Home / Arts and Entertainment / 'Chess' Musical Ends Run on Broadway After Seven Months
'Chess' Musical Ends Run on Broadway After Seven Months
27 May
Summary
- The musical revival is closing after approximately seven months.
- Despite Tony Award nominations, the show saw declining ticket sales.
- The production began previews in October 2025 and opened November 2025.
The Broadway production of the musical 'Chess' will conclude its run after approximately seven months. This revival, featuring Lea Michele, Aaron Tveit, and Nicholas Christopher, began previews at the Imperial Theatre on October 15, 2025, with its official opening on November 16, 2025.
The musical has garnered five Tony Award nominations, including recognition for Nicholas Christopher, Bryce Pinkham, and Hannah Cruz. However, it did not secure a nomination for Best Revival of a Musical or for Lea Michele. Despite these accolades, the show's weekly ticket sales have been in decline since its opening.
Financial performance saw its peak during Thanksgiving week, reaching $2 million. More recently, grosses have fallen below $900,000 with around 70 percent capacity. Lea Michele, who plays Florence Vassy, had previously announced her departure from the show on June 21, 2026, with JoJo Levesque slated to take over the role.
Producers expressed pride in reimagining the 1988 musical, which features a book revised by Danny Strong and a score by ABBA's Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. The original story by Tim Rice centers on a chess rivalry set against Cold War tensions.
