Film & TV News
Broadway’s Chess Revival Sets National TV Debut on The Tonight Show
Stars Nicholas Christopher, Lea Michele, and Aaron Tveit will sit down with host Jimmy Fallon, along with bringing a musical performance.
Nicholas Christopher, Lea Michele, and Aaron Tveit
Heather Gershonowitz
Broadway’s revival of Chess will make its national television debut November 10 on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Stars Nicholas Christopher, Lea Michele, and Aaron Tveit will join host Jimmy Fallon for a sit-down interview before offering a musical number from the cult favorite musical, currently at the Imperial Theatre on Broadway and headed for a November 16 opening night. The Tonight Show episode will be available to stream on Peacock beginning November 11.
Christopher is leading the musical’s Broadway return as Anatoly Sergievsky, with Tony winner Tveit as Freddie Trumper, Michele as Florence Vassey, Hannah Cruz (Suffs) as Svetlana, Bradley Dean (The Phantom of the Opera) as Molokov, Sean Allan Krill (Jagged Little Pill) as Walter, and Bryce Pinkham (Holiday Inn) as The Arbiter.
READ: Lea Michele Says the Chess Score Is a ‘New Anthem’ for Her
The company also includes Kyla Louise Bartholomeusz, Daniel Beeman, Shavey Brown, Emma Degerstedt, Casey Garvin, Adam Halpin, Sarah Michele Lindsey, Michael Milkanin, Aleksandr Ivan Pevec, Aliah James, Sydney Jones, Sean MacLaughlin, Sarah Meahl, Ramone Nelson, Fredric Rodriguez Odgaard, Michael Olaribigbe, Katerina Papacostas, Samantha Pollino, Regine Sophia, and Katie Webber. Casting is by Jim Carnahan and Jason Thinger.
With music from ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, and lyrics by Tim Rice, this revival has been refreshed with a new book by Emmy winner Danny Strong (Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 & 2), and a creative team featuring director Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening) and choreographer Lorin Latarro (Waitress). Brian Usifer serves as music supervisor.
READ: Danny Strong Has Spent a Decade Rewriting the Book for Chess. Now It’s Finally Coming to Broadway
The creative team also includes scenic designer David Rockwell, costume designer Tom Broecker, lighting designer Kevin Adams, sound designer John Shivers, video designer Peter Nigrini, associate director Johanna McKeon, and associate choreographer Travis Waldschmidt.
Based on an idea by Rice (and originally featuring a book by Richard Nelson), Chess tells the story of American and Russian chess champions playing a match against each other—and competing for the same woman—at the height of the Cold War.
WATCH: Learn About Chess‘ Complicated Journey Back to Broadway in New Streaming Documentary
Chess is being produced by Tom Hulce, Robert Ahrens, and The Shubert Organization, along with Creative Partners Productions. The production is being presented by arrangement with Three Knights and Robert Fox Ltd.
Visit ChessBroadway.com.
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Photos: Chess on Broadway
Photos: Chess on Broadway
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Aaron Tveit, Lea Michele, and company of Chess
Matthew Murphy
Nicholas Christopher and company of Chess
Matthew Murphy
Lea Michele and company of Chess
Matthew Murphy
Bryce Pinkham and company of Chess
Matthew Murphy
Aaron Tveit and company of Chess
Matthew Murphy
