A benefit production of Chess, raising money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, played at the Ford Amphitheatre in Los Angeles September 17, 2007 with a star-studded cast and multimedia heavy design.
The production had a rocky start, following the sudden death of its original director, and Los Angeles theatre staple, Jim Alexander, yet Purcell made a decision to push forward in getting this Tim Rice, Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus musical up and running, both for the memory of Alexander and to aide Broadway Cares.Starring in Chess were Susan Egan (Beauty and the Beast, Cabaret), Kevin Earley (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Les Miserables), Cindy Robinson (Into The Woods, Peter Pan), Ty Taylor ("Rock Star: INXS," We Will Rock You), Thomas Griffith (The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas), Tom Schmid (Annie Get Your Gun) and Matthew Morrison (The Light in the Piazza, Hairspray).Photos by Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging.
Matthew Morrison with the ensemble dancers
Ty Taylor and Cindy Robinson with the ensemble cast
Cindy Robinson and Ty Taylor
Leslie Stevens, Sandy Shimoda, Erin Stoddard, Castmember actor Ty Taylor and Jeanine Meyers
Leah Seminario pulls castmember actor Ty Taylor
Cindy Robinson and Aleks Pevec
Cindy Robinson and Kevin Earley
Thomas Ian Griffith and Tom Schmid
Kevin Earley, Ty Taylor and Matthew Morrison
Ty Taylor, Director/Producer Brian Michael Purcell and Kevin Earley
Kevin Earley, Cindy Robinson and Producer/Director Brian Michael Purcell
Julie Ann Emery, Kevin Earley, Mary Paige Keller and Thomas Ian Griffith
Director/Producer Brian Michael Purcell and wife Leah Seminario
Erin Stoddard, (Back) Matthew Morrison, (Front) Enrique Brown, Joanna Bool and Paul Romero, Jr.
Kevin Earley and Thomas Ian Griffith
Associate
Choreographer Sean Havens, Choreographer AC Ciulla, Music
Director/Conductor Dan Redfeld and Director/Producer Brian Michael
Purcell
Marissa
Jaret Winokur, Cindy Robinson, Matthew Morrison, Associate
Choreographer Sean Havens and Choreographer AC Ciulla
Aleks Pevec and Director/Producer Michael Brian Purcell
Matthew Morrison and Marissa Jaret Winokur
Ty Taylor, Cindy Robinson, Kevin Earley, Susan Egan and Director/Producer Brian Michael Purcell
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