Lea Michele Returns to Broadway in First-Ever Chess Revival Alongside Aaron Tveit and Nicholas Christopher

Published: May 28, 2025

Get ready for a musical extravaganza as she returns to the Great White Way in the first-ever revival of Chess, alongside Aaron Tveit and Nicholas Christopher. The musical, featuring a score composed by ABBA's Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, will open in Fall 2025 at a Shubert Theater to be announced.

The 38-year-old actress, who rose to fame with her role in Fox's hit musical series Glee, will star as Florence Vassey in the production, which follows the romantic and political fallout when the tournament's Hungarian-born arbiter becomes entangled in a love triangle that threatens both the game and her past.

Tveit will play Freddie Trumper, while Christopher will step into the role of Anatoly Sergievsky. The show, which has long been one of Broadway's most beloved underdogs, features a soaring pop score, a famously tangled plot, and a dramatic history as complicated as the game of chess.

The musical first took shape in the early 1980s as a concept album, released in 1984, which was a commercial success, building anticipation for a full stage production. The show first made it to the stage in 1986, in a production directed by Trevor Nunn that debuted in London's West End, earning praise for its ambitious score and sleek staging.

Despite its short-lived Broadway run, Chess gained a loyal following and has been 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 Groban, and Idina Menzel.

Emmy Award winner Danny Strong (Dopesick) will pen a new book for this Chess. Further members of the creative team, as well as casting and run dates, will be announced shortly.

For more information, and to sign up for first access tickets, visit www.ChessBroadway.com.

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