Chess the Musical is coming to Melbourne's theatre district in autumn 2021.
The musical was a big hit in the 1980s and was created by lyricist Tim Rice and featured a score by ABBA's Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. Chess is based off real events – namely the "Match of the Century" chess game that happened between the USA's Bobby Fischer and the USSR's Boris Spassky (and the politcal machinations that went on behind the scenes).
The production features stars of Australia's musical theatre industry, including Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Paulini and Rob Mills, plus New York Metropolitan Opera singer Alexander Lewis (West Side Story for Handa Opera, The Merry Widow), emerging talent and The Voice contestant Brittanie Shipway (The Sapphires, Big Fish) The Voice semi-finalist Mark Furze (Home and Away, Underbelly) and opera singer Eddie Muliaumaseali’i (Show Boat, Das Rhinegold).
Chess started life as a concept album before seasons in the West End and on Broadway, and spawned the earworm pop hit 'One Night in Bangkok'. The Australian tour (which is also going to Perth) is being directed by Tyran Park (Barnum, Follies, Sunday in the Park with George) and will be a semi-staged, concert-style event. This means it will be showing at Regent Theatre for three days only, from April 22 to 24.
Tickets for the musical event are now on sale.