Chess 2025- Page 7

[GirlFromOz68]

Posted: 4/15/25 at 5:42pm

JSquared2 said: "GirlFromOz68 said: "I just noticed that Moulin Rouge has now extended to November 2025, which i assume now rules it out for Chess for the Al Hirschfeld which was one rumour going around, given all the rumours say November iswhen Chess opens and I assume an earlier closing is needed than that for load out/load in.

Does this mean they are waiting for one of the newer shows to fold to take another theatre?"

Moulin Rouge was never a limited run -- so there's no "extension". Just like every other long-running show, they just keep adding new blocks of tickets."

ok sorry got my wording wrong (I'm just a Chess fan on the other side of the world) but doesn't the adding of another block of tickets rule it out for Chess? 

 

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 4/15/25 at 6:07pm

GirlFromOz68 said: "ok sorry got my wording wrong (I'm just a Chess fan on the other side of the world) but doesn't the adding of another block of tickets rule it out for Chess? "

Not necessarily because shows have closed before the end of when they sell tickets to (and just refund people who had tickets to those dates).  It might show that they're confident enough they can sell those tickets, or it might just be testing the waters to see if people buy farther out.  And maybe they close anyway after the new block of tickets and Chess just pushes back its start date (if their plan is still the Al Hirschfeld) or choose a new theater, so it's hard to say for sure.

[GirlFromOz68]

Posted: 4/15/25 at 8:35pm

chrishuyen said: "GirlFromOz68 said: "ok sorry got my wording wrong (I'm just a Chess fan on the other side of the world) but doesn't the adding of another block of tickets rule it out for Chess?"

Not necessarily because shows have closed before the end of when they sell tickets to (and just refund people who had tickets to those dates). It might show that they're confident enough they can sell those tickets, or it might just be testing the waters to see if people buy farther out. And maybe they close anyway after the new block of tickets and Chess just pushes back its start date (if their plan is still the Al Hirschfeld) or choose a new theater, so it's hard to say for sure."

thanks for your response.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 4/15/25 at 10:03pm

Update: music star for Svetlana no longer the case. Am hearing Solea, but of course cannot confirm or deny the veracity of that.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/15/25 at 10:15pm

Is Darren Criss continuing too at this point?

[GirlFromOz68]

Posted: 4/16/25 at 2:40am

EDSOSLO858 said: "Is Darren Criss continuing too at this point?"

I hope not. his voice isn't up to Pity The Child 8 times a week. Darren has a decent voice within a certain range but Freddie doesn't suit him. 

I'd rather Adam Lambert for Freddie.

I won't be at all surprised at all if they go with Solea. It can't be easy to get a bigger name for a role that's only in Act 2.  Plus while Solea's star has risen since she did the concert in 2022 this is still the sort of role I can see her doing.

[OuttaTowner]

Posted: 4/16/25 at 7:52am

Freddie is supposed to be in his late 20’s or early 30’s - Lambert is 43, so they may opt for someone closer in age to the character.

Too bad that pop star Benson Boone isn’t a bit older (and desired to do Broadway!) - at Coachella, he recently did a phenomenal rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody, so I have no doubt he could handle Pity the Child.

 

[GirlFromOz68]

Posted: 4/16/25 at 8:04am

OuttaTowner said: "Freddie is supposed to be in his late 20’s or early 30’s - Lambert is 43, so they may opt for someone closer in age to the character.

Too bad that pop star Benson Boone isn’t a bit older (and desired to do Broadway!) - at Coachella, he recently did a phenomenal rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody, so I have no doubt he could handle Pity the Child."

Given that Lea will be 39 and Ramin 47 (if he is indeed playing Anatoly as I hope and has been suggested) by the time this begins I don't think a 43 year old Adam Lambert would be problematic in this production. 

 

 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 4/16/25 at 10:01am

I’ve never understood why people put so much emphasis on actual age. It’s just a number. They all look great for their respective ages and the ages of the characters don’t mean that much. 

[OuttaTowner]

Posted: 4/16/25 at 10:54am

Age may not matter. However it could be a factor. 
Anatoly is generally played as someone in his early 40’s (so Ramin isn’t far off). Florence is roughly 30-35 given the timeline of the show. 

[GirlFromOz68]

Posted: 4/16/25 at 3:05pm

RippedMan said: "I’ve never understood why people put so much emphasis on actual age. It’s just a number. They all look great for their respective ages and the ages of the characters don’t mean that much."

agreed plus honestly can't remember any major production that I've been aware of eg original west end, broadway or 2008, 2018 and 2022 concert versions where Freddie wasn't played by an actor n his mid to late 30s or early 40s, none I can think of were late 20s to early 30s.  

I've only questioned age re this production when it came to casting a Svetlana in her early 20s  as some suggested against an Anatoly in his 40s who wouldn't be old enough to have had a long term relationship plus 2 children with him.  Solea is on the younger end of things but at 30 still old enough to be realistic in the role.

Updated On: 4/16/25 at 03:05 PM

[Jg2019]

Posted: 4/26/25 at 3:39pm

It looks like the first two cities of Lea’s mini tour have been postponed to TBA. yet the rest of the cities are still scheduled….

[GirlFromOz68]

Posted: 4/26/25 at 8:24pm

I originally assumed cancelled rather than postponed but both concert venues say postponed and new dates coming. I guess we'll find out next week what she's doing instead. She's still going to Orlando on 8th May. 

Updated On: 4/26/25 at 08:24 PM

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 5/2/25 at 9:46am

With Redwood announcing its closing this month.  Would I be wrong to assume Chess would go into the Nederlander and announce a October Previews and November opening? 

[Kad]

Posted: 5/2/25 at 9:47am

Theatrefanboy1 said: "With Redwood announcing its closing this month. Would I be wrong to assume Chess would go into the Nederlander and announce a October Previews and November opening?"

It's slated for a Shubert house, last I heard. The central trio is cast.

Updated On: 5/2/25 at 09:47 AM

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 5/2/25 at 9:50am

Okay - sorry. I thought Nederlanders were bringing it in. 

[OuttaTowner]

Posted: 5/2/25 at 11:46am

Would hope we’d get an announcement before the Tony’s, but…who knows?  This - and the immersive Phantom - seem like they’ve been in announcement purgatory for months…

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 5/2/25 at 11:49am

If BOOP! folds sooner than later, this’d be a cozy fit at the Broadhurst, where this production began its life as a BC/EFA benefit concert. 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 5/2/25 at 12:46pm

Either the Broadhurst or Imperial as I doubt SMASH will last until Labor Day and BOOP may not last past Memorial Day! I bet they take the Imperial! I thought about the Majestic as a possibility - I don't see GYPSY making it through the summer yet past Labor Day but we shall see?

[The8re phan]

Posted: 5/2/25 at 5:44pm

It's been announced the Imperial will be doing a renovation, and will be dark for a bit after their current tenant closes
 

Updated On: 5/2/25 at 05:44 PM

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 5/2/25 at 5:49pm

The8re phan said: "Its been announcedthe Imperial will be doing a renovation, and will be dark for a bitafter their current tenant closes"

Plus I can’t picture Tim Rice wanting the show in the Imperial again. 

[The8re phan]

Posted: 5/2/25 at 5:54pm

BorisTomashevsky said: "Plus I can’t picture Tim Rice wanting the show in the Imperial again."

yes......... this too!!!!

[GirlFromOz68]

Posted: 5/2/25 at 5:54pm

BorisTomashevsky said: "The8re phan said: "Its been announcedthe Imperial will be doing a renovation, and will be dark for a bitafter their current tenant closes"

Plus I can’t picture Tim Rice wanting the show in the Imperial again."

Everything being said by various people seems to be pointing to the Broadhurst, which is a better size theatre for Chess than the Imperial.

So I suspect we are just waiting for a Boop closing announcement so they can announce Chess.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 5/2/25 at 9:51pm

GirlFromOz68 said: "BorisTomashevsky said: "The8re phan said: "Its been announcedthe Imperial will be doing a renovation, and will be dark for a bitafter their current tenant closes"

Plus I can’t picture Tim Rice wanting the show in the Imperial again."

Everything being said by various people seems to be pointing to the Broadhurst, which is a better size theatre for Chess than the Imperial.

So I suspect we are just waiting for a Boop closing announcement so they can announce Chess."
 

Didn't realize a reno was planned for the Imperial as it really needs one!

I just checked and CHESS opened at the Imperial on April 28 1988 and closed June 25 after only 68 performances and a CHESS benefit for the Entertainment Commuiity Fund in December 2022 was at the Broadhurst!

Updated On: 5/2/25 at 09:51 PM

[TBFL]

Posted: 5/2/25 at 10:09pm

Tim Rice talks about the Broadway revival in this podcast from a month ago, saying that they have a great cast lined up for it. He also says that Maybe Happy Ending is the best show he has seen in ages.

https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/tim-rice-talks-chess-returning-to-broadway-writing-songs-with-elton-john-and-what-its-like-to-be-working-with-andrew-lloyd-webber-again_1671508/