I’m imagining the role will be greatly reduced and given to an ensemble member as part of their track.
Stand-by Joined: 10/1/22
Except that they posted a casting notice in May for Svetlana with all the other casting notices. So I think the role will be cast but not a big name as after all going by most versions of the show ( including the 2018 and 2022 concerts this current version is based on) Svetlana is only in Act 2 so attracting a big name would not be easy.
They do however need someone who can keep up with Lea on I Know Him So Well.
https://imgur.com/a/L79mfAm
They’re really failing here. Chess hasn’t waited 35 years just to be done dirty like that.
That Pink is just wrong. It just doesn’t work
That photo made me think of a revival of The Addams Family.
Melissa25 said: "That photo made me think of a revival of The Addams Family."
Who would be Gomez to Michele's Morticia?
BorisTomashevsky said: "https://imgur.com/a/L79mfAm
They’re really failing here. Chess hasn’t waited 35 years just to be done dirty like that."
They are really trying to make this **** look as boring as possible. You can't just put Lea's face on things and expect it to sell. It worked for Funny Girl because she made it her personality for 15 years prior.
Chorus Member Joined: 1/16/23
In a few years you all will reread this and wonder how you could get so worked up over ... a color? One of many promo photos? Like it's the End OF Chess?
Mary_Poppins said: "In a few years you all will reread this and wonder how you could get so worked up over ... a color? One of many promo photos? Like it's the End OF Chess?"
If I didn’t know and love the show and was already planning to see it, and I saw that image, I likely wouldn’t look any further into what the show is or consider buying tickets. I’d probably think “Oh so a new bar called Chess (is that what it says? I think that’s what it says) opened on 9th Avenue and Lea is doing her cabaret act there.”
Mary_Poppins said: "In a few years you all will reread this and wonder how you could get so worked up over ... a color? One of many promo photos? Like it's the End OF Chess?"
It's not about "a color" it's about any lack of branding and any color actually. They'reall variations on the same promo picture and they're all ugly. You're trying to sell the show on a guy who got an honorary Tony (basically), Lea Michele (remember Glee?), and (God Bless Him, but he's done... nothing on Broadway for you to slap his face on your marketing and expect sales) Nicholas Christopher.
Featured Actor Joined: 3/29/25
Mary_Poppins said: "In a few years you all will reread this and wonder how you could get so worked up over ... a color? One of many promo photos? Like it's the End OF Chess?"
All worked up?
All I see is people commenting on show branding, something that happens here all the time, particularly before a show is in previews and there are other things to talk about. The fact that the marketing so far is so weak only increased the odds it would get dissected.
Chorus Member Joined: 1/16/23
Sorry, the pictures are not "ugly". And that they all have a lot in common is actually strong marketing. And if the styling of these pics and videos is any indication they are going in a direction that might even work.
Mary_Poppins said: "Sorry, the pictures are not "ugly". And that they all have a lot in common is actually strong marketing. And if the styling of these pics and videos is any indication they are going in a direction that might even work.
"
David Edward Byrd would like a word.
Chorus Member Joined: 1/16/23
Duplicate
Updated On: 8/11/25 at 04:17 PMChorus Member Joined: 1/16/23
BorisTomashevsky said: "Mary_Poppins said: "Sorry, the pictures are not "ugly". And that they all have a lot in common is actually strong marketing. And if the styling of these pics and videos is any indication they are going in a direction that might even work.
"
David Edward Byrd would like a word."
Yes, Sir?
Now that’s strong marketing 😍
Chorus Member Joined: 1/16/23
You think that's not ugly or you forgot the '/s' thing?
Understudy Joined: 7/12/18
GirlFromOz68 said: "Except that they posted a casting notice in May for Svetlana with all the other casting notices. So I think the role will be cast but not a big name as after all going by most versions of the show ( including the 2018 and 2022 concerts this current version is based on) Svetlana is only in Act 2 so attracting a big name would not be easy.
They do however need someone who can keep up with Lea on I Know Him So Well.
"
It better be Solea Pfeiffer
Swing Joined: 5/11/12
I think it's someone who also played the role of Eliza in the Angelica tour of Hamilton....
Updated On: 8/11/25 at 05:03 PM
Mary_Poppins said: "Sorry, the pictures are not "ugly". And that they all have a lot in common is actually strong marketing. And if the styling of these pics and videos is any indication they are going in a direction that might even work.
"
For those of us without a marketing degree, which is who this is supposed to be for, what exactly is the direction they're "going in"?
Broadway Star Joined: 8/31/08
Hannah Cruz? She feels more like a Florence and I'd be surprised if Lea Michele allowed someone as similar to her with voice like that next to her onstage (jk jk...kind of lol). Alsyha Deslorieoux?
Hannah would be great and is at about the right level in her career trajectory/‘fame’ to play the role.
Stand-by Joined: 10/1/22
malcs98 said: "GirlFromOz68 said: "Except that they posted a casting notice in May for Svetlana with all the other casting notices. So I think the role will be cast but not a big name as after all going by most versions of the show ( including the 2018 and 2022 concerts this current version is based on) Svetlana is only in Act 2 so attracting a big name would not be easy.
They do however need someone who can keep up with Lea on I Know Him So Well.
"
It better be Solea Pfeiffer"
I very much doubt it as she seems to be tied to Wanted. Also given where she is in her career now compared to where she was in 2022 when she did the concert i don't think she's doing a role where shes only in Act 2.
Also Lea posted an IG story of her recording something today so I wonder if they are going to be releasing a new Chess ad soon.
Stand-by Joined: 8/3/23
BorisTomashevsky said: "Mary_Poppins said: "Sorry, the pictures are not "ugly". And that they all have a lot in common is actually strong marketing. And if the styling of these pics and videos is any indication they are going in a direction that might even work.
"
David Edward Byrd would like a word."
Agreed!! Graphic Designer here (although I do not work in theater space). There are a few really glaringly obvious things to me which just seems like sloppy work and maybe this work wasn't even done by someone who is a designer. 1-The photo is ever so slightly crooked. Hard to say if it's the pose (leaning to one side by just a bit) or if the shot was crooked - I can't tell without seeing the uncropped image but either way this is an easy fix in photoshop. 2-They've changed fonts from the one they are using on all of their other posts on the word CHESS and this one has some spacing issues. This is a poor font choice because even if it's not actually spaced incorrectly (although I think it is and am not going to bother putting this into photoshop to check) the space between the H and E is pronounced and looks strange. This happens with fonts sometimes and the right choice would always be to choose a similar one that works. 3-THE MUSICAL is just too small and lost in her cleavage lol. I honestly hate the pink - but that's a personal preference. I could go on and on, but this also seems derivative to me of some other artwork we saw last season, like sunset and good night and good luck.
ADDING ON - I just got served the ad with the three of them and the spacing on their names is so confusing/horrible. Unfortunately I accidentally refreshed my phone too quickly and didn't get a screen grab. If someone else sees it - post it!
Chorus Member Joined: 4/18/23
kmpellicone said: "I think it's someone who also played the role of Eliza in the Angelica tour of Hamilton...."
I think you're right! Lea started following her on IG and Hannah is now following Chess and Lea. Good catch.
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