Chess In Concert

Book: Tim Rice Music: Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus Lyrics: Tim Rice Introduced by Tim Rice with Josh Groban as Anatoly Sergievsky Idina Menzel as Florence Adam Pascal as Frederick Trumper David Bedella as Molokov Kerry Ellis as Svetlana Clarke Peters as Walter and Marti Pellow as The Arbiter On Monday May 12 and Tuesday May 13, 2008 at 8.00pm there will be two spectacular performances of Chess in Concert, with book and lyrics by Tim Rice (Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, The Lion King) and music by ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson (Mamma Mia!). Leading the cast will be top-selling US recording artiste, Josh Groban, Broadway’s Idina Menzel (Wicked) and Adam Pascal (RENT), and the West End’s Kerry Ellis (Wicked and We Will Rock You), Clarke Peters (Porgy and Bess) and David Bedella (Jerry Springer, The Opera). Playing The Arbiter will be the chart-topping Wet Wet Wet singer, Marti Pellow. Also featured will be the Chess in Concert company, the 100 strong West End Chorus and the City of London Philharmonic with Stephen Disley playing the great organ of the Royal Albert Hall. Tim Rice will introduce both performances. The story involves a romantic triangle between two players in a World Chess Championship, and the woman who manages one and falls in love with the other. Although the protagonists were not intended to represent any specific individuals, the characters' personalities are loosely based on those of Victor Korchnoi and Bobby Fischer who died recently. Following the formula of Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita, a concept album of Chess was recorded in 1984 and generated a number of hit singles. The first theatrical version of Chess opened in London's West End in 1986 and played for three years. ??Chess, is a hugely popular cult musical, which was voted into the All-Time Top Ten in a BBC Radio 2 listener poll of the United Kingdom's ‘Number One Essential Musicals’. The score features One Night In Bangkok and I Know Him So Well. Chess in Concert Company Cantabile, Grant Anthony, Christopher Colley, Tiffany Graves, Leila Benn Harris, David Michael Johnson, Debbie Kurup, Aoife Mulholland, Tabitha Webb Conductor David Firman Director and adaptation for concert Hugh Wooldridge For further information www.chessinconcert.com Corporate hospitality also available 01895 451218 Tickets cannot be exchanged, refunded or resold. Returns may be available at a later date.