Guide to 'Chess' on Broadway starring Aaron Tveit, Lea Michele, and Nicholas Christopher

The first Broadway revival of the cult classic musical features three theatre grandmasters on the same stage where the show made its NYC debut in 1988.

Joe DziemianowiczAugust 22, 2025, 04:00

Game on! Expect Aaron Tveit, Lea Michele, and Nicholas Christopher to bring all the right moves to the first revival of the musical Chess on Broadway this fall.

Featuring a soaring pop- and opera-infused score by ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus with lyrics by Tim Rice, plus a new book by Danny Strong, the show centers on a U.S.-Soviet chess match that mirrors political rivalries.

Back at the Imperial Theatre in the first full-scale production since the 1988 run at the same venue, the revival is directed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening, Funny Girl), with choreography by Lorin Latarro. Want to learn more about Chess across the board? Read all about the show and its key players below, and get tickets to see the work of these Broadway grandmasters live.

Check back for information on Chess tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

What is the Chess musical about?

Chess is a Cold War-era musical that follows a love triangle between an American and a Soviet chess champion, Freddie Trumper (Tveit) and Anatoly Sergievsky (Christopher), and Florence Vassey (Michele), the woman caught between them. Set amid a world chess championship, the show explores themes of politics, identity, and betrayal.

Where is Chess playing?

Chess plays at the Imperial Theatre, located at 249 W. 45th St. between Broadway and Eighth Avenue.

Designed by Herbert J. Krapp, the Imperial Theatre officially opened on December 25, 1923, with the musical Mary Jane McKane. The most recent productions at the theatre include Smash, Water for Elephants, Bad Cinderella, and Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations.

How long is the Chess musical?

Chess runs approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes, including an intermission. The typical running time for a Broadway musical is between 90 minutes and 3 hours, and longer shows usually include a 15-minute intermission.

What days is Chess on Broadway playing?

Chess plays Tuesday through Sunday, with two performances on Wednesdays and Saturdays and no performances on Mondays. This schedule is subject to one-off changes, particularly around holidays.

When did the Chess musical premiere?

The Chess musical debuted as a concept album in the fall of 1984, 12 years after the World Chess Championship played out between American Bobby Fischer and Soviet Boris Spassky in Reykjavik, Iceland, inspiring Chess co-creator Tim Rice. In 1986, the full-scale stage musical premiered in London’s West End. In 1988, a revised version of Chess debuted on Broadway.

The 2025 Chess Broadway revival's first performance is October 15, and its official opening night is November 16.

Who wrote the Chess musical?

Tim Rice (story, lyrics), Danny Strong (book, revised from Richard Nelson's original), and Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus (music) co-wrote the Chess musical.

The Chess musical is based on an idea by Tim Rice, who also wrote the lyrics. The renowned English writer co-created shows including Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Aida, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King.

The music is by ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, who are doubly represented on Broadway in fall 2025 as the ABBA jukebox musical Mamma Mia! enjoys its own revival.

Rice wrote the original script, and Richard Nelson revised it for the 1988 Broadway premiere, but the 2025 revival features a revised one by Danny Strong in his Broadway debut. Strong won an Emmy for Recount and is known for writing the series Dopesick and the movie The Butler.

Chess musical characters

Chess revolves around two chess champions — one American, the other Russian — and a key woman in their lives. Their intense rivalry and complicated love triangle unfold against Cold War tensions, blending political intrigue, personal conflict, and emotional struggle.

Freddie Trumper: A brilliant American chess champion whose arrogance and instability strain his relationships and impact his performance. He’s played by Aaron Tveit, who won a Tony for Moulin Rouge! The Musical and starred in Catch Me If You Can and Next to Normal.
Florence Vassey: Freddie’s chess second, or assistant, and confidante who develops feelings for Anatoly. She’s played by Lea Michele, a Tony nominee for Spring Awakening, an Emmy nominee for Glee, and star of the 2022 Funny Girl Broadway revival.
Anatoly Sergievsky: A disciplined and thoughtful Soviet grandmaster torn between personal desires and political obligations. He’s played by Nicholas Christopher, whose Broadway credits include Sweeney Todd, Miss Saigon, and Hamilton.
Molokov: Anatoly’s second who serves the USSR’s political interests.
Walter: An American handler working behind the scenes with political motives. This character is sometimes cut from productions.
Svetlana Sergievsky: Anatoly’s estranged wife.
The Arbiter: An authoritative figure overseeing the chess matches.

Who is in the Chess Broadway cast?

The cast of the 2025 Chess Broadway revival includes Tony Award winner Aaron Tveit (Moulin Rouge! The Musical) as Freddie Trumper, Emmy and Tony nominee Lea Michele (Glee, Spring Awakening) as Florence Vassey, and Nicholas Christopher (*Hamilton, Little Shop of Horrors) as Anatoly Sergievsky.

Chess songs

Standout songs from the Chess musical include “Heaven Help My Heart,” “Nobody’s Side,” “Anthem,” and “Someone Else’s Story.” Below are the songs featured on Chess's original Broadway cast album, but the track list is subject to change for the revised revival. The cast album song "Chess Hymn" has been omitted as it is not included in the official script for Chess productions.

Act 1

"Prologue"
"The Story of Chess"
"Freddie's Entrance" (also titled "What a Scene! What a Joy!")
"Press Conference"
"Where I Want to Be"
"Argument" (also titled "How Many Women")
"Merchandisers"
"Diplomats" (also titled "U.S. vs. U.S.S.R.")
"Chess #1"
"Quartet (Model of Decorum and Tranquility)"
"The American and Florence" (also titled "You Want to Lose Your Only Friend?")
"Someone Else's Story"
"One Night in Bangkok"
"Terrace Duet"
"Who'd Ever Think It?"
"Chess #2"
"Florence Quits" (also titled "So You Got What You Want")/"A Taste of Pity"
"Nobody's Side"
"Reporters" (also titled "Anatoly and the Press")
"Anthem"

Act 2

"The Arbiter"
"Hungarian Folk Song"
"Heaven Help My Heart"
"Winning" (also titled "No Contest")
"You and I"
"Where I Want to Be (Reprise)
"You and I (Reprise)"
"Freddie Goes Metal" (also titled "A Whole New Board Game")
"Let's Work Together"
"I Know Him So Well"
"Pity the Child"
"Father's Lullaby" (Apukád erős kezén)
"Endgame"
"You and I (Reprise)"
"Finale"

Major productions of the Chess musical

Since its London premiere and short-lived original Broadway run, Chess has seen numerous international revivals and revisions with altered scripts, stagings, and song orders. The West End, Broadway, and concert versions all tell the story differently.

1984: The Chess concept album was created by Tim Rice with ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. It blends politics, love, and chess during the Cold War.
1986: Chess premiered on May 14, 1986, under the direction of Trevor Nunn in London’s West End at the Prince Edward Theatre, where it ran for almost three years.
1988: A revised version of the musical with a new book by Richard Nelson began on Broadway on April 11, 1988, at the Imperial Theatre, where it closed on June 25, 1988.
1990: The first national tour of Chess launched with John Herrera, Carolee Carmello, and Stephen Bogardus.
2003: A one-night-only Actors Fund of America benefit concert took place on September 22 at Broadway's New Amsterdam Theatre, featuring Josh Groban, Sutton Foster, Adam Pascal, and more. A second one, with a different cast, took place in Lincoln Center in 2012.
2008: Pascal and Groban, alongside Idina Menzel, perform in a Chess concert at Royal Albert Hall.
February 2018: A five-night run premieres at the Kennedy Center starring Raúl Esparza as Freddie, Ramin Karimloo as Anatoly, and Karen Olivo as Florence. The production did not transfer to Broadway as planned, but it sparked buzz about an eventual NYC revival.
April 2018: The London Coliseum hosts the first major revival in London's West End, running for two months.
2022: A one-night benefit concert for the Entertainment Community Fund starred Karimloo as Anatoly, Darren Criss as Freddie, Lena Hall as Florence, and Solea Pfeiffer as Svetlana at the Broadhurst Theatre.
2025: On October 15, the first Broadway revival, featuring a new book, begins at the Imperial Theatre.

What awards has the Chess musical won?

The 2025 Broadway revival of Chess hasn’t received any awards yet. The show will be in the running for the 2025-26 season’s upcoming New York honors, including Tony Awards. Previous productions of the play, however, have earned various prizes and nominations.

Olivier Awards: The 1986 London premiere was nominated for Best Musical, Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Musical (Tommy Körberg), and Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Musical (Elaine Paige).
Critics’ Circle Theatre Award: The 1986 London premiere won Best Musical.
Tony Awards: The 1988 Broadway premiere was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (David Carroll) and Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Judy Kuhn).
Theatre World Award: Philip Casnoff won for his Broadway performance.
Drama Desk Awards: The 1988 Broadway run was nominated for Outstanding Actor in a Musical (David Carroll), Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Judy Kuhn), Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (Harry Goz), Outstanding Music, and Outstanding Lighting Design (David Hersey).

Celebrities who have appeared in the Chess musical

Tony winner Aaron Tveit (Moulin Rouge! The Musical), Tony and Emmy nominee Lea Michele (Glee, Spring Awakening), and Nicholas Christopher (Sweeney Todd) star in Chess on Broadway in 2025 as Freddie, Florence, and Anatoly, respectively. But these roles have attracted high-profile actors to the musical since the beginning.

The original 1986 London cast featured Murray Head (Freddie), Elaine Paige (Florence), and Tommy Körberg (Anatoly).
The original 1988 Broadway cast was led by Philip Casnoff (Freddie), Judy Kuhn (Florence), and David Carroll (Anatoly).
The 2003 Broadway benefit cast featured Adam Pascal (Freddie), Julia Murney (Florence), Josh Groban (Anatoly), Raúl Esparza (Arbiter), Sutton Foster (Svetlana), and Norm Lewis (Walter).
The 2008 Royal Albert Hall concert in London, which was recorded, starred Pascal (Freddie), Idina Menzel (Florence), and Groban (Anatoly).

Fun facts about the Chess musical

The Chess musical has had audiences pricking up their ears since its debut. From its fan-favorite status to hit songs to lyrical inspiration, learn more about the show.

In the original West End production, Chess centered on two matches between Freddie and Anatoly, while the original Broadway version condensed it to one. The British and American productions had numerous other differences, including the ultimate winner of the match.
“One Night in Bangkok” was a hit single sung by Murray Head. It reached No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
The show has become a cult classic despite its short-lived original Broadway run. Revivals and concerts have kept the show alive and popular with fans.
The show talks the talk. Listen up for chess terms like “endgame,” “gambit,” and “pawns” in song lyrics.

Get tickets to Chess on Broadway

Chess returns to Broadway with added urgency and relevance — and with three actors at the top of their game.