Chess: Musical Information & Synopsis
Synopsis
Chess explores the intense world of international chess competitions against the backdrop of political intrigue and the Cold War era. The story revolves around the rivalry between two chess grandmasters, the American Freddie Trumper and the Russian Anatoly Sergievsky. As they face off in a high-stakes championship, their personal lives become entangled with love, betrayal, and loyalty. Chess explores themes of power, competition, and the cost of ambition.
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Musical Information
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1984)
Cast Size: 15+
Genre: Drama
Setting: 1950s, 1980s / Hungary, Thailand, USA
Creative Team
Music: Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus
Lyrics: Tim Rice
Book: Richard Nelson (1988), Danny Strong (2025)
Cast Albums
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra Concert Cast (1994)➝
Royal Albert Hall Concert Cast (2009)➝
Licensing
Chess is available to license through MTI and Concord Theatricals.
Australasia Licensing
Europe Licensing
USA/Canada Licensing
Resources
Audition Songs: Theatre Trip
Sheet Music: Amazon➝
Tags
1980s, Classical, Dramatic, Epic, Infidelity, Narrator, One Word, Political, Pop, Rap Song, Rock, Sung-Through, True Story
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Last Reviewed: January, 2026