Richard Phibbs Chessis returning to Broadway for its first-ever revival, in a production starring Lea Michele, Aaron Tveit and Nicholas Christopher The fan-favorite musical features a score composed by Tim Rice and ABBA's Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus that includes the pop-hit "One Night in Bangkok" No dates for the revival have been announced yet but performances will begin in New York City this fall for the 2025-2026 theater season Lea Micheleis making her next big move, and it's back to Broadway! The 38-year-old actress is headlining a new production ofChess,the cult-favorite musical from EGOT-winning lyricist Tim Rice and songwritersBenny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus (of ABBA fame). Performances will begin in Fall 2025 at a Shubert Theater to be announced. It'll be the first timeChesshas ever been revived and the first time Michele has been back on the boards sinceher celebrated run in the 2002 revival ofFunny Girl. Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Bruce Glikas/WireImage Prior to becoming a household name in 2009 with her role in Fox's hit musical seriesGlee, Michele was a staple on stage. She made her debut in 1995 as Young Cosette inLes Misérables, and went on to star inRagtime(1998) and the 2004 revival ofFiddler on the Roof.Her breakout part in the original Broadway cast of 2006'sSpring Awakening— alongsideJonathan Groff,John Gallagher, Jr.andSkylar Astin— even earned her a Drama Desk nomination. Michele will reunite withSpring Awakening's Tony-winning director Michael Mayer forChess, who will helm the production. Lorin Latarro (Waitress) will choreograph. Two theater veterans will join her on stage: Tony winnerAaron Tveit(Moulin Rouge! The Musical,Catch Me If You Can) andNicholas Christopher(Hamilton,Miss Saigon]. They were both last seen on Broadway in the 2023 revival ofSweeney Todd. Manny Carabel/Getty; Bruce Glikas/WireImage Chesshas long been one of Broadway's most beloved underdogs — a fan-favorite musical with a soaring pop score, a famously tangled plot and a dramatic history as complicated as the game of chess itself. Set during a tense Cold War-era chess tournament between American grandmaster Freddie Trumper and his Soviet rival Anatoly Sergievsky,Chessfollows the romantic and political fallout when the tournament's Hungarian-born arbiter, Florence Vassy, becomes entangled in a love triangle that threatens both the game and her past. For the revival, Tveit will play Freddie Trumper, while Christopher will step into the role of Anatoly Sergievsky. Michele will star as Florence Vassey. Bettmann The show first took shape in the early 1980s as a concept album. Released in 1984, the LP — featuring hits like "One Night in Bangkok," "Anthem" and "I Know Him So Well" — was a commercial success, building anticipation for a full stage production. "One Night in Bangkok" even reached No. 3 on the U.S.BillboardHot 100 in 1985. By 1986,Chesshad made it to the stage, in a production directed by Trevor Nunn that debuted in London's West End. That version was a hit, running for three years and earning praise for its ambitious score and sleek staging. But when the show crossed the Atlantic in 1988, it faced a rockier path. The Broadway production — heavily revised with a new book by Richard Nelson — opened at the Imperial Theatre but closed after just two months, plagued by mixed reviews and behind-the-scenes creative clashes. The PEOPLE Appis now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Despite its short-lived Broadway run,Chessgained a loyal following and has been regularly revived around the world in concert stagings, regional productions and high-profile benefits. Among the most notable was a 2008 televised concert staged from London's Royal Albert Hall that starred Adam Pascal,Josh GrobanandIdina Menzel. A 2018 Kennedy Center production — with Raúl Esparza, Ramin Karimloo and Karen Olivo — was previously believed to be Broadway-bound, though never materialized. Emmy Award winner Danny Strong ("Dopesick") will pen a new book for thisChessrevival. Further members of the creative team, as well as casting and run dates, will be announced shortly. "Let the games begin," a promo video for the musical released on Wednesday, May 28 teased. For more information, and to sign up for first access tickets visitwww.ChessBroadway.com. Read the original article onPeople
