Chess (London Stage Version)

A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

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Concord Theatricals

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Cast Size

2w, 5m
Duration

More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
Subgenre

Adaptations (Literature), Period
Target Audience

Adult

Also Available

Chess

Details

Summary

This highly acclaimed musical develops the ancient and distinguished game of chess into a metaphor for romantic rivalries and East-West political intrigue. The principal pawns form a love triangle: the loutish American Grandmaster, the earnest Russian champion and the Hungarian-American female chess second, who arrives at the international championships with the American but falls for the Russian. From Tyrol to Thailand the players, lovers, politicians, CIA and KGB make their moves to the pulse of this monumental rock score.

History

CHESS premiered in London at the Prince Edward Theatre on May 14, 1986.

Cast Attributes

Keywords

Performing Groups

FREDERICK TRUMPER, American grandmaster
FLORENCE VASSY, Frederick’s lover/second
ANATOLY SERGIEVSKY, Russian grandmaster
WALTER DE COURCEY, head of the American delegation
ALEXANDER MOLOKOV, head of the Russian delegation
ARBITER
SVETLANA SERGIEVSKAYA, Anatoly's wife

CITIZENS OF MERANO, REPORTERS, DELEGATES, CIVIL SERVANTS and various other roles to be played by The Company

Time Period Contemporary, 1980s, 1950s
Features Contemporary Costumes / Street Clothes
Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
Cautions
- Mild Adult Themes

Music

Music Samples

Act I
1. Prologue: The Story of Chess – Arbiter, Chorus
2. Merano – Mayor, Chorus
2a. Rock Merano – Frederick, Entourage
2b. Merano Reprise - Mayor, Citizens
3. Commie Newspapers – Florence, Frederick
4. Press Conference – Reporters, Florence, Frederick
5. Anatoly and Molokov – Molokov, Anatoly
6. Where I Want To Be – Anatoly
7. Diplomats - American & Russian Delegates, Molokov, Walter
8. The Arbiter - Arbiter, Chorus
9. Hymn to Chess - Company
10. Merchandisers - Merchandisers
10a. Opening 1st Game – Orchestra
10b. Chess #1 – Orchestra
11. Arbiter Reprise - Arbiter, Chorus
12. Quartet – Molokov, Florence, Anatoly, Arbiter
13. Florence/Molokov – Molokov,Florence
14. 1956 Budapest is Rising - Florence, Frederick
15. Nobody's Side - Florence, Chorus
16. Der Kleine Franz - Chorus
17. Mountain Duet - Florence, Anatoly, Frederick
17a. Opening 2nd Game - Orchestra
17b. Chess #2 – Orchestra
18. Florence Quits – Frederick, Florence
19. Pity the Child - Frederick
19a. Defection Scene – Orchestra
20. Embassy Lament - Civil Servants
21. Heaven Help My Heart - Florence
22. Anatoly and the Press - Reporters
23. Anthem - Anatoly

Act II
24. The Golden Bangkok - Orchestra
25. One Night in Bangkok - Frederick, Chorus
26. One More Opponent - Anatoly, Florence
27. You and I - Florence, Anatoly
28. Soviet Machine - Molokov, Cronies
28a. Soviet Machine (cont'd) - Molokov, Cronies
29. Interview - Walter, Frederick, Anatoly
30. The Deal (Part 1) - Arbiter, Molokov, Svetlana, Anatoly, Florence
30a. The Deal (Part 2) - Frederick, Anatoly, Walter, Molokov, Florence, Svetlana
30b. The Deal (Part 3) - Arbiter, Svetlana, Florence, Frederick, Molokov, Walter
31. I Know Him So Well - Florence, Svetlana
32. Talking Chess - Monk Choir, Frederick, Anatoly
33. End Game (Part 1) - Chorus
33a. End Game (Part 2) - Chorus, Molokov, Walter, Florence
33b. End Game (Part 3) - Anatoly
33c. End Game (Part 4) - Anatoly, Svetlana, Florence, Chorus
34. You and I (Reprise) - Florence, Anatoly
34a. You and I - Anatoly, Florence
35. Walter-Florence Finale - Walter, Florence
36. Epilogue - Florence
37. (Optional) Someone Else's Story - Florence

Woodwind 1 (Flute 1, Piccolo)
Woodwind 2 (Oboe, English Horn, Cor Anglais)
Woodwind 3 (Bb Clarinet 1)
Woodwind 4 (Bb Clarinet 2, Bass Clarinet 1)
Woodwind 5 (Flute 2, Bass Clarinet 2, Baritone Sax, Bb Clarinet 3)
Woodwind 6 (Bassoon, Contra Bassoon)
Horn
Trumpet 1
Trumpet 2
Trumpet 3
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Percussion
Drums
Guitar
Keyboard 1
Keyboard 2
Keyboard 3
Violin A 1st Descant
Violin A 2nd Descant
Violin B 1st Descant
Violin B 2nd Descant
Cello A
Cello B
Bass

Musical Style Classic Broadway
Vocal DemandsModerate
Orchestra Size Large
Chorus Size Large

Licensing & Materials

Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

PLEASE BE ADVISED: There are multiple versions of this title. Before you proceed, please double-check to ensure that you are applying for the version you want. We will not be able to refund rental or shipping fees if you pay for the wrong version. If you’re not sure which version best suits your needs, you may purchase a perusal for each available version.

Music Rentals

Concord offers a full suite of resources to help you put on the show of a lifetime!

2 Piano Rehearsal Act 1
2 Piano Rehearsal Act 2

20 Vocal Books

15 Librettos

1 Woodwind 1
1 Woodwind 2
1 Woodwind 3
1 Woodwind 4
1 Woodwind 5
1 Woodwind 6
1 Horn
1 Trumpet 1
1 Trumpet 2
1 Trumpet 3
1 Trombone 1
1 Trombone 2
1 Percussion
1 Drums
1 Guitar
1 Keyboard 1
1 Keyboard 2
1 Keyboard 3
1 Violin A 1st Descant
1 Violin A 2nd Descant
1 Violin B 1st Descant
1 Violin B 2nd Descant
1 Cello A
1 Cello B
1 Bass

2 Piano Rehearsal Act 1
2 Piano Rehearsal Act 2

20 Vocal Books

15 Librettos

Scripts

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Authors

Benny Andersson

Tim Rice

Tim Rice has worked in music, theatre, and films since 1965 when he met Andrew Lloyd Webber, a fellow struggling songwriter. Rather than pursue Tim’s ambitions to write rock or pop songs they turned their attention to Andrew’s obsession – musical theatre. Their first collabor ...

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Chess (London Stage Version)