"This show has been near and dear to my heart since the concept album came out in the 80s. I’ve never seen it live and was very excited. There are terrific performances. A terrific band. And some good fixes to the book. However. It’s very stripped down and really nothing more than an off book concert version of the show. The new songs weren’t necessary. And the ending is a let down. But an incredible score that deserves to be heard. "
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Broadway.com Customer on Dec 18, 2025
The 3 Main Characters are great
"The voices are amazing. The songs only so so. The orchestra was so loud that few words could be understood. More background on the characters would have been helpful. Choppy plot. The dancers were fantastic but seemed to really be overplaying their role."
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Broadway.com Customer on Dec 10, 2025
Opera??
"I really wanted to love this show, and I would have if I could have understood the lyrics to the songs. Unfortunately, the range was “operatic” — performed in a very high range — which made it EXTREMELY difficult to understand the lyrics and keep up with the story. The VERY BEST part of the whole show was the Opening Number of the Second Half — ONE NIGHT IN BANGKOK! It was TERRIFIC!!! "
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Broadway.com Customer on Nov 7, 2025
Check out
"I liked the storyline; staging; choreography and some of the softer music.
Didn’t like the musical numbers that much. Too much music that sounded screechy and piercing. More dialogue would improve the production and less musical numbers."
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Andrea K from New York on Nov 6, 2025
The show is too long
"The actors are amazing with fabulous voices. The show was not captivating for me. I did like seeing the orchestra on upper stage. Lots of beautiful duets. I judge a show by would I want to see it again. No. Many Broadway shows, I’ve seen multiple times. I saw Hell’s Kitchen at the matinee same day. I would love to see it again and again. Not Chess, but it is an interesting historical and metaphorical lesson. "
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Broadway.com Customer on Oct 26, 2025
Great cast and way too long.
"It was too long. First act was good. Second act had too many ballads and the show dragged on. Voices were strong choreography was great. Just too long. "
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Broadway.com Customer on Jan 18, 2026
About
Chess
Chess is the iconic musical where power and passion collide, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. It’s America versus Russia at the World Chess Championship, where the espionage and romance are as complicated and exhilarating as the game itself. For the two players and the woman torn between them, everything—personal, professional, and political—is at risk… and nobody’s rules are the same.
