Lea Michele Confirms Final Show Date in Broadway’s ‘Chess’

Lea Michele will step away from her starring role in the Broadway revival of “Chess” this summer, confirming that June 21 will mark her final performance as Florence Vassey at the Imperial Theatre. 

The announcement comes as the musical prepares to extend its run for an additional time, with a new block of tickets expected to go on sale in the coming days.

The production, which opened on November 16 following previews that began in mid-October, represents the first Broadway revival of the Cold War–era musical. Michele has led the company alongside Aaron Tveit and Nicholas Christopher, who portray rival chess grandmasters Freddie Trumper and Anatoly Sergievsky. The creative team has not yet disclosed who will take over the role of Florence following Michele’s departure.

In addition to its principal trio, the current cast includes Hannah Cruz as Svetlana, Bradley Dean as Molokov, Sean Allan Krill as Walter, and Bryce Pinkham as the Arbiter. A large ensemble supports the production, with casting overseen by Jim Carnahan and Jason Thinger.

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The revival features music by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA, with lyrics by Tim Rice. A new book has been written by Emmy Award winner Danny Strong, offering a refreshed narrative framework for the long-anticipated Broadway return. The staging is directed by Michael Mayer, with choreography by Lorin Latarro and music supervision by Brian Usifer.

Behind the scenes, the “Chess” is supported by a design team that includes scenic designer David Rockwell, costume designer Tom Broecker, lighting designer Kevin Adams, sound designer John Shivers, and video designer Peter Nigrini. Johanna McKeon serves as associate director, with Travis Waldschmidt assisting in choreography.

Producers Tom Hulce, Robert Ahrens, and The Shubert Organization are leading the current Broadway mounting, presented in association with Creative Partners Productions. The show is staged by arrangement with Three Knights and Robert Fox Ltd.

For more information and additional details, theatergoers can visit chessbroadway.com.