new revival of Terence Rattigan's Love in Idleness. 

SITI Company's John Cage-Inspired Play CHESS MATCH NO. 5 Headed to Abingdon This Spring
by BWW News Desk - Feb 6, 2017


Abingdon Theatre Company, under the artistic direction of Tony Speciale, presents the world premiere of CHESS MATCH NO. 5, conceived and directed by Anne Bogart, with text arranged by Jocelyn Clarke from the words of John Cage.

SILENCE! THE MUSICAL Parody Extends in San Francisco
by BWW News Desk - Feb 3, 2017


Due to overwhelming audience response, Cloud 9 Theatricals, in association with Lang Entertainment Group and Ray of Light Theatre, announced today the extension of the San Francisco premiere of SILENCE! The Musical - the "subversively funny and deliciously tasty" award-winning musical parody of "The Silence of the Lambs." Originally scheduled to close on Saturday, February 25, tickets are now on-sale through Saturday, March 18. 

PNC Pops to Welcome Best of Broadway for 'STANDING OVATIONS'
by BWW News Desk - Feb 2, 2017


The PNC Pops proves 'there's no business like show business' during an evening of Broadway showstoppers with 'Broadway Standing Ovations' on February 17-19 at Heinz Hall.

Casting Announced For Terence Rattigan's LOVE IN IDLENESS at Menier Chocolate Factory
by BWW News Desk - Jan 31, 2017


With She Loves Me currently running at its home base, Travesties and David Baddiel: My Family Not the Sitcom to open shortly in the West End, and Funny Girl in rehearsals ahead of a major national tour, the Menier Chocolate Factory today announces principal casting for their major new revival of Terence Rattigan's Love in Idleness.

Photo Flash: HAMILTON's Brandon Victor Dixon Visits Chess in the Schools MLK Day Chess Tournament
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 16, 2017


Today, January 16, Brandon Victor Dixon, currently starring as Aaron Burr in Hamilton on Broadway, celebrated Martin Luther King Day with hundreds of NYC public school children at the Chess in the Schools  Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Chess Tournament at PS 11 in Chelsea. Dixon, who played chess as a student himself, addressed the kids  at the tournament's awards presentation. 

Works by James Lecesne, Anne Bogart and More Set for Abingdon's 24th Season
by BWW News Desk - Oct 5, 2016


Abingdon Theatre Company will present two world-premiere plays and a new musical in the June Havoc Theatre as part of its 2016-2017 Season of new works by established and emerging writers, marking the first full season programmed by Artistic Director Tony Speciale.

Custom Made Theatre Co. Opens 2016-2017 Season with CHESS
by Ashlee Latimer - Aug 7, 2016


Custom Made Theatre Company opens its 18th season in San Francisco with Chess, the legendary rock opera from Tim Rice ("Evita","Jesus Christ Superstar") and Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, members of the celebrated pop group, ABBA. Set towards the end of the cold war, Chess uses politics and sport as metaphor for a love triangle between an enfant-terrible American superstar (loosely modeled on Bobby Fisher), his Hungarian-born lover/second, and a Soviet player looking to start a new life.  

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Porchlight's CHESS
by Tyler Peterson - May 5, 2016


Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber are proud to announce the final production in the third smash season of Chicago's 'lost' musicals in staged concert series, Porchlight Revisits Chess, music by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, lyrics by Tim Rice and Bjorn Ulvaeus and book by Tim Rice, with direction by Porchlight Artistic Director Michael Weber, choreography by Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier and music direction by Jimmy Morehead. Porchlight Revisits Chess is presented for three-nights-only Tuesday, May 3 through Thursday, May 5 at 7:15 p.m. and is performed on the set of Porchlight's Dreamgirls (previews begin April 8) on nights when there are no performances at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Tickets for Chess are $30 in advance and $35 at the door the night of the performance. All tickets include access to the popular pre-performance event, Behind the Show Backstory, a multi-media presentation, created and hosted by Weber, that discusses that evening's production including the show's creative history, juicy backstage gossip and more. Single tickets to Chess are available at porchlightmusictheatre.org or by calling the Stage 773 box office, 773.327.5252.

Photo Flash: First Look at Porchlight Revisits CHESS, Opening Tonight
by BWW News Desk - May 3, 2016


Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber present the final production in the third smash season of Chicago's 'lost' musicals in staged concert series, PORCHLIGHT REVISITS CHESS, music by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, lyrics by Tim Rice and Bjorn Ulvaeus and book by Tim Rice, with direction by Porchlight Artistic Director Michael Weber, choreography by Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier and music direction by Jimmy Morehead. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!

Porchlight Music Theatre to Revisit CHESS as Part of Ongoing Series, 5/3-5
by Tyler Peterson - Apr 12, 2016


Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber are proud to announce the final production in the third smash season of Chicago's "lost" musicals in staged concert series, Porchlight Revisits Chess, music by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, lyrics by Tim Rice and Bjorn Ulvaeus and book by Tim Rice, with direction by Porchlight Artistic Director Michael Weber, choreography by Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier and music direction by Jimmy Morehead. Porchlight Revisits Chess is presented for three-nights-only Tuesday, May 3 through Thursday, May 5 at 7:15 p.m. and is performed on the set of Porchlight's Dreamgirls (previews begin April 8) on nights when there are no performances at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Tickets for Chess are $30 in advance and $35 at the door the night of the performance. All tickets include access to the popular pre-performance event, Behind the Show Backstory, a multi-media presentation, created and hosted by Weber, that discusses that evening's production including the show's creative history, juicy backstage gossip and more. Single tickets to Chess are available at porchlightmusictheatre.org or by calling the Stage 773 box office, 773.327.5252.  The 2016 - 2017 season subscriptions to Porchlight Revisits includes The Rink (October 4 - 6), Little Me (February 28 - March 2, 2017) and On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (May 9 - 11, 2017) are also available at porchlightmusictheatre.org. 

Porchlight Revisits Staged Concert Series to Close with CHESS
by Tyler Peterson - Mar 30, 2016


Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber are proud to announce the final production in the third smash season of Chicago's "lost" musicals in staged concert series, Porchlight Revisits Chess, music by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, lyrics by Tim Rice and Bjorn Ulvaeus and book by Tim Rice, with direction by Porchlight Artistic Director Michael Weber, choreography by Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier and music direction by Jimmy Morehead. Porchlight Revisits Chess is presented for three-nights-only Tuesday, May 3 through Thursday, May 5 at 7:15 p.m. and is performed on the set of Porchlight's Dreamgirls (previews begin April 8) on nights when there are no performances at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Tickets for Chess are $30 in advance and $35 at the door the night of the performance. All tickets include access to the popular pre-performance event, Behind the Show Backstory, a multi-media presentation, created and hosted by Weber, that discusses that evening's production including the show's creative history, juicy backstage gossip and more. Single tickets to Chess are available at porchlightmusictheatre.org or by calling the Stage 773 box office, 773.327.5252. 

Philip Griffiths Enters Guinness Record Book, 25 Years In West End's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
by Michael Dale - Feb 29, 2016


The current Monsieur Reye has been with the West End hit since 1990.

BWW Review: Thornton Wilder's Iconic OUR TOWN at freeFall Theatre
by Peter Nason - Jan 17, 2016


Sarah McAvoy shines as Emily Webb in this powerful production of the Wilder masterpiece.

Benny Andersson und Björn Ulvaeus Musical CHESS erlebt Neuinzenierung an der Oper Chemnitz
by Iris Moebius - Sep 15, 2015


„One Night in Bangkok" gehort zu den großten Hits der Achtziger, aber wahrscheinlich wissen nur wenige, dass er aus dem Musical „Chess" stammt und dass dieser Rap wie auch alle weiteren Songs von den beiden Mannern der Popgruppe ABBA geschrieben wurde. „Chess" („Schach") erzahlt vom Schachspiel der Supermachte: 1972 trafen im islandischen Reykjavik der amerikanische Schachweltmeister Bobby Fischer und der sowjetrussische Herausforderer Boris Spassky aufeinander. Bis dahin ein Nischensport, stand Schach plotzlich im Rampenlicht der Weltoffentlichkeit - dank des vorherrschenden Kalten Krieges, der dieses Ereignis zum Stellvertreter-Krieg zwischen der USA und der UdSSR machte. Knapp neun Jahre spater setzte der Songwriter und Textdichter Tim Rice seinen Plan in die Tat um, anhand dieses Schachwettkampfes ein Musical zu kreieren, das nach einem uralten Theatertrick die politische mit der sportlichen sowie einer sehr privaten Ebene verband. Herausgekommen ist 1984 das Konzeptalbum „Chess" und 1986 die erste Buhnenfassung am Londoner Westend, inszeniert von Trevor Nunn.

SOUND OFF Special Edition: Top 10 Raddest & Baddest Rap Songs In Broadway History
by Pat Cerasaro - Aug 5, 2015


Musical theatre is not generally known for being an early adopter of up-to-the-minute trends in popular music, particularly since the advent of rock n roll and the great divide between popular music and theatre music began in the 1950s. Nevertheless, the presence of modern music idioms in contemporary musicals is a fascinating and often wildly entertaining element to assess when analyzing the great pantheon of scores that have graced the Great White Way. With the predominance of rap music in popular music for the majority of the last 30 years, it comes as no surprise that many musicals have employed the genre in the storytelling and song styling designed specifically for the shows, but the level of success as storytelling devices, character showpieces and as authentic rap music itself varies. Of course, with HAMILTON set to open on Broadway later this month, all of New York City is talking about the persuasive power of the scores of Lin-Manuel Miranda, he who was responsible for multiple rap showstoppers in his self-penned Tony Award-winning musical IN THE HEIGHTS as well as the hip hop tunes in the screen-to-stage adaptation of BRING IT ON, so now is a perfect time to take a look back at some of the most memorable and revolutionary uses of rap music on Broadway to date.

Attic Theater Stages THE DREAMER EXAMINES HIS PILLOW, Beginning Tonight at The Flea
by BWW News Desk - Jul 30, 2015


The Attic Theater Company presents John Patrick Shanley's (pictured, left) the dreamer examines his pillow, directed by Laura Braza. The first official revival of the play since its premiere in 1986, the dreamer examines his pillow will play a strictly-limited Off-Broadway engagement at The Flea Theater (41 White Street, Tribeca) Saturday, July 25th through Saturday, August 15th. The Opening Night is tonight, July 30th at 7 PM.

Attic Theater Stages John Patrick Shanley's THE DREAMER EXAMINES HIS PILLOW, Beginning Tonight at The Flea
by BWW News Desk - Jul 25, 2015


The Attic Theater Company presents John Patrick Shanley's (pictured, left) the dreamer examines his pillow, directed by Laura Braza. The first official revival of the play since its premiere in 1986, the dreamer examines his pillow will play a strictly-limited Off-Broadway engagement at The Flea Theater (41 White Street, Tribeca) tonight, July 25th through Saturday, August 15th.

Attic Theater to Stage John Patrick Shanley's THE DREAMER EXAMINES HIS PILLOW This Summer at The Flea
by BWW News Desk - Jun 9, 2015


The Attic Theater Company presents John Patrick Shanley's the dreamer examines his pillow, directed by Laura Braza. The first official revival of the play since its premiere in 1986, the dreamer examines his pillow will play a strictly-limited Off-Broadway engagement at The Flea Theater (41 White Street, Tribeca) Saturday, July 25th through Saturday, August 15th.  The Opening Night is Thursday, July 30th at 7 PM. 

BWW Reviews: Leads Shine in Kensington Arts Theatre's CHESS
by Benjamin Tomchik - May 11, 2015


While certain design elements detract from the production, the performance of its leads, Teresa Danskey as Florence and Ward Ferguson as Anatoly, will remind you why Chess has endeared itself to generations of audiences.

Griffin Theatre Company to Present THE HOUSE ON THE LAKE in May
by Tyler Peterson - Apr 13, 2015


Razor sharp and tourniquet tight, The House on the Lake is a psychological thriller, so crafty it's criminal. Mired deep in layers of deception, it's a puzzle of a play certain to engage the intellect and assault the nervous system.

Executive Diector Dale Lewis to Exit Usdan Following Summer 2015 Season
by Tyler Peterson - Feb 26, 2015


Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts, the nationally acclaimed summer arts day camp, announces that Dale Lewis, Usdan's Executive Director since 1984, will step down at the end of the 2015 summer season.

Chess FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What productions of Chess have there been?
Chess has had 14 productions including London Fringe which opened in 1984, West End which opened in 1986, Broadway which opened in 1988, Broadway which opened in 1988, Off-Broadway which opened in 1992, Milburn, NJ (Regional) which opened in 1992, Australia which opened in 1997, New York which opened in 1998, which opened in 2001, Broadway which opened in 2003, Broadway which opened in 2003, Washington, DC (Regional) which opened in 2018, West End which opened in 2018 and Broadway which opened in 2030.
What awards has Chess been nominated for?
Chess has been nominated for several awards, including Musical of the Year at the Olivier Awards for Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus, and Tim Rice.

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