{"id":244841,"date":"2026-05-27T05:01:19","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T05:01:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/244841\/"},"modified":"2026-05-27T05:01:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T05:01:19","slug":"chess-will-close-early-on-broadway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/244841\/","title":{"rendered":"CHESS Will Close Early on Broadway"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s game over. BroadwayWorld has just learned that Chess<\/a> will play its final performance on Sunday, June 21, 2026 at Broadway\u2019s Imperial Theatre after over 250 performances starring Aaron Tveit<\/a>, Lea Michele<\/a> and Nicholas Christopher<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Chess<\/a> is nominated for five Tony Awards<\/a> including Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (Nicholas\u00a0 Christopher), Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Bryce Pinkham<\/a>), Best Performance by a Featured Actress\u00a0 in a Musical (Hannah Cruz<\/a>), Best Orchestrations (Brian Usifer<\/a>) and Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Kevin Adams<\/a>). The\u00a0new production was nominated for the Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Outstanding Revival\u00a0 of a Musical and received three Chita Rivera<\/a> Award nominations including Outstanding Choreography in a Broadway Show\u00a0 for Lorin Latarro<\/a> and Outstanding Ensemble in a Broadway show.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Chess<\/a> opened on November 16, 2025 at the Imperial Theatre. Check out what the critics had to say.<\/a>\u00a0Joanna “JoJo” Levesque\u00a0was previously set to return to Broadway as \u201cFlorence Vassy\u201d following Lea Michele<\/a>‘s final performance on June 21.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Producers Tom Hulce<\/a>, Robert Ahrens<\/a> and The <\/a>Shubert Organization<\/a> said, \u201cWe are immensely proud of the extraordinary\u00a0 work this cast and creative team have done in reimagining Chess<\/a> for a new generation of theatergoers while honoring\u00a0 the passionate fans who have championed this musical for nearly four decades. To see longtime fans and first-time\u00a0 audiences alike embrace this production so wholeheartedly has been incredibly rewarding for everyone involved and a\u00a0 powerful reminder of why Chess<\/a> has endured for so many years. The opportunity to witness Aaron Tveit<\/a>, Lea Michele<\/a>,\u00a0 and Nicholas Christopher<\/a> perform this legendary score by Benny Andersson<\/a>, Bj\u00f6rn Ulvaeus, and Tim Rice<\/a> alongside a\u00a0 company filled with some of Broadway\u2019s most remarkable talent is something that will stay will audiences long after they\u00a0 depart the Imperial Theatre. Bringing Chess<\/a> back to Broadway for the first time in nearly 40 years has been an enormous privilege, and we are extremely proud of everything this production accomplished during its historic Broadway run.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"CHESS<\/a>
\n
\nChess<\/a> at the box office.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

Starring Tony Award winner Aaron Tveit<\/a>, Emmy Award and 2026 Drama League Award nominee Lea Michele<\/a> and 2026\u00a0 Tony, Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk and Drama League Award nominee Nicholas Christopher<\/a>, Chess<\/a> also features 2026\u00a0 Tony Award nominee Hannah Cruz<\/a>, 2026 Tony Award nominee Bryce Pinkham<\/a>, Bradley Dean<\/a>, Tony Award nominee Sean\u00a0 Allan Krill and an ensemble that includes Kyla Bartholomeusz<\/a>, Daniel Beeman<\/a>, Shavey Brown<\/a>, Emma Degerstedt<\/a>, Adam\u00a0 Halpin, Aliah James<\/a>, Sydney Jones<\/a>, David Paul<\/a> Kidder, Sarah Michele Lindsey<\/a>, Sean MacLaughlin<\/a>, Robin Masella<\/a>, Sarah\u00a0 Meahl, Michael Milkanin<\/a>, Ramone Nelson<\/a>, Fredric Rodriguez Odgaard<\/a>, Michael Olaribigbe<\/a>, Katerina Papacostas<\/a>,\u00a0Aleksandr Ivan Pevec<\/a>, Samantha Pollino<\/a>, Adam Roberts<\/a>, Regine Sophia<\/a> and Katie Webber<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Over the last seven months, the cast of Chess<\/a> has been featured on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon<\/a>, Late Night\u00a0 with Seth Meyers<\/a>, The Today Show, The Kelly Clarkson<\/a> Show, LIVE with Kelly and Mark, The Drew Barrymore<\/a> Show,\u00a0 Sunday Today with Willie Geist<\/a>, CBS Sunday Morning and Watch What Happens Live, and holds the distinction of being\u00a0 the final Broadway performance broadcast on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Chess the Musical | Now on Broadway” width=”356″><\/p>\n

Featuring a new book by Emmy Award winner Danny Strong<\/a>, with music and lyrics by Emmy and Tony Award nominees\u00a0 ABBA\u2019s Benny Andersson<\/a> and Bj\u00f6rn Ulvaeus and Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award winner Tim Rice<\/a>, based on an\u00a0 idea by Tim Rice<\/a>, this new production is directed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer<\/a> and choreographed by Drama\u00a0 Desk Award nominee Lorin Latarro<\/a> with original orchestrations by Anders Eljas<\/a>, orchestrations by Anders Eljas<\/a> and 2026\u00a0 Tony Award nominee Brian Usifer<\/a> and music supervision by Brian Usifer<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Chess<\/a> features scenic design by Tony Award winner David Rockwell<\/a>, costume design by Tom Broecker<\/a>, lighting design by\u00a0 four-time Tony Award winner and 2026 Tony Award nominee Kevin Adams<\/a>, sound design by John Shivers<\/a> and video design\u00a0 by Tony Award nominee Peter Nigrini<\/a>. Johanna McKeon<\/a> serves as Associate Director, Travis Waldschmidt<\/a> serves as\u00a0 Associate Choreographer and Music Direction is by Ian Weinberger. Casting is by Jim Carnahan<\/a> C.S.A. and Jason Thinger<\/a>\u00a0 C.S.A. Hair, Wig and Makeup Design are by Luc Verschueren<\/a> for Campbell Young<\/a> Associates.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ghostlight Records recently released the Chess<\/a> (2025 Broadway Cast Recording), which is now available in digital and\u00a0 streaming formats. The recording will be released on CD and vinyl later this year. The new album is based on the record breaking production \u2013 presented by Tom Hulce<\/a>, Robert Ahrens<\/a> and The <\/a>Shubert Organization<\/a> along with Creative\u00a0 Partners Productions \u2013 currently running at Broadway\u2019s Imperial Theatre. The recording is produced by Brian Usifer<\/a>,\u00a0 Benny Andersson<\/a>, Ludvig Andersson, and Michael Mayer<\/a>, co-produced by Danny Strong<\/a> and Susie Graves, and executive\u00a0 produced by Robert Ahrens<\/a>, Tom Hulce<\/a>, The <\/a>Shubert Organization<\/a>, Mary Maggio<\/a>, Creative Partners Productions<\/a>, and 2\u00a0On The Aisle. The album features music direction by Ian Weinberger.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Chess<\/a> is produced on Broadway by Tom Hulce<\/a>, Robert Ahrens<\/a> and The <\/a>Shubert Organization<\/a> along with Creative Partners\u00a0 Productions and co-produced by Mary Maggio<\/a>, Nederlander Presentations Inc., Stephen & Nancy Gabriel<\/a>, Carl\u00a0 Moellenberg, Danny Strong<\/a>, Benny Andersson<\/a>, Tim Rice<\/a>, Bj\u00f6rn Ulvaeus, Ludvig Andersson, Robert Fox<\/a>, Lea Michele<\/a>, Scott Abrams<\/a>, 2 On The Aisle, The Broadway Investor\u2019s Club, Ruth Hendel<\/a>, John Gore<\/a> Organization, Michael Mayer<\/a> &\u00a0 Stark Sands<\/a>, Judith Ann Abrams<\/a> & Peter May<\/a>, James Bolosh & Hillary Wyatt, Ira Pittelman<\/a>, Kate Cannova<\/a>, Jamie deRoy<\/a>, Chema\u2019s Checkmates, Bradford & Melissa Coolidge, Jonathan Farkas<\/a>, Jeffrey Finn<\/a>, Willette & Manny Klausner<\/a>, Kors Le\u00a0 Pere Theatricals, Lang Entertainment Group<\/a>, Maestro Invest, Stephanie P. McClelland<\/a>, No Guarantees Productions, Ostar Adam Riemer, Vivek J. Tiwary<\/a>, Tom Tuft, Lee \/ Schild, Bijoux \/ Glass, Byrnes Lamon, Davault Braun, Dickinson \/\u00a0 Federman, Kolson \/ Prisand, Mo Maxi, Nabatoff \/ Kamler, Trichter \/ Fink, Burkhardt Stern, and O\u2019Connor \/ YSSM. Chess<\/a>\u00a0 is presented by arrangement with Three Knights, The <\/a>Shubert Organization<\/a> and Robert Fox<\/a> Ltd.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Chess<\/a> is a seductive showdown of love, loyalty, and power on a global stage. As two of the greatest Chess<\/a> players in the\u00a0 world compete for something beyond victory, the woman between them is caught in a high-stakes battle of desire and\u00a0 devotion.\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n


\n \"Theater
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

\n 2026 Theater Fans’ Choice Awards – Live Stats\n <\/p>\n

\n Best Lead Performer in a Musical – Top 3\n <\/p>\n

\n 1.
\n LJ Benet – The Lost Boys, A New Musical <\/p>\n

\n 15.8% of votes\n <\/p>\n

\n 2.
\n Joshua Henry – Ragtime <\/p>\n

\n 15.2% of votes\n <\/p>\n

\n 3.
\n Nicholas Christopher – Chess <\/p>\n

\n 8.9% of votes\n <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n BWW Merch Shop – Shirts, Mugs, Phone Cases & More\n <\/p>\n

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