‘Chess: The Musical’ Deserved to Continue its Run

Before October of 2025, I had admittedly never heard of Chess: The Musical. I had seen much of the cast already–Aaron Tveit and Nicholas Christopher in Sweeney Todd, Bryce Pinkham in Little Shop of Horrors. Honestly, they were all the biggest draw to seeing Chess and going in to it blind. Add in Lea Michele and I, like many others, were immediately sold on the idea of seeing a self-proclaimed “Cold War Musical.”

Online, discourse for the musical itself falls squarely between “you either love it or you hate it.” I will agree and say that the first time I saw it, the plot was not fully apparent at times, but that is a shortcoming of the book itself that has never been successfully rewritten. The music is what many love, and it’s so apparent why: Songs like “Nobody’s Side” and “Pity the Child” are emotional and electric. The reprises and part twos are storytelling within their own right.

Pinkham, who stars as the Arbiter, also has his own special connection to the show. His father in law was actually in the original West End company in the eighties, and his wife urged him to join the retooled production as the Arbiter nearly a decade ago when it was revisited in 2018 at the Kennedy Center.

Abrupt endings and casting announcements

When it originally released, Chess was a Broadway flop and lasted just two months. This retooled version was adamant to prevent that from happening again, and for a time, it seemed like it had succeeded. Then star Lea Michele announced her departure date on June 21, and singer JoJo announced in March that she was to take over as Florence Vassy on June 23.

Then, suddenly, on May 26, Chess announced that its final performance would be June 21. JoJo would admit that she was supposed to begin rehearsals that day. Many fans online–myself included–were outraged over the decision. We had seen and talked to so many who loved the show.

So what was the reason for this abrupt closing? Officially, it was due to ticket sales. Once Michele announced her departure, they dropped. But rather than give a new performer a chance to step into the role, the decision to close the production was made instead.

When ticket sales dip, it should not be an immediate reason for closing a show

Understandably, Broadway productions are a costly business. But the cost and the risk are well-known things. We see similar things happen in film and television as well: Ratings drop, and a show gets canceled. It never gets a chance to recoup those ratings. Chess suffered a similar fate.

Right now it is more expensive than ever to see a Broadway show. Those inflated ticket prices are one of the reasons why seats remain empty. A newcomer like JoJo should have at least been allowed to debut before decisions like closing the production were even a point of discussion.

Unfortunately, that is the reality that Broadway suffers from right now. Art, especially the performing arts, is a fickle business. As it continues to be run by those who don’t understand it and that things are not always going to be financially successful all the time, shows are going to continue to see similar fates when they don’t meet particular quotas.

I was lucky enough to see Chess for a third time at its closing matinee on Sunday. The room was packed. The applause and standing ovations were loud and long. Of course people rally on the final day of a show, but what was in the room for Chess felt like something special.

It’s rare for me to see a musical and immediately fall in love with it the way I did for this show. I know I am not alone, from the others I talked to. I wish it could have seen at least 1,000 runs.

(Featured image: Rachel Tolleson)

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