My Shows
News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

Wharton Center & MSU to Open imaGen with CHESS – A Staged Concert

By:

A key part of both Wharton Center's and the MSU Department of Theatre's missions are focused on creative collaboration. This idea has sparked a new artistic endeavor called the i?ma?Gen project. i?ma?Gen partners the MSU Federal Credit Union Institute for Arts & Creativity at Wharton Center with the MSU College of Arts and Letters' Department of Theatre and local high schools. Kirk Domer, Chair of the MSU Department of Theatre says, "It's a revolutionary program for MSU and high school students! It will allow them to work with Broadway professionals who regularly visit Wharton Center, and it will attract the highest- quality students providing them exposure to the discipline, focus and creative strength needed to nurture and sustain a thriving performing arts career."

CHESS - A Staged Concert is the inaugural i?ma?Gen production. Jen Werner, the Associate Director of The Book of Mormon - Worldwide Productions has been hired to direct CHESS - A Staged Concert which will be performed on Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28 in Wharton Center's Pasant Theatre. Tickets go on sale Friday, January 16th at 10:00 a.m. and are available at the official source to purchase Wharton Center tickets online, whartoncenter.com, at the Auto-Owners Insurance ticket office, or by calling 1-800-WHARTON.

The story is about two great chess masters, one American and one Russian, who compete to be the best in the world. But, their greatest contest is for the love of the same woman. This cult-rock musical explores love, loss and betrayal, and features the hit "One Night in Bangkok," along with songs "Heaven Help My Heart," "I Know Him So Well," "Pity the Child" and "Nobody's Side."

"Chess has a monumental score that will challenge students and entertain audiences," says Wharton Center's Associate Education Director Kris Koop Ouellette. "This is all very exciting. There's no program like it anywhere else in the country, and we are proud to offer it in Michigan first."

CHESS is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. CHESS Book by Richard Nelson, Lyrics by Tim Rice and Music by Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson.

Theater Fans' Choice Awards
2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats
Best New Play - Top 3
1. Liberation
30.5% of votes
2. Giant
16.2% of votes
3. Dog Day Afternoon
15.3% of votes

Need more Michigan Theatre News in your life?
Sign up for all the news on the Spring season, discounts & more...

Local Shows
An Evening with Mike Masse: Epic Acoustic Classic Rock in Michigan An Evening with Mike Masse: Epic Acoustic Classic Rock
The Ark (5/29-5/29)
No Stone Unturned in Michigan No Stone Unturned
Inspire Theatre (6/12-6/28)
A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder in Michigan A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder
Avon Players (5/22-6/06)
Hamilton - Recommended for ages 10 and up; infants are not allowed in the theater. 5 and above are permitted with their own ticket in Michigan Hamilton - Recommended for ages 10 and up; infants are not allowed in the theater. 5 and above are permitted with their own ticket
Fisher Theatre - Detroit (4/30-5/17)
Doja Cat at Little Caesars Arena in Michigan Doja Cat at Little Caesars Arena
Little Caesars Arena (10/01-10/01)
The Shark is Broken in Michigan The Shark is Broken
Riverwalk Theatre (5/07-5/17)
Scrooge! in Michigan Scrooge!
Hilberry Gateway - Theatre and Dance at Wayne (12/04-12/20)
Annie in Michigan Annie
Unity Theatre Company & KCC Lifelong Learning (6/26-6/28)
COME FROM AWAY in Michigan COME FROM AWAY
Avon Players (9/11-9/26)
5 Seconds of Summer at Pine Knob Music Theatre in Michigan 5 Seconds of Summer at Pine Knob Music Theatre
Pine Knob Music Theatre (8/06-8/06)


Videos