Musical (1986)


Musique: Benny Andersson • Björn Ulvaeus
Paroles: Tim Rice
Livret: Richard Nelson
Production à la création:

Il est difficile de résumer le livret de Chess et ce, pour plusieurs raisons. En premier lieu, l’oeuvre n’a cessé d’être remaniée. Chaque version propose une histoire et des chansons tout à fait différentes de la précédente.
Par ailleurs, l’intrigue commune est des plus compliquées : durant le championnat mondial d’échecs, Freddie Trumper, le tenant du titre américain affronte son challenger, le Russe Anatoly Sergievsky. Florence, l’assistante du premier, tombe amoureuse du second, mariée à Svetlana. Sur fond d’affrontements politiques entre Russes et Américains, la bataille approche… Elle se jouera aux quatre coins de la planète (dans des lieux différents selon les versions) : on passe de Merano (en Italie) à Bangkok ou Budapest.

Plot London 1986
Acte I
The president of the International Chess Federation explains the history of the game of chess Story of Chess), before announcing the location of the upcoming world chess championship: the northern Italian town of Merano (the year of this tournament being 1979, according to the notes in the recent live album recorded with the London Philharmonic Orchestra). As the townsfolk prepare for the occasion Merano, the brash American champion Frederick Trumper arrives with his second and implied lover: Hungarian-born, British-raised Florence Vassy What a Scene! What a Joy!. In their hotel room, Florence explains to Freddie that the press will portray him badly if he continues with his bad boy behavior Commie Newspapers, just before he heads off to a press conference where he attacks a journalist who questions his relationship with Florence Press Conference. Freddie's Russian challenger, Anatoly Sergievsky and Alexander Molokov, Anatoly's second (and a KGB agent), watch with curiosity and disdain on TV Anatoly and Molokov, before Anatoly laments the selling out of his dreams and ambitions to get where he is today Where I Want to Be.
The opening ceremony features the U.S. and Soviet delegates each vowing their side will win Difficult and Dangerous Times, the Chess Federation president (who is also the referee of the tournament: The Arbiter) insisting on holding the proceedings together The Arbiter, and marketers looking to make a profit The Merchandisers. During the increasingly intense match, Freddie suddenly bursts out of the arena, leaving the chessboard on the floor Chess #1, and Florence to pick up the pieces with Anatoly, Molokov, and The Arbiter, whereby she promises to bring Freddie and Anatoly together to sort out their issues Quartet – A Model of Decorum and Tranquility. It turns out that Freddie engineered the outburst to get a higher price from the American media company, Global Television, though Walter de Courcey, the company's agent overseeing the match and a member of Freddie's delegation, criticizes the stunt as ludicrous. When Florence finds out, she and Freddie argue, leading Florence to get angry with Freddie when he maliciously turns the argument toward her father, believed captured by Soviet forces during the 1956 Budapest uprising 1956 – Budapest is Rising. She reflects cynically about chess and politics Nobody's Side before heading off to the Merano Mountain Inn for the meeting between the two sides. Freddie does not immediately turn up, leaving Anatoly and Florence awkwardly alone together; however, they eventually embrace as surprising romantic feelings arise before being interrupted by Freddie, who has been working out new financial terms with Global TV Mountain Duet.
The chess tournament proceeds, culminating in a series of victories for Anatoly with only one game left to determine the winner of the entire tournament Chess #2. Due to Freddie's atrocious attitude in the aftermath of his defeats, Florence leaves him Florence Quits, whereby Freddie ponders how his unhappy childhood left him the man he is today Pity the Child. He sends The Arbiter a letter of resignation, resulting in Anatoly's becoming the new world champion. Immediately, Anatoly defects from the Soviet Union and goes to the British embassy, where he attempts to seek asylum in England Embassy Lament. Florence, accompanying Anatoly, reflects on their new-found love Heaven Help My Heart. Walter tips off the press as to this new story and they ambush Anatoly and Florence at Merano Station Anatoly and the Press. When the mob of reporters asks Anatoly why he is deserting his country, he tells them that his land's only borders lie around his heart. Anthem
Acte II
A year later, Anatoly is set to defend his championship in Bangkok, Thailand Golden Bangkok. Freddie is already there, chatting up locals and experiencing the Bangkok nightlife One Night in Bangkok because he is now Global TV's chess pundit and their special presenter for this year's championship. Florence and Anatoly are now openly lovers, and worry about Freddie's sudden reappearance as well as the impending arrival of Anatoly's estranged wife, Svetlana, from Russia One More Opponent" / "You and I, which Anatoly suspects is part of Molokov's plan to shame him into returning to the Soviet Union. Molokov, meanwhile, has trained a new protégé, Leonid Viigand, to challenge Anatoly, while spying on the opposing pair and plotting Anatoly's downfall The Soviet Machine.
Walter, now Freddie's boss at Global (and clearly a CIA agent), manipulates Freddie into embarrassing Anatoly on live TV during an uncomfortable and eventually heated interview between the two former opponents. Anatoly finally storms out after being prodded ruthlessly by Freddie and shown footage of Svetlana's arrival The Interview. Molokov, who indeed is responsible for Svetlana's presence in Bangkok, now blackmails her into making Anatoly lose the match. Walter, who has been promised the release of certain American agents if he can ruin Anatoly's game, informs Florence that her father is still alive though imprisoned in Russia, and that he too will be released if she can convince Anatoly to lose. Neither of these ploys work to get Anatoly to throw the game, however, so Molokov and Walter team up to get Freddie to personally persuade Anatoly and Florence, knowing that Freddie is vengeful toward Anatoly and interested in winning back the love of Florence. The pair, though, refuses to negotiate with Freddie The Deal.
Svetlana and Florence talk one-on-one for the first time about their relationships with Anatoly, Florence ultimately admitting that it would be best for Anatoly to return to his family I Know Him So Well. Anatoly, meanwhile, is sent an anonymous letter telling him to go to Wat Pho, which he does; to his surprise, Freddie appears, having decided to disconnect from his personal issues with the tournament and to merely facilitate a brilliant match, regardless of his own conflicts with Anatoly. Because of this new change in attitude, Freddie informs Anatoly of a significant flaw in Viigand's play that will help Anatoly win Talking Chess. In the deciding game of the match, with the score at five games all, Anatoly manages to take a superb win against Viigand, and realizes that it may be the only success he can achieve in his life at this time; the victory comes even as Svetlana castigates Anatoly for wallowing in the crowd's empty praise and Florence expresses similar annoyance with him for casting aside his moral ideals Endgame. Later, Florence admits her sentiments about how he should return to the Soviet Union and the pair reflects on their story that seemed so promising You and I – Reprise. Florence is left alone when Walter approaches to inform her that Anatoly has unexpectedly defected back to the U.S.S.R., meaning that her father will certainly be released. He startlingly admits, however, that no one actually knows if her father is still alive. Florence breaks down, telling Walter that he is using people's lives for nothing, before repeating Anatoly's sentiments from the end of the first act, that her only borders lie around her heart Finale.

Plot Broadway 1988
The American version has different settings and a completely different Act 2 from the West End, London version. In particular, the entire show is about one chess match, not two. Act 1 involves the first part of the match, which is held in Bangkok, Thailand, while Act 2 handles the conclusion, and is set in Budapest, Hungary. Also, the incumbent champion is switched in the American version (that is, Anatoly Sergievsky rather than Freddie Trumper) as is the winner of the final Sergievsky-Trumper match (i.e. Trumper rather than Sergievsky).
Acte I
In 1956, a Hungarian revolutionary, Gregor Vassy, calmly explains to his daughter Florence the history of chess, before the two are separated in the midst of a violent rebellion in Budapest Prologue" / "The Story of Chess. Decades later at a press conference, a brash American chess player, Freddie Trumper, relishes the crowd's affection in Bangkok Press Conference, while the current world champion, a young Russian named Anatoly Sergievsky, and his second, Molokov (a KGB agent), watch with curiosity and disdain Where I Want to Be. During the match Chess, Freddie accuses Anatoly of receiving outside help via the flavor of yogurt he is eating, and Freddie storms out, leaving his second, Florence (now an émigrée in the U.S. who escaped Hungary during the 1956 uprisings) in an argument with The Arbiter and the Russians. Florence later scolds Freddie, but he insists that she should unwaveringly support him You Want to Lose Your Only Friend?.
Freddie, supposed to attend a meeting with Florence and Antoly to smooth things over, is sidetracked by the nightlife One Night in Bangkok and shows up late, stumbling upon the scene of Anatoly and Florence who—having waited a while for Freddie's arrival—quickly developed feelings for one another and are now holding hands Terrace Duet. When Freddie accuses Florence of conspiring against him, she decides to leave him Florence Quits" / "Nobody's Side. As the match continues, Freddie, distracted by his developing personal problems, flounders, finishing the first act with 1 win and 5 losses; one more loss will cost him the match. Anatoly surprises everyone by suddenly defecting from the Soviet Union. Answering reporters' questions about his loyalties, he declares that national borders do not matter to him as much as the borders around his heart, i.e. his new-found love for Florence Anthem.

Acte II
Eight weeks later, everyone is in Budapest to witness the conclusion of the match The Arbiter" / "Hungarian Folk Song. Florence is elated to be back in her hometown of Budapest, but dismayed that she remembers none of it Heaven Help My Heart. The scheming Molokov offers to help her find her missing father and starts "investigating" the fate of Florence's father. The plot quickly spins into political intrigue involving the Russians' attempts to get Anatoly back No Contest; even Svetlana, Anatoly's estranged wife, has been flown into Budapest to pressure him to return to the Soviet Union. These threats strain Anatoly's relationship with Florence You and I, and she shares her woes with Svetlana I Know Him So Well. The boot is on the other foot, and the stress of personal problems now impedes Anatoly's ability to play chess, so that Freddie starts winning games until they are tied 5–5. Molokov brings Florence to see a man claiming to be her father Lullaby, and implies that harm will come to the man if Florence remains with Anatoly.
During the final game Anatoly realizes that despite all the harm he has brought with his defection, he cannot hurt his true love, Florence, by depriving her of her father. He chooses to recant his defection and makes a tactical error during the game. Freddie immediately takes advantage of the blunder and proceeds to win the game and the match, becoming the new world champion Endgame. Anatoly returns to Russia a broken man.
Florence is waiting for her father so they can leave for America when she is approached by a stranger who introduces himself as Walter. He confesses to her that the old man is not her father and her father is most likely dead. It seems that the Soviets struck a deal with Walter, a secret CIA agent, that if they managed to get Anatoly back, they would release a captured American spy. Their initial attempts at getting Anatoly back by using Svetlana and other family members had failed, and they had finally succeeded by using Florence. As the curtain closes, Florence has left Freddie, been lost by Anatoly, and lost the father she never had, and she realizes, like Anatoly, that love is all that matters Anthem – Reprise.

De la même manière que pour Jesus Christ Superstar et Evita, un album concept fut enregistré en 1984 avant de commencer la production sur scène. Un single de l'album, One Night In Bangkok, chanté par Murray Head et Anders Glenmark devint un hit mondial et atteignit la 3e place au Billboard Hot 100 (classement publié par l'hebdomadaire américain Billboard magazine), tandis que le duo I Know Him So Well d'Elaine Paige et Barbara Dickson garda 4 semaines la première place des ventes de singles au Royaume-Uni en février 1985 et gagna un Ivor Novello[1] en tant que « meilleure vente de single ». Le double album fut encensé par la critique - « une musique brillante qui couvre presque toutes les bases de la pop » (Rolling Stone), « une synthèse symphonique de rock mûrement sophistiquée et pleine de sons agréables » (Time) - et rencontra un grand succès commercial dans le monde entier. Il resta pendant 7 semaines n°1 des ventes d'albums en Suède, devint un hit du Top 10 britannique et prit la 47e place du Billboard 200 américain. Il remporta également plusieurs prix prestigieux, dont le prix Golden Europa allemand, le prix Edison hollandais et le Rockbjörnen suédois.

En automne 1984, la version scénique de l'album concept par les artistes de l'album fit sa première à Stockholm, Hambourg, Amsterdam, Paris et Londres. La première version théâtrale de Chess démarra à West End à Londres en 1986 et resta trois ans à l'affiche. Une autre version démarra à Broadway en 1988, mais reçut de mauvaises critiques et n'attira pas le public, ce qui fit cesser les représentations au bout de huit semaines. Peut-être les changements politiques du bloc de l'Est perturbèrent-ils la pertinence de l'histoire et contribuèrent à son insuccès à Broadway (ou peut-être que cela venait des modifications de la version de West End destinées à rendre les Américains moins arrogants, et qui enlevèrent de l'intérêt à l'histoire). Une tournée en 1989 accueillit un écrivain pour mettre à jour l'histoire en fonction des événements récents ; les critiques furent mitigées. Chess est produite de temps en temps par des compagnies régionales, parfois en mélangeant les versions de Londres et de Broadway.


Tim Rice began thinking about writing a Cold War musical in 1979. He approached Andrew Lloyd Webber about it, but Lloyd Webber was busy with Cats (1981) at the time. In 1980, Rice wrote a five-page synopsis and producer Richard Vos became interested. He helped Rice find Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, who were looking to branch out from ABBA at the time. The four of them met in Sweden in 1981 and discussed several projects, but it was Chess in which Andersson and Ulvaeus were most interested. While in London on a 10th anniversary tour with ABBA, they announced the project publicly.
The song list/stack for the show changes with almost every individual production. Therefore, it's almost impossible to have a finalized song list.
In November 1999, a new Broadway production was announced by Tim Rice for the 2000-2001 season. It was to be the definitive Chess, replacing all other version available for staging. An 8-city, 40-week tour was to happen prior to Broadway. This version would be set in 1984 with Anatoly as the focus. Material cut after the original London production would be restored. "Someone Else's Story" would be given to Svetlana, as it had in several productions since the 1991 Australian production. These plans were put on hold as Andersson and Ulvaeus were preparing a reworked concert version in Sweden (work began in 1998 and the concert was presented in 2002).


Aucun dossier informatif complémentaire concernant Chess

Aucun dossier informatif complémentaire concernant Chess


Version 1

Chess (1984-10-Barbican Theatre-London) Concert

Type de série: Concert
Théâtre: Barbican (Londres - Angleterre)
Salle : Theatre
Durée :
Nombre :
Première Preview : 27 October 1984
Première: 27 October 1984
Dernière: 27 October 1984
Mise en scène : ???? ????
Chorégraphie : Aucun
Producteur :
Star(s) :
Avec: Svetlana … Barbara Dickson
The American … Murray Head
The Russian … Tommy Körberg
Florence … Elaine Paige
Molokov … Denis Quilley
Arbiter … Björn Skifs
Commentaires longs: Se jouera aussi:
Barbican Centre [London]
10/24/1984 - 10/24/1984
La Salle Playtel [Paris, France]
10/25/1984 - 10/25/1984
Concertgebouw [Amsterdam, Netherlands]
10/26/1984 - 10/26/1984
CCH Hamburg [Hamburg, Germany]
10/27/1984 - 10/27/1984
Berwaldhallen [Stockholm, Sweden]
10/28/1984 - 10/28/1984

Version 2

Chess (1986-05-Prince Edward Theatre-London)

Type de série: Original
Théâtre: Prince Edward Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée : 2 ans 11 mois
Nombre : 1209 représentations
Première Preview : 05 May 1986
Première: 14 May 1986
Dernière: 08 April 1989
Mise en scène : Trevor Nunn
Chorégraphie : Molly Molloy
Producteur :
Star(s) :
Avec: Murray Head (Frederick Trumper), Elaine Paige (Florence Vassy), Tommy Korberg (Anatoly Sergievsky), John Turner (Alexander Molokov), Kevin Colson (Walter de Courcy), Tom Jobe (The Arbiter), Siobhan McCarthy (Svetlana Sergievsky), Grainne Renihan, Sally-Anne Triplett
Commentaires : Once again this show had first seen light as a 1984 concept album LP.
Although the protagonists were not intended to represent any specific individuals, they were loosely based on chess grandmasters Bobby Fisher and Anatoly Karpov. The original director was Michael Bennett who had arranged for some very elaborate technical elements to be used, including creating a proscenium arch out of closed-circuit TV relays. He became seriously ill during rehearsals and was unable to continue, so the show was taken over by Trevor Nunn, who was forced to accept many of the scenic elements already created much against his will. Accordingly these screens were hardly used at all in the course of the show, to the confusion of the audience. Following its great success in London, the New York production opened in April 1988, with the book having undergone some re-writing and a few plot changes.
It was a flop, managing just over a month and some 68 performances. The London production ran three years.
Commentaires longs: Originally supposed to begin previews on April 30, but technical difficulties forced them to postpone.

Version 3

Chess (1988-04-Imperial Theatre-Broadway)

Type de série: Original Broadway
Théâtre: Imperial Theatre (Broadway - Etats-Unis)

Durée : 1 mois 4 semaines
Nombre : 17 previews - 68 représentations
Première Preview : 11 April 1988
Première: 28 April 1988
Dernière: 25 June 1988
Mise en scène : Trevor Nunn
Chorégraphie : Lynne Taylor-Corbett
Producteur :
Star(s) :
Avec: Florence Vassy … Judy Kuhn
Freddie Trumper … Philip Casnoff
Anatoly Sergievsky … David Carroll
Svetlana Sergievsky … Marcia Mitzman
Molokov … Harry Goz
Arbiter … Paul Harman
Gregor Vassy … Neal Ben-Ari
Young Florence … Gina Gallagher
Walter … Dennis Parlato
Nickolai … Kurt Johns
Commentaires longs: Like musical theater, chess is an unpredictable game. There was no reason to suspect that London’s success could not be replicated in New York. Chess lasted for 3 years in London, but the New York production closed in less than 2 months.
The original story was thought to be too convoluted, and it seemed to put the Americans in a bad light. Richard Nelson was hired to revamp the entire story. Unfortunately he diluted the parts that might have caused discomfort among the American audience. He took away some of the lighter touches from the original story, and made it depressingly serious. And he added one character and one subplot too many.
The show opens in Bangkok, and moves to Budapest for the second act. Instead of having two tournaments, the American version is confined to just one tournament. A new character, Walter, who is Freddie’s business associate, is added. Freddie’s second, Florence, now has a long lost father whom she is asked to help defect to the West. However, in exchange for this favor, the KGB asks her to persuade her new-found lover and defector, Anatoly, to return to Russia.
It was probably not any one single factor that was responsible for Chess’s American demise. Some blamed Richard Nelson’s book. Others blamed the poisonous reviews by several influential theater critics, like New York Times' Frank Rich.

Version 4

Chess (1989-01-Carnegie Hall-New York)

Type de série: Concert
Théâtre: Carnegie Hall (New-York - Etats-Unis)
Durée :
Nombre :
Première Preview : 09 January 1989
Première: 09 January 1989
Dernière: 09 January 1989
Mise en scène : ???? ????
Chorégraphie : ???? ????
Producteur :
Star(s) :
Avec: Florence Vassy … Judy Kuhn
Freddie Trumper … Philip Casnoff
Anatoly Sergievsky … David Carroll
Svetlana Sergievsky … Marcia Mitzman
Molokov … Harry Goz
Arbiter … Paul Harman
Gregor Vassy … Neal Ben-Ari
Young Florence … Gina Gallagher
Walter … Dennis Parlato
Nickolai … Kurt Johns
Commentaires longs: The concert was organized by David Carroll (Anatoly in the Broadway production) as a benefit concert in Carnegie Hall. Again, the house sold out and again, the audience was thrilled. But this was unique since the entire original company (except two ensemble members) came from all over the world to perform the songs from the show that had failed at the Imperial Theatre less than a year before. But the music, freed from the dreary sets and dialogue, proved to be as potent as always.

Version 5

Chess (1990-01-US Tour)

Type de série: US Tour
Théâtre: US Tour ( - Etats-Unis)
Durée : 4 mois
Nombre :
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première: 09 January 1990
Dernière: 13 May 1990
Mise en scène : Des McAnuff
Chorégraphie : Peter Anastos
Producteur :
Star(s) :
Avec: Florence Vassy … Carolee Carmello
Freddie Trumper … Stephen Bogardus
Anatoly Sergievsky … John Herrera
Svetlana Sergievsky … Barbara Walsh
Walter … Gregory Jbara
Molokov … David Hurst
The Arbiter … Ken Ard
Commentaires longs: The book for this production reverted more toward the London production, removing much of Richard Nelson's Broadway script.

Version 6

Chess (1991-02-Theatre Royal-Sydney)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Theatre Royal (Sydney - Australie)
Durée : 4 mois 3 semaines
Nombre :
Première Preview : 03 February 1991
Première: 03 February 1991
Dernière: 01 July 1991
Mise en scène : Jim Sharman
Chorégraphie : Chrissie Koltai
Producteur :
Star(s) :
Avec: Florence Vassy … Jodie Gillies
Freddie Trumper … David McLeod
Anatoly Sergievsky … Robbie Krupski
Svetlana Sergievsky … Maria Mercedes
Arbiter … Laurence Clifford
Alexander Molokov … John Wood (ii)
Walter De Courcy … David Whitney

Version 7

Chess (1992-01-Master Theatre-Off Broadway)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Master Theatre (Broadway (Off) - Etats-Unis)
Durée : 3 semaines
Nombre : 4 previews - 83 représentations
Première Preview : 29 January 1992
Première: 01 February 1992
Dernière: 23 February 1992
Mise en scène : David Taylor
Chorégraphie : David Taylor
Producteur :
Star(s) :
Avec: Florence Vassy … Kathleen Rowe McAllen
Anatoly Sergievsky … J. Mark McVey
Freddie Trumper … Ray Walker
Svetlana Sergievsky … Jan Horvath
Alexander Molokov … Bob Frisch
Commentaires longs: This production was completely sung-through (as in London) and set the action in 1972, allowing a Cold War setting (the Cold War had ended in the late 1980s/early 1990s).

Version 8

Chess (1992-04-Royal Alexandra Theatre-Toronto) Concert bienfaisance

Type de série: Concert
Théâtre: Royal Alexandra Theatre (Toronto - Canada)
Durée :
Nombre :
Première Preview : 12 April 1992
Première: 12 April 1992
Dernière: 12 April 1992
Mise en scène : Aucun
Chorégraphie : Aucun
Producteur :
Star(s) :
Avec: Florence Vassy … Susan Gilmour
Freddie Trumper … Rob Lorey
Anatoly Sergievsky … Robert Longo
Svetlana Sergievsky … Kelli James
Molokov … Gordon McLaren
Walter … David Mucci
The Arbiter … Jay Turvey
Gregor Vassy … Michael Burgess

+ Guest Apperance: Colm Wilkinson
Commentaires longs: Concert to benefit Equity Fights Aids/Actors Fund of Canada (netting over $80,000 for the cause).
There were no sets, but a rear projection added some visual interest with scenes from the Hungarian Revolution, chess games, and other chess-related images. The concert was broadcast on Canadian television. The cast sang and acted in front of a full orchestra, in costume. Several dancers were used for "One Night in Bangkok." The progress of the chess match was illustrated by projected newspaper headlines. As can be seen below, material was drawn from several versions and there were a few oddities: the Arbiter sang a stanza not used since the first weeks of the London production ("Don’t try to tempt me/You’ve no hope/I don’t like women/I don’t take dope…") which made little sense as the character was played as on Broadway, not as in London. However, as with all concert versions, the reception for this one was rapturous.

Version 9

Chess (1992-05-Paper Mill Playhouse)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Paper Mill Playhouse (Milburn - Etats-Unis)
Durée : 1 mois 1 semaine
Nombre :
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première: 20 May 1992
Dernière: 28 June 1992
Mise en scène : Rob Marshall
Chorégraphie : Rob Marshall
Producteur :
Star(s) :
Avec: Avec: P. J. Benjamin, Steve Blanchard, Susan Dawn Carson, David Cryer, John DeLuca, Judy McLane, Keith Rice

Version 10

Chess (1996-04-UK Tour)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: UK Tour ( - Angleterre)
Durée : 9 mois
Nombre :
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première: 01 April 1996
Dernière: 31 December 1996
Mise en scène :
Chorégraphie :
Producteur :
Star(s) :
Avec: Florence … Jacqui Scott
Freddie Trumper (The American) … Bogdan Kominowski
Anatoly (The Russian) … Maurice Clarke
Svetlana … Julia Howson

Version 11

Chess (1997-02-Princess Theatre-Melbourne)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Princess Theatre (Melbourne - Australie)
Durée : 3 semaines
Nombre :
Première Preview : 19 February 1997
Première: 19 February 1997
Dernière: 15 March 1997
Mise en scène : Colin McColl
Chorégraphie : Jack Gunn
Producteur :
Star(s) :
Avec: Florence … Barbara Dickson
Freddie … Daryl Braithwaite
Anatoly … Derek Metzger
Svetlana … Delia Hannah
Molokov … David Weatherley
Walter … Tim Page
Arbiter … Keith Wright

Version 12

Chess (1998-05-John Houseman Theatre Studio-Off Broadway)

Type de série: Concert
Théâtre: John Houseman Theatre Studio (Broadway (Off) - Etats-Unis)
Durée : 1 semaine
Nombre : 2 représentations
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première: 10 May 1998
Dernière: 17 May 1998
Mise en scène : ???? ????
Chorégraphie : ???? ????
Producteur :
Star(s) :
Avec: Narrator … Michael Cerveris
Freddie … Brian d'Arcy James (10 mai) / Dave Clemmons (17 mai)
Anatoly … Robert Evan
Florence … Christiane Noll
Molokov … Raymond Jaramillo McLeod
Arbiter … Danny Zolli
Svetlana … Alice Ripley
Commentaires longs: The concert was held to benefit Broadway Cast/Equity Fights AIDS.
The script was a compilation of other versions. No official credit for revisions was given.
This concert also added a Narrator and a number of the London production's songs were used including "Merano," "Embassy Lament" and "The Arbiter's Song." Svetlana was given Broadway's "Someone Else's Story" as well as "Heaven Help My Heart." The concerts sold out well in advance and the ecstatic audience cheered every number, especially "The Arbiter's Song" and "Pity the Child." There was a great deal of discussion in the lobby afterwards that it was definitely time for a major revial of Chess.

Version 13

Chess (2000-??-??-Baden-Baden)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Inconnu (Baden-Baden - Allemagne)
Durée :
Nombre :
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première: Inconnu
Dernière: Inconnu
Mise en scène : ???? ????
Chorégraphie : ???? ????
Producteur :
Star(s) :

Version 14

Chess (2001-08-Helen Hayes Performing Arts Center-Broadway Off)

Type de série: Concert
Théâtre: Hayes Theatre (Broadway - Etats-Unis)
Durée :
Nombre :
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première: 10 August 2001
Dernière: 12 August 2001
Mise en scène : Aucun
Chorégraphie : Aucun
Producteur :
Star(s) :
Avec: Narrator … Norm Lewis
Anatoly … Robert Evan
Freddie … Brian d'Arcy James
Florence … Lauren Kennedy
Molokov … Guy LeMonnier
Svetlana … Julia Murney
Arbiter … Danny Zolli

Version 15

Chess (2002-02-Cirkus-Stockholm)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Cirkus (Stockholm - Suède)
Durée : 1 an 3 mois 3 semaines
Nombre :
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première: 23 February 2002
Dernière: 15 June 2003
Mise en scène : ???? ????
Chorégraphie : ???? ????
Producteur :
Star(s) :
Avec: Florence Vaszi – Helen Sjöholm
Anatolij Sergievskij – Tommy Körberg
Freddie Trumper – Anders Ekborg
Svetlana Sergievskaja – Josefin Nilsson
Domaren (The Arbiter) – Rolf Skoglund
Molokov – Per Myrberg
Commentaires longs: In late 2001, rumours began to circulate about a new production in Stockholm. Written entirely in Swedish, with lyrics and book by Björn Ulvaeus, Lars Rudolffson, and Jan Mark, it attempted to streamline the story back to its original form and eliminate the aspects of political potboiler that had come to define the show. Featuring new musical numbers (Svetlana's "Han är en man, han är ett barn" ("He is a man, he is a child") and Molokov's "Glöm mig om du kan" ("Forget me if you can" from the demo song "When The Waves Roll Out to Sea") and focusing on material from the concept album, the Stockholm version was a drastic rewrite. Notable cast members included Helen Sjöholm as Florence, Tommy Körberg as Anatolij and Anders Ekborg as Freddie. It was filmed for Swedish television, and has been released on a Swedish-language DVD.

The Stockholm production was nominated for eight national Swedish Theatre Awards Guldmasken and won six of them, including Best Leading Actress in a Musical (Helen Sjöholm), Best Leading Actor in a Musical (Tommy Körberg), and Best Stage Design (Robin Wagner). The Original Swedish Cast CD "Chess På Svenska" peaked at number 2 on the Swedish album chart.

Version 16

Chess (2003-09-New Amsterdam Theatre-Broadway)

Type de série: Concert
Théâtre: New Amsterdam Theatre (Broadway - Etats-Unis)
Durée :
Nombre :
Première Preview : 22 September 2003
Première: 22 September 2003
Dernière: 22 September 2003
Mise en scène : Peter Flynn
Chorégraphie : Christopher Gattelli
Producteur :
Star(s) :
Avec: Anatoly … Josh Groban
Florence … Julia Murney
Freddie … Adam Pascal
Waiter … Jonathan Dokuchitz
Arbiter … Raúl Esparza
Svetlana … Sutton Foster
Molokov … Norm Lewis

Version 17

Chess (2006-11-Nederlandse Tour)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Nederlandse Tour ( - Pays-Bas)
Durée : 3 mois 2 semaines
Nombre :
Première Preview : 05 November 2006
Première: 05 November 2006
Dernière: 23 February 2007
Mise en scène : Marcel Sijm
Chorégraphie :
Producteur :
Star(s) :
Avec: Anatoly (Jeroen Phaff), Florence (Joke de Kruijf), Freddy (Jasper Kerkhof), Molokov (Ben Cramer).
Commentaires : Calendrier complet disponible
Commentaires longs: 12 & 13 oct 2006 (preview) - Theater de Purmaryn (Purmerend)
14 oct 2006 (preview) - Kennemer Theater (Beverwijk)
17 oct 2006 (preview) - Singer Laren (Laren)
20 oct 2006 (preview) - Munttheater (Weert)
21 oct 2006 (preview) - Theater Junushoff (Wageningen)
24 oct 2006 (preview) - Fulcotheater (IJsselstein)
27 oct 2006 (preview) - Theater de Tamboer (Hoogeveen)
28 oct 2006 (Prem.) - Theater de Tamboer (Hoogeveen)
29 oct 2006 - Theater de Tamboer (Hoogeveen)
3 nov 2006 - Schouwburg Arnhem (Arnhem)
4 nov 2006 (voorpremiere) - Goudse Schouwburg (Gouda)
5 nov 2006 (Premiere 2) - Goudse Schouwburg (Gouda)
8 nov 2006 - CC Harderwijk (Harderwijk)
9 & 10 nov 2006 - Nieuwe Luxor Theater (Rotterdam)
14 nov 2006 - Schouwburg Agnietenhof (Tiel)
15 nov 2006 - Theater de Nobelaer (Etten Leur )
17 nov 2006 - De Meervaart (Amsterdam)
18 & 19 nov 2006 - Schouwburg de Meerse (Hoofddorp)
21 nov 2006 - Schouwburg Odeon (Zwolle)
22 nov 2006 - Stadstheater (Zoetermeer)
23 nov 2006 - Theaterhotel de Oranjerie (Roermond)
24 nov 2006 (uitverkocht) - Stadsgehoorzaal (Kampen)
25 nov 2006 - Lucent Danstheater (Den Haag )
26 nov 2006 - Schouwburg het Park (Hoorn)
29 nov 2006 (uitverkocht) - Schouwburg het Park (Hoorn)
1 déc 2006 - Theater Kerkrade (Kerkrade)
2 déc 2006 (uitverkocht) - De Lievekamp (Oss)
6 & 7 déc 2006 - Theater a/d Parade (Den Bosch )
8 déc 2006 (uitverkocht) - Theater Geert Teis (Stadskanaal)
9 &10 déc 2006 - De Metropole (Almere)
12 déc 2006 - Theater de Bussel (Oosterhout)
13 déc 2006 - Deventer Schouwburg (Deventer)
14 déc 2006 - CC Leuven (Leuven (Belgie))
15 déc 2006 - Stadsschouwburg (Nijmegen)
16 & 17 déc 2006 - Theater de Flint (Amersfoort)
19 déc 2006 - Leidse Schouwburg (Leiden)
20 déc 2006 - Theater Gooiland (Hilversum)
21 déc 2006 - De Hanzehof (Zutphen)
22 déc 2006 - Theater Markant (Uden)
23 déc 2006 - Zaantheater (Zaandam)
26 & 27 déc 2006 - Rijswijkse Schouwburg (Rijswijk)
29 déc 2006 - Schouwburg (Venray)
30 déc 2006 - Het Speelhuis (Helmond)


3 jan 2007 - De Lawei (Drachten)
5 jan 2007 - Schouwburg Kunstmin (Dordrecht)
6 & 7 jan 2007 - Schouwburg Amstelveen (Amstelveen)
9 jan 2007 - CC Hasselt (Hasselt (Belgie))
10 jan 2007 - Theater De Leest (Waalwijk)
11 jan 2007 - CC de Warande (Turnhout (Belgie))
12 jan 2007 - Schouwburg Tilburg (Tilburg)
13 jan 2007 - De Kampanje (Den Helder )
14 jan 2007 (uitverkocht) - Schouwburg Middelburg (Middelburg)
16 jan 2007 - Schouwburg de Storm (Winterswijk)
17 & 18 jan 2007 - Chasse Theater (Breda)
19 jan 2007 (uitverkocht) - Rabotheater (Hengelo)
20 jan 2007 (uitverkocht) - Theater de Lampegiet (Veenendaal)
21 jan 2007 - Theater de Lampegiet (Veenendaal)
23 jan 2007 (nog enkele kaarten) - De Nieuwe Doelen (Gorinchem)
24 jan 2007 - Stadsschouwburg de Maagd (Bergen op Zoom )
25 jan 2007 - Stadsschouwburg (Sittard)
26 jan 2007 - Schouwburg Orpheus (Apeldoorn)
27 jan 2007 - Theater de Klinker (Winschoten)
30 jan 2007 - Schouwburg Cuijk (Cuijk)
31 jan 2007 - Theater Castellum (Alphen a/d Rijn )
1 fév 2007 - Theater de Schalm (Veldhoven)
2 fév 2007 - Schouwburg Amphion (Doetinchem)
3 fév 2007 - De Muzeval (Emmen)
4 fév 2007 - Theater de Schalm (Veldhoven)
6 fév 2007 - Stadsschouwburg (Eindhoven)
7 fév 2007 - Schouwburg Ogterop (Meppel)
8 fév 2007 - Stadsschouwburg Velsen (IJmuiden)
9 fév 2007 - Schouwburg De Kring (Roosendaal)
10 fév 2007 - Theaterhotel Almelo (Almelo)
13 fév 2007 - Kortrijkse Schouwburg (Kortrijk (Belgie) )
14 fév 2007 (uitverkocht) - Theater de Vest (Alkmaar)
15 & 16 fév 2007 - Isala Theater (Capelle a/d IJssel)
17 febrauri - Fortis Theater a/d Schie (Schiedam)
20 fév 2007 - De Meerpaal (Dronten)
21 fév 2007 - Stadsschouwburg (Groningen)
22 fév 2007 - Theater de Veste (Delft)
23 fév 2007 - Koninklijk Theater Carre (Amsterdam)

Version 18

Chess (2008-05-Royal Albert Hall-London)

Type de série: Concert
Théâtre: Royal Albert Hall (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée :
Nombre : 0 previews - 2 représentations
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première: 12 May 2008
Dernière: 13 May 2008
Mise en scène : Aucun
Chorégraphie : Aucun
Producteur :
Star(s) :
Avec: Anatoly Sergievsky … Josh Groban
Florence Vassy … Idina Menzel
Frederick Trumper … Adam Pascal
Svetlana Sergievsky … Kerry Ellis
The Arbiter … Marti Pellow
Alexander Molokov … David Bedella
Walter De Courcy … Clarke Peters
Commentaires longs: These concerts will be unlike any other version of Chess. The story has been streamlined and the production is to be a rock show with a 50-piece orchestra (The City of London Philharmonic), a 100 strong choir (the West End Chorus), some stellar principals and the largest pipe organ in Europe.

Version 19

Chess (2008-06-Staatsoperette-Dresden)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Staatsoperette Dresden (Dresden - Allemagne)
Durée : 1 an 11 mois 1 semaine
Nombre :
Première Preview : 27 June 2008
Première: 27 June 2008
Dernière: 30 May 2010
Mise en scène : Wolf Widder
Chorégraphie : Silvana Schröder
Producteur :
Star(s) :
Avec: Nadine Eisenhardt & Femke Soetenga (Florence Vassy),
Monika Maria Staszak & Elke Kottmair (Svetlana Sergievsky), Kai Hüsgen & Chris Murray (Frederick Trumper), Christian Grygas & Matthias Pagani (Anatoly Sergievsky), Arbiter (Matthias Otte),
Gerd Wiemer (Alexander Molokov), Marcus Günzel & Christian Theodoridis (Walter de Courcey), Constanze Eschrig & Inka Lange & Jeannette Oswald & Annegret Reißmann (Pop-Chor)

Version 20

Chess (2018-05-Coliseum Theatre-London)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Coliseum Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée : 1 mois
Nombre :
Première Preview : 26 April 2018
Première: 01 May 2018
Dernière: 02 June 2018
Mise en scène : Laurence Connor
Chorégraphie : Stephen Mear
Producteur :
Star(s) :
Commentaires : Landmark musical in first major West End revival in over 30 years.

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