Lea Michele, the well-known star from the iconic series Glee, has announced her planned absences for the Broadway revival of Chess, which has been captivating audiences at the Imperial Theatre. The musical began its run on November 16, with previews commencing on October 15, and is currently set to extend through May 3, 2026.
Michele revealed her scheduled days off via an Instagram story, which include December 14 and 16, 2025; January 23, 2026; February 18–22; April 1–5; and the matinee performance on April 11. On these days, her roles will be covered by understudies Katerina Papacostas and Samantha Pollino.
The production features a strong cast, led by Nicholas Christopher as Anatoly Sergievsky and Tony Award winner Aaron Tveit as Freddie Trumper. Michele takes on the role of Florence Vassey, complemented by Hannah Cruz as Svetlana, Bradley Dean as Molokov, Sean Allan Krill as Walter, and Bryce Pinkham as The Arbiter. The ensemble cast includes a diverse array of talents, adding depth to the production.
The revival showcases the legendary music from ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, alongside lyrics by Tim Rice, refreshed with a new book by Emmy-winning writer Danny Strong. The creative team also includes director Michael Mayer and choreographer Lorin Latarro, with Brian Usifer serving as music supervisor. The show benefits from the artistic talents of scenic designer David Rockwell, costume designer Tom Broecker, lighting designer Kevin Adams, sound designer John Shivers, and video designer Peter Nigrini.
Chess, initially a concept album released in 1984, tells the story of a Cold War-era chess championship between American and Russian players, complicated by romantic entanglements. The score quickly became popular, spawning hits like “One Night in Bangkok” and the duet “I Know Him So Well,” which topped the UK singles charts.
Despite a rocky start when the original West End production debuted in 1986 to mixed reviews, the musical has since developed a following, finding renewed success through various tours and concert productions. A 2008 concert featuring stars like Josh Groban and Idina Menzel was particularly celebrated, further cementing Chess‘s place in musical theater history.
The current Broadway production is a collaboration among Tom Hulce, Robert Ahrens, and The Shubert Organization, alongside Creative Partners Productions, and is operated under an arrangement with Three Knights and Robert Fox Ltd. For further details on the production and ticket purchases, interested attendees can visit ChessBroadway.com.
