Chess Broadway Revival Sets October Previews at Imperial Theatre

The first-ever Broadway revival of the musical Chess, featuring Tony winner Aaron Tveit, Emmy nominee Lea Michele, and Nicholas Christopher, will begin previews on October 15, 2025, with an official opening on November 16 at the Imperial Theatre, the same venue where Lea Michele made her Broadway debut 30 years ago. This revival introduces a new book by Emmy winner Danny Strong, replacing the original by Tim Rice, and is directed by Tony winner Michael Mayer with choreography by Lorin Latarro. The story, set during the Cold War, centers on the high-stakes World Chess Championship between American and Russian champions, complicated by espionage and a love triangle. Music and lyrics are by ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, alongside Tim Rice, whose original concept inspired the production. Lea Michele returns to Broadway after her acclaimed run in Funny Girl, portraying Florence Vassey, while Tveit stars as Freddie Trumper and Christopher as Anatoly Sergievsky. Ticket sales begin with a fan pre-sale on June 25 followed by general sales on June 26, with the run scheduled through March 15, 2026.