Kentucky Center Will Present CHESS In Concert, 6/2-6/4

The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts will kick the summer off with a concert production of the popular rock musical Chess. The show will play the Mex Theater at the Center from Thursday, June 2th to Saturday, June 4th at 7:30 p.m. each night.

Chess is a musical with lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, formerly of ABBA. The story involves a romantic triangle between two top players, an American and a Russian, in a world chess championship, and a woman who manages one and falls in love with the other; all in the context of a Cold War struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union, during which both countries wanted to win international chess tournaments for propaganda purposes. Although the protagonists were not intended to represent any specific individuals, the character of the American was loosely based on chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer, while elements of the story may have been inspired by the chess careers of Russian grandmasters Viktor Korchnoi and Anatoly Karpov. Following the pattern of Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita, a highly successful concept album of Chess was released in 1984. The first theatrical production of Chess opened in London's West End in 1986 and played for three years.

Chess is recommended for all ages and will last 2 hours and 30 minutes with one intermission. Tickets, which cost $18 and are general admission, will go on sale Monday, April 4th at 10 a.m. Tickets will be available at the box office, on the phone at 1.502.584.7777 (toll free at 1.800.775.7777) and online at www.kentuckycenter.org. The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts is located at 501 West Main Street, Louisville, KY 40202.