I've seen ALOT of shows on Broadway, Touring, Community Theatre, High School, West End, and other quality, but this production is BY FAR the best I have ever seen. I'm voting for a cast recording (even though it won't happen).
Stand-by Joined: 3/15/08
Check out this teaser from Signature for the show. The show looks and sounds amazing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pp2WU9jncH4
Swing Joined: 4/13/08
I drove down from Philly with a small group of friends to see this show last night. It really is a tremendous production! My only experience with Chess prior to seeing this incarnation was a bootleg copy of the Actor's Fund concert. One of my friends had the fortune of seeing the original Broadway production and the Papermill production several years ago. He said that this is easily the best production that he's ever seen. My biggest complaint about the show is the book, which is a hot mess. But according to my friend Signature's production was streamlined and significantly easier to follow then previous incarnations. I thought the cast was remarkable, especially the three leads. The ensemble sounded out of this world and the orchestra sounds so full in that small theatre. If your on the fence about seeing this production, I say get your tickets now before it sells out. And trust me, this one will definitely sell out. There were only a few seats available in the dress circle last night.
I'm looking forward to seeing it Labor Day weekend. I love the score- have all the English recordings- and I can't wait to see Jill Paice sing again on Signature's stage and Eleasha Gamble who is good in everything she does in DC.
Just got back from "Chess." It was truly incredible!! The cast was fantastic....go out and see it
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/15/05
Broadway Star Joined: 1/19/08
Jill Paice, I would imagine. It's(the note) fantastic. I won't be able to see this, but have always been curious.
Updated On: 8/15/10 at 02:07 AM
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Coverage_CHESS_Opens_at_Signature_Official_Production_Shots_20100812
Wish I could see it
Would someone mind posting the song listing? I'm curious to see which songs they're using. Thanks in advance!
Thanks for letting us know thesixtyfirstpupil. Who are you in the show?
Am I the only one who doesn't think Jill sounds good at all?
I'm not actually in the show. Haha! My ex drama teacher's friend is Anatoly (Euan Morton), so I HAD to see the show of course. Here's the song list for whoever wanted it:
Prologue (Budapest, 1956)
Lullaby (Apukad eros Kezen)
Act I (Bangkok, 1986)
Freddie's Entrance (pretty much "What A Scene")
Russian/Molokov
Where I Want to Be
Argument/How Many Women
Arbiter's Song (they used the 2003 Swedish accompaniement for this prod.)
A Model of Decorum and Tranquility
You Wanna Lose Your Only Friend?
Nobody's On Nobody's Side
One Night in Bangkok
Terrace Duet
Who'd Ever Think It
So You Got What You Want
Someone Else's Story
Anthem
Act II (Budapest, 8 Months Later)
Budapest
Heaven Help My Heart
Winning (i THINK it's the same as "No Contest")
You and I (FABULOUS!)
A Whole New Board Game
Let's Work Together
I Know Him So Well
Pity the Child
Endgame
You and I
Hope that's useful! :)
Are you judging her from the promo clip or have you seen her in Chess? If you're judging her from the clip, then you're right, but ONLY because she's been sick this entire week, and that's when they shot the clip. But she's gotten her health back since then. :)
Stand-by Joined: 3/15/08
I was judging it by the clip since I haven't had a chance to see it.
And it wasn't a snarky question, GetUp&LiveIt. She doesn't sound good in the clip, and if it's because she was sick at the time, then so be it. I just wanted to know if other people were judging solely based off of the clip or if they had seen her in person. Feel free to speak for everybody else though.
Stand-by Joined: 3/15/08
I'm basing my opinion off the clip. I haven't seen it and I think on the clip alone she sounds fantastic.
Stand-by Joined: 3/15/08
Oh and the question you asked was indeed VERY snarky.
Ok.........well, for those of you who DO like this production and the show itself, how about we make a petition to send this to Broadway? I think the Broadway communtiy would LOVE to see an actual production of Chess that works. Haha!
Sorry to be asking this question but does anyone know where the rush seats are?
Signature sells whatever seats aren't sold as rush so you can't predict where they will be. They're not set aside so if all tickets are sold, you're out of luck.
That said, the spaces are so intimate there really is no bad seat.
I'm game for the Broadway petition...I will sign it!
Broadway Star Joined: 3/23/05
I love the look of the set design, seems to work really well with this show. I'm directing it at the moment and have avoided using videos to depict the scenes and opted for a minimalist, Brechtian approach.
My only issue with the clip/production is the casting of Anatoly and Freddie. Anatoly looks younger, and is better looking than Freddie. I have never seen that approach before and don't see how it will work, when Freddie is the young egotistical protege, and Anatoly the more reserved and experienced professional.
Chorus Member Joined: 8/5/08
Leading Actor Joined: 5/16/05
I wish more than anything that the Michael Bennet production would have seen the light of day.
For those of you directing it, the problem with "Chess" is NOT the production, it's the show itself. "Chess" has no progagonist. Is it Anatoly? No. Is it the American? No. In my mind, the progagonist is Florence, but that's not the way the show was written, and therein lies the rub.
As far as staging it is concerned? Michael Bennet had the best idea, he wanted it to be about her. He made a huge Chess board which caust a million dollars, and then he died. The Broadway production was incoherent, although they did add the second best song, "Someone Else's Story."
I love this show, and I think there is somebody out there who can make it work. I suspect it's not going to be the Signature production, it's going to be some kid out there who gets it, and is a new Michael Bennet, with his or her own ideas, who makes the show work.
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