[Slaine]

Start saving...I'll be going with a group of friends. As long as my 2nd baby decides not to make an appearance that night!


Chess - in concert
Tuesday, 13 May, 2008

Chess - in concert. Introduced by Sir Tim Rice.

This special concert performance celebrates the 21st Anniversary of Chess, the musical with lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, formerly of ABBA.

The story involves a romantic triangle between two players in a World Chess Championship, and the woman who manages one and falls in love with the other. Although the protagonists were not intended to represent any specific individuals, the characters’ personalities are loosely based on those of Victor Korchnoi and Bobby Fischer.

Following the formula of Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita, a concept album of Chess was recorded in 1984 and generated a number of hit singles. The first theatrical version of Chess opened in London's West End in 1986 and played for three years.

Chess is a cult musical, which is hugely popular with musical theatre fans and the general public alike. It was voted in the All-Time Top Ten in a BBC Radio 2 listener poll of the United Kingdom’s 'Number One Essential Musicals' and features the chart successes One Night In Bangkok and I Know Him So Well.

Book: Tim Rice
Music: Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus
Lyrics: Tim Rice

Artistes to be announced at a later date.

Tickets:

2nd Tier £ 65.00
Stalls £ 60.00
Rear Arena £ 60.00
Front Circle £ 47.50
Rear Circle £ 36.00
Gallery £ 17.50

[Slaine]

BTW - this is at The Royal Albert Hall. Should be superb - I have visions of that concert they did to celebrate the Les Mis anniversary!

[Jekkienumber24601]

let's hope they do a radio broadcast or dvd of it.

[freakycallbackgirl]

*jaw drops* WOW!

I REALLY wanna go! Now there are two reasons for me to go to London:
1) Drew Sarich is Jean Valjean in London (I saw him on his last day and he was AMAZING! But I still like Alexander Geminai)
2) CHESS CONCERT

[Tj@themusicals]

My partner and I got our tickets last night!!! I can't wait. The names being thrown aroudn to appear are:
Josh Groban
Idina Menzel
John Barrowman!

Not bad...
xx

[Salome]

Lets hope Idina is Svetlana and not FLorence.

[Tj@themusicals]

Let's pray together
x

[Jekkienumber24601]

john barrowman as Freddie or The Arbiter!!!?

[Tj@themusicals]

It's official!

Josh Groban - The Russian

Idina Menzel - Florence

xx

[foscari]

I read that Adam Pascal thinks that Chess is the best and would like to play Freddie Trumper on stage in a full production.SO we may see him in London in May.Maybe Idina Menzel one of his co-stars in Rent will encourage him to come to London. I hope so. For all the slagging off of Adam on these web pages ,I thought he was pretty good for such a under rehersed concert benefit in Hollwood and his "Pity the Child" as good as it gets in my opinion.

[Salome]

thanks for double posting.

[Herbatka]

Will Judy Kuhn sing there?

[foscari]

Kerry Ellis who is the present Elephaba in "Wicked" in London ,will sing Svetlana in Chess at Albert Hall.

[Jekkienumber24601]

cool, kerry ellis, but who's playing FREDDIE!!!!????

[foscari]

As I wrote before-I hope that Adam Pascal will be Freddie Trumper in London

[trinaaron]

You get your wish. Adam Pascal is playing Freddie.

[Salome]

and who is molokov and Walter?

honestly this seems like the worst cast of the Chess concerts to date.

[Brother Marvin Hinten, S.]

Groban and Pascal have proven their worth in previous concert casts of "Chess," my questioning is about why the hell Menzel is in the concert, much less why she got that part.

[Cadriel]

[Jekkienumber24601]

[operafantomet]

[Jekkienumber24601]

[Salome]

Julia was the 2nd best Florence next to Judy Kuhn.


and i thought Barrowman was fredy ..okay with Pacal it got a bit better.

[Jekkienumber24601]

[WickedWhatAShow]

I don't really know much about the show, so can someone tell me will Kerry Ellis and Idina Menzel be singing I know him so well together? x

[foscari]

GeorgiaX-I will tell you a little about " Chess".Its one of the best musicals ever composed with a variety of different styles,operetta,rock,abba,and even an early form of rap.All in all Chess was probably the first of a style of musical opera followed up with Les Miserables,Miss Saigon etc. The major problem with Chess that in needs four or even 5 top notch performers and if one is weak it can drag the show down.Chess has got about a dozen memorable songs.What you dont want is The referee or as he is called the "Arbiter" to steal the show with his typical Abba song early on,because there are better songs, however catchy "I am the Arbiter"is.Believe me the success of this musical can depend on how Freddie Trumper the Bobby Fisher character sings "Pity the Child" perhaps one of the best show songs ever.Adam Pascal is a natural for this role. I think the cast that Tim Rice has got for this "two nighter" is as good a show cast you are ever likely to see in London and I for one cant wait for it.

[Jekkienumber24601]

Full Cast List

Josh Groban as Anatoly Sergievsky
Idina Menzel as Florence
Adam Pascal as Frederick Trumper
David Bedella as Molokov
Kerry Ellis as Svetlana
Clarke Peters as Walter
Marti Pellow as The Arbiter

[Slaine]

Thanks for the update. Marti Pellow as the Arbiter sounds like it could be really interesting.

[Salome]

ohh Clarke Peters should be a fun Walter!

[actor]

David Bedella is amazing.

[JIJane]

They are currently sifting through applications for the West End chorus...all to be revealed in about 2-3 weeks time, although I know some people that are already in it.

[Jenko]

I'm in it!!!
Tj, you'll be coming to watch me peformer! Huzzah!

[Set_Buildin_Dad]