"CHESS" The Musical opens September 14-23 at the University of Utah

September 07 2018

The University of Utah’s Department of Theatre opens the 2018-19 season with the epic rock opera Chess, with music by members of the pop music group ABBA Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, and lyrics by Tim Rice. The production runs September 14-23 at the Hayes Christensen Theatre in the Marriott Center for Dance.

Before Mamma Mia! came along, Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson of the pop group ABBA produced this daring new musical about an international chess match between the Russian champion and a brash American challenger. Set during the heart of the Cold War, it could very well have been written today, as politics, espionage, and intrigue collide with love and chess. The themes of tension and waiting for moves to be made is ever-present in our current political landscape. Rice encourages those who produce this show to take liberties in terms of “playing” out this musical however they like. The ability to rearrange and mold this story in a way that is relevant and makes sense to our audiences today was important to the director and choreographer, and adds a unique component to our production of Chess.

Chess deserves its place as one of the UK’s most popular musicals, featuring the Top 40 hit “One Night in Bangkok.” This musical ran in the West End for three years with fanfare and acclaim, but is only seldom performed. This is your chance to see the full production with a talented cast directed and choreographed by Denny Berry (Associate Choreographer of the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Hal Prince The Phantom of the Opera, the longest running show on Broadway) with a live orchestra directed by international pianist Alex Marshall. The show features the U of U Musical Theatre Ensemble directed by local vocal director, David Schmidt.

Post-performance discussion with cast and creative team immediately to follow the performance on Friday, September 21.
Dates and Times: Sep 14, 16, and 19-22 at 7:30P
Matinees Sep 15, 22, and 23 at 2P
Location: Marriott Center for Dance at the University of Utah is located at 330 South 1500 East. Free parking is available to the south of the theatre and at Rice-Eccles Stadium

 

Buy tickets here


Tickets: General Admission tickets are $18, University of Utah faculty and staff are $15, University of Utah students are free with UCard and all other students with valid student ID are $8.50. 

Content warning: Recommended for patron ages 14 and up. Mature audiences only. The show contains strong language.