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Chess

Closing: June 25, 1988

Chess - 1988 Broadway History , Info & More

Imperial Theatre (Broadway)
249 West 45th St. New York, NY

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!


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Wake Up With BroadwayWorld May 4, 2026- Spotlight on WICKED's New Stars and More
by - May 4, 2026


Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is May 4, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.

Video: Jessica Vosk Performs 'Otto Titsling' From BEACHES Film With Marc Shaiman
by Stephi Wild - May 1, 2026


Jessica Vosk, currently starring in Beaches on Broadway, joined with Marc Shaiman to record a special rendition of the song Shaiman co-wrote for the 1988 film, 'Otto Titsling.' Check out the video here!

Broadway Cares #RedBuckets Spring Fundraising Sets Record at $7.1M
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 28, 2026


Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS raised a spring record $7,135,088 through its #RedBuckets campaign across 54 productions. JUST IN TIME led all shows with $932,461 raised.

Wake Up With BroadwayWorld April 21, 2026- 2026 Drama League Award Nominees and More
by - Apr 21, 2026


Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is April 21, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.

John Tartaglia, Karla Puno Garcia and More Set for The Muny Season 108 Productions
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 30, 2026


The Muny has selected the seven teams of directors, choreographers, music directors and lead designers whose creative visions will shape the Tony Award-winning theatre’s 2026 season in Forest Park.

Did You Know These Broadway Revivals Started As Flops?
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Jan 11, 2026


It wasn’t until later on in theatre history that revivals began including shows that weren’t initially well received or financially successful in their initial engagements. As musical theatre continued to evolve, and more shows entered the canon, a consensus began to grow about shows being worthy of additional exploration even if they hadn’t been hits the first time around. What about musicals that had been ahead of their time, musicals that had fallen prey to circumstances, early works by writers who became successful later on, and of course, shows that found an audience after closing via their cast recordings?

A History of Musical Concept Albums
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Jan 4, 2026


The idea of the concept album took flight at the same time as the idea of the rock musical. A concept album introduces audiences to the score of a musical by deliberately releasing an album of the songs before any live production exists at all. The concept album ostensibly stands on its own terms.

Student Blog: My Broadway Wishlist
by Student Blogger: Leah Shankman - Dec 5, 2025


As someone who studies and plans to work professionally in theatre, you might assume that the magic of live performance would eventually wear off for me.

Review Roundup: CHESS Revival Officially Opens on Broadway
by Stephi Wild - Nov 16, 2025


The Broadway revival of Chess, starring Aaron Tveit, Lea Michele, and Nicholas Christopher, is now officially open at the Imperial Theatre. Find out what the critics had to say about the show here!

Novid Parsi To Receive National Theatre Conference’s Barrie And Bernice Stavis Playwright Award
by A.A. Cristi - Nov 11, 2025


Playwright Novid Parsi has been named the recipient of the 2025 Barrie and Bernice Stavis Playwright Award from the National Theatre Conference (NTC), recognizing an outstanding emerging playwright.

Wait in the Wings Launches Nonprofit; Will Host First Broadway History Harvest
by Nicole Rosky - Aug 27, 2025


Wait in the Wings, the renowned YouTube channel known for preserving and sharing the untold stories of theater history, is proud to announce the launch of its official partner nonprofit, Friends of Wait in the Wings, a newly established 501(c)(3) organization. 

Video: Learn All About CHESS' Long Road to Broadway
by Nicole Rosky - Jun 25, 2025


Chess famously had an interesting road to Broadway in 1988 and has been through many changes since then. Learn about all of them, plus the historical context of the piece and the journey of its creators (Tim Rice, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus) in this documentary by Wait in the Wings. Watch in this video .

A History of Pop Music Bio-Musicals
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Jun 29, 2025


Just In Time’s origin story as well as overall conceit has much in common with one of Broadway’s very first jukebox musicals, which was ahead of its time. In 1985, Leader of the Pack, telling the story of pop singer-songwriter Ellie Greenwich, opened at the Ambassador on Broadway. Learn all about pop music bio-musicals here!

Benny Andersson y Björn Ulvaeus regresan a Broadway con Mamma Mia! y Chess
by Juan-Jose Gonzalez - Jun 16, 2025


Los nombres de Benny Andersson y Björn Ulvaeus quizá no sean conocidos por todos, pero su música forma parte de la banda sonora de millones de personas.

Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus Are Making a Broadway Comeback
by Nicole Rosky - Jun 14, 2025


Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus have already made a major mark on Broadway, and 2025 is bound to be a milestone year as the biggest musicals that feature their work, Mamma Mia! and Chess, will be running at the same time. Let's learn more about both...

CHESS Returns to Broadway: Everything You Need to Know About the Iconic Musical
by Sidney Paterra - Jun 1, 2025


It's been over three decades since a fully performed production of Chess has been seen on a Broadway stage. While many of its songs have become beloved standards, the show's plot remains largely unknown to audiences. With months until performances begin, study up on everything you need to know about Chess. 

Aaron Tveit, Lea Michele und Nicholas Christopher werden CHESS am Broadway anführen – Promo-Video ansehen
by Joshua Wright - May 28, 2025


Tony-Award-Gewinner Aaron Tveit (Moulin Rouge), Emmy-Award-Nominierte Lea Michele (Funny Girl) und Nicholas Christopher (Sweeney Todd) werden die allererste Broadway-Wiederaufnahme von CHESS anführen. Hier findest du alle Details zur Produktion.

Aaron Tveit, Lea Michele y Nicholas Christopher protagonizarán CHESS en Broadway: mira el video promocional
by Joshua Wright - May 28, 2025


El ganador del Tony Aaron Tveit (Moulin Rouge), la nominada al Emmy Lea Michele (Funny Girl) y Nicholas Christopher (Sweeney Todd) encabezarán el primer revival de Broadway de CHESS. Aquí encontrarás todos los detalles de la producción.

Aaron Tveit, Lea Michele & Nicholas Christopher Will Lead CHESS on Broadway
by Nicole Rosky - May 28, 2025


Tony Award winner Aaron Tveit (Moulin Rouge), Emmy Award nominee Lea Michele (Funny Girl) and Nicholas Christopher (Sweeney Todd) will lead the first-ever Broadway revival of CHESS. We have all of the details on the production here, plus watch a promo video!

Will Michael Mayer-Directed CHESS Open On Broadway In Fall 2025?
by A.A. Cristi - May 22, 2025


The long-rumored Broadway revival of Chess is officially moving forward. A series of newly released Equity casting notices confirm that the cult-favorite musical will return to Broadway in Fall 2025 in a production directed by Tony Award-winner, Michael Mayer (Funny Girl, Spring Awakening).

Review: CHESS at LANCASTER OPERA HOUSE
by Michael Rabice - Mar 31, 2025


Every now and then there is a musical that is near universally loved for it score, treasured by cast recording collectors, and infamous to many,  BUT is rarely ever produced. Most were failures soon after theirs debuts. My personal desert island treasured flop  from that category is Jerry Herman's DEAR WORLD. For others it was Stephen  Sondheim's MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG (  considered a flop for almost 40 years, but now a triumph). Which brings us to the rarely produced, but often recorded musical CHESS, now being presented at the Lancaster Opera House.

Is a CHESS Revival Coming to Broadway in 2025?
by Rialto Chatter - Feb 12, 2025


Could Chess finally make its move back to Broadway? Legendary lyricist Tim Rice, who has long teased a revival, revealed that the musical will arrive on Broadway in fall 2025.

The 37th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Awards Banquet To Be Held This Month
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 2, 2025


The 37th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Awards Banquet will be held Wednesday, Jan. 15, 5-10 p.m. at the Casino Live Hotel Ballroom, 7002 Arundel Mills Circle, Hanover, Md.

Sir Tim Rice Dishes on CHESS Broadway Revival, New JOSEPH... Film, and More
by Stephi Wild - Dec 23, 2024


Sir Tim Rice recently chatted about his iconic career, and what's in the pipeline for the future, including a Broadway revival of Chess, new film adaptation of Joseph the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and more.

CHESS IN CONCERT Comes to Mt. Gretna Playhouse in July
by Stephi Wild - Jun 28, 2024


Chess the Musical will be brought to life by 17 actors and a 24-piece orchestra in a gorgeous open air venue in Central Pennsylvania.

Chess History

Other Productions of Chess

1984   London Fringe London Concert
London Fringe
1986   West End Original London Production
West End
1988   Broadway Broadway Production
Broadway
1992   Off-Broadway Off-Broadway Revival
Off-Broadway
1992   Milburn, NJ (Regional) Paper Mill Production
Milburn, NJ (Regional)
1997   Australia Australian Revival
Australia
1998   New York New York Concert
New York
2001   Nyack Concert
2003   Broadway Actors' Fund Concert
Broadway
2018   Washington, DC (Regional) Kennedy Center Broadway Center Stage Revival
Washington, DC (Regional)
2018   West End London Coliseum Revival Production
West End
2025   Broadway
Broadway

Chess - 1988 Broadway Awards and Nominations

Note: Award winners are highlighted with a background.
Chess — awards and nominations
Year Ceremony Category Nominee
1988 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Actor - Musical David Carroll
1988 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Actress - Musical Judy Kuhn
1988 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Featured Actor - Musical Harry Goz
1988 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Lighting Design David Hersey
1988 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Music Benny Andersson
1988 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Music Bjorn Ulvaeus
1988 Theatre World Awards Performance Philip Casnoff
1988 Tony Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical David Carroll
1988 Tony Awards Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical Judy Kuhn

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