Darren Criss, Lena Hall to perform ‘Chess’ benefit – Deadline | So Good News

EXCLUSIVE: Darren Criss, Lena Hall, Ramin Karimloo and Solea Pfeiffer perform a one-night-only benefit concert of the 1986 Benny Andersson-Bjorn Ulvaeus-Tim Rice musical. Chess next month at the Broadway Theater (formerly The Actors Fund) to benefit.

The concert, which will take place on Monday, December 12 at 7:30 PM ET at the Broadhurst Theatre, was announced today by the Entertainment Community Foundation. The benefit is presented in association with Tom Hulse and Ira Pittelman, whose award-winning Broadway credits include. Ain’t Proud, Green Day’s American Idiot the and Spring awakening.

Criss will play “Freddie Trumper”, Hall will play “Florence Vassy”, Karimloo will play “Anatoly Sergievsky” and Pfeiffer will play “Svetlana Sergievsky”.

Additional casting will be announced at a later date.

“We are thrilled to help bring this new iteration of the beloved musical to New York City,” said Entertainment Community Fund Chairman Brian Stokes Mitchell. “Thanks to Tom, Ira and everyone Chess For your generous support of our programs and services to help those in our industry this holiday season.

The concert will feature ABBA’s score by Andersson, Ulvaeus and Rice, as well as the new Emmy Award-winning book. Changing the game writer Danny Strong. Tony winner Michael Mayer (Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Spring Awakening) leads.

ChessOpened in the West End in 1986 and on Broadway two years later, the love story is set against the historic Cold War chess match between the United States and Russia, whose ideologies are dangerously clashing. Strong’s new book, according to the producers, is “poignant, funny and captures the tension of the era as the iconic score keeps the stakes high from start to finish”.

Among the most popular songs from the musical are “One Night in Bangkok” and “I Know It Well”.

Chess originally on Broadway with The Shubert Organization, 3 Knights Ltd. and issued by
Robert Fox Ltd.

Information about tickets to the benefit concert can be found on the Entertainment Community Fund website.