Chess The Musical Tickets

The musical Chess, written and composed by music legends Tim Rice and the (ABBA) team of Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, is a true gem of a production at the Signature Theater in Arlington, Virginia. With three super-talented Broadway stars, eye-popping scenic design, and a remarkably tight orchestra, this production is actually better than some shows on or near Broadway. For those fans of the immensely popular DVD, taped in London, you should be warned that this production will NOT feature a 1,000 voice choir, or massive stage. Yet, the Signature Theater has managed to transform a medium-sized stage area into a genuinely effective venue for the cast and story. Some liberties have been taken with the story sequence, and the score, but overall, this production is so far and above what regional theaters present nowadays, that Washingtonians and suburbanites would be remiss for not see this rarely seen event while it's here. Two minor distractions. The ensemble cast of dancers and singers who backup the principals could have been cast a little more effectively for their (politely speaking) physical attributes. The storyline and choreography really demand more svelte and agile performers, and while they do an acceptable job of supporting the cast, the gap between the level of excellence of the starring cast and the ensemble is quite profound. Moreover, the head mics worn by the cast are cumbersome and too noticeable for a production of this stature. There are smaller and more effective mics out there, and the production deserved better. As someone who has done television network audio production for the last 35 years, including major musical features, this is probably a personal sticking point. But I heard the audience grumbling about it, so it is worth mentioning. Those minor issues aside...please see this show. It is an evening not to be missed!