The Muny production of Chess is set to take the stage at the St. Louis theatre July 5-11.
Directed and choreographed by Josh Rhodes, the company will be headed by Jessica Vosk as Florence Vassy, Jarrod Spector as Frederick Trumper, John Riddle as Anatoly Sergievsky, Rodney Hicks as Walter de Courcey, Tally Sessions as Alexander Molokov, Phillip Johnson Richardson as Arbiter, and Taylor Louderman as Svetlana Sergievskaya.
The ensemble will include Annelise Baker, Jett Blackorby, Eric Allen Boyd, Sydney Chow, Cicily Denise Daniels, Spencer Dean, Matt Faucher, Anna Gassett, Brian Golub, Omega Jones, Sydney Jones, Gareth Keegan, Sage Lee, Daniel May, Brady Miller, Trina Mills, Alysha Morgan, Kristen Faith Oei, Alex Prakken, Emilie Renier, Shelby Ringdahl, Michael Seltzer, and Avilon Trust Tate. The company will also be joined by the Muny Teen and Muny Summer Intensive Teen ensembles.
Watch Vosk, joined by the company, belt out a portion of "Nobody Side" in the rehearsal video above.
Jason DeBord is music directing with associate direction/choreography by Lee Wilkins, associate music direction by Michael Horsley, scenic design by Edward E. Haynes, Jr., costume design by Emily Rebholz, lighting design by Rob Denton, sound design by John Shivers and David Patridge, video design by Alex Basco Koch, wig design by Tommy Kurzman, and production stage management by Kelsey Tippins.
Chess—a love story set against the Cold War chess battles
between the United States and Russia—features a score by ABBA’s Benny
Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus and EGOT winner Tim Rice.
The work debuted on the London stage with a cast led by Elaine Paige, Tommy Körberg, and Murray Head, while the Broadway company featured Judy Kuhn, Philip Casnoff, and the late David Carroll. The score includes such tunes as “Nobody’s Side,” “One Night in Bangkok,” “Anthem,” “I Know Him So Well,” “Pity the Child,” and “You and I.” The original Broadway cast recording was released on RCA Victor.
Chess is the third offering in The Muny's 2023 summer season, which continues with West Side Story July 15-21, Little Shop of Horrors July 25-31, Rent August 4-10, and Sister Act August 14-20.
For more information, visit Muny.org.