CHESS (2025 Broadway Revival) Reviews — Page 8

quizking101 said: "1) Thank you for correcting me on the date being two weeks away.

2) I am not her effing publicist. As I stated in another thread, I don’t have anything against Lea, but I did enjoy Katerina’s by comparison. I wanted to boost my opinion since, as the date comes up, people like to wring their hands and clutch their pearls about the understudy and I want it to be a reassurance that - having seen the show 8 times now - I have some fully informed opinions.

It’s getting really vexing how people think I’m shilling when I’ve been on this board for 16 years and now all of a sudden I’m entangled in this rabid-ass witch hunt for alleged “shills”"

You've been around long enough that the sane and sensible board members (few though they may be) know your opinions are honest and trust you mean what you say, even if they don't agree with them. (And you've certainly contributed more than most of these people.) The fact that you're one of the few people here whose identity is openly available only adds to your credibility.

Anyone who screeches about shills and accuses people of being publicists, especially when they themselves are anonymous and could be anyone at all, aren't worth the time or energy. In this case the people getting offended are the Chess and Lea Michele fans who won't stand for anything less than glowing to be said about their show or queen (some of whom aren't even in this country and haven't seen the show...), and that's exactly who would be camped out in this thread. They really aren't worth worrying about, or anything at all.

MemorableUserName said: "quizking101 said: "1) Thank you for correcting me on the date being two weeks away.

2) I am not her effing publicist. As I stated in another thread, I don’t have anything against Lea, but I did enjoy Katerina’s by comparison. I wanted to boost my opinion since, as the date comes up, people like to wring their hands and clutch their pearls about the understudy and I want it to be a reassurance that - having seen the show 8 times now - I have some fully informed opinions.

It’s getting really vexing how people think I’m shilling when I’ve been on this board for 16 years and now all of a sudden I’m entangled in this rabid-ass witch hunt for alleged “shills”"

You've been around long enough that the sane and sensible board members (few though they may be) know your opinions are honest and trust you mean what yousay, even if they don't agree with them. (And you've certainly contributed more than most of these people.) The fact that you're one of the few people here whose identity is openly available only adds to your credibility.

Anyone who screeches about shills and accuses people of being publicists, especially when they themselves are anonymous and could be anyone at all, aren't worth thetime or energy. In this case the people getting offended are the Chess and Lea Michele fans who won't stand for anything less than glowing to be said about their show or queen (some of whom aren't even in this country and haven't seen the show...), and that's exactly who would be camped out in this thread. They really aren't worth worrying about, or anything at all."

yes horrible people like me who aren't American should be just run out of this thread.

I would love to come to NYC and see this show but unfortunately ive been too outspoken about the lunatic running your country on social media so I would either be deported or locked up in the so called Land of the Free and Home of the Brave ( and boy isn't that a misnomer).

I've actually been a Chess fan for several decades before I even knew who Lea was and as ive said before its not about preferences or criticism in general of a performer but there  is a definite pattern where people tend to come in with a predetermined view of some performers and never give them a chance as they put them in a box.

Lea is not my Queen and I'm not someone who expects anybody to like the same performers i do nor do i expect no criticism of them.  I see some fans of performers,  including Lea, who make me cringe with their need for everyone to love them and thats not how the world works I just prefer that they aren't constantly popping up to belt them or claim things about them that aren't true eg when I think nasal re singing I think Idina not Lea.

Also to the previous poster, no I dont think you are her actual publicist, you just are coming off as behaving like you are when you pop up at every opportunity to make clear you want people to go to the show when Lea is out.

Updated On: 1/7/26 at 05:14 PM

Just notifying people Katerina will be on Jan. 23rd would have sufficed.

Any word if we're getting a cast recording? 

GirlFromOz68 said: "In other news, a friend who still uses the hellsite aka X, told me that a few days ago the person running the Chess X account responded to someone asking for the cast album with good things come to those who wait. Hopefully this is a sign they might be recording it soon."

https://nitter.privacyredirect.com/mariabelle22/status/2007177691448172931#m

hope this access method works for everybody

Saw the show last night.

First things first: are they blasting the AC at every show? I was front orchestra and we were all shivering if we couldn't manage to sit with our coats on. The curtain was literally swaying from the AC.

As for the show, I still don't know what to make of it.

SO much talent on the stage, though I wonder how the female understudies are, because while Lea was superb vocally, her performance lacked any real depth. As for Hannah Cruz, I just didn't much from her, and I was in the fifth row, so I have to wonder how she read from the rear of the house. Aaron and Nicholas were outstanding. Aaron is working his ass off, and sings with such power and emotion. I must say perhaps due to the stoic nature of the character Nicholas' book scenes didn't really impress me. But when he sang? Wowza. Dynamite. Also kudos to the other gents, who were all great.

 The songs rocked, even if the lyrics made as little sense as the new book. I'll admit I don't know how different it is from the previous book, there were plenty of times were I just stopped caring, or was just confused. 

Production was cool, but I was confused a bit by the sound. Seemed like at times it was too loud to be decipherable, but then the volume went down mid-note. (Maybe the board op was early on their cues?)

In all I'm glad to see it, and I could see myself listening to a new cast recording - or even going back if the female leads were on, and maybe Casey was on as Anatoly - but I don't know if I'd recommend it, unless someone just wanted to see some vocal fireworks on display.

Their digital ad strategy feels desperate. Celeb visitors, the Heated Rivalry thing, etc.

Maybe it's working. Or maybe they're really scared of their advance...looks like they have a TON of seats available in February, which isn't the end of the world (people buy later), but there could be a softening in the demand.

We see a lot of talk here and elsewhere about entitled fans at stage doors and I am often rolling my eyes at how entitled some people are at stage doors so when I saw this I wanted to post it as it is the very opposite of entitled.  

 

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS5VPLK6H/

HUGE grain of salt from tiktok album discussion on 1/8/26...

GirlFromOz68, no one is saying you should be run out of the thread.

To no one's surprise, they have extended to June 14. Raising speculation on whether they extend again... probably based on if Lea wants to continue and/if they recoup. But, the most pressing question is when that damn cast album is going to drop!

CATSNYrevival said: "Ball of Buttah said: "To no one's surprise, they have extended to June 14. Raising speculation on whether they extend again... probably based on if Lea wants to continue and/if they recoup. But, the most pressing question is when that damn cast album is going to drop!"

Did they record one yet?"

not as far as we know.  Someone said recently that Nik told them at the stage door a few weeks ago that the orchestra was laying down tracks the next week but we know nothing beyond that.

Well the Chess instagram account is teasing a album so...