Imagine a musical with a cult-following, a score that’s beloved, yet a storyline so convoluted it leaves audiences scratching their heads. That’s the enigma of Chess, the 1986 rock musical by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA fame. But here’s where it gets intriguing: enter Danny Strong, the mastermind behind TV hits like Empire and Dopesick, who decided to take on the daunting task of fixing what many considered unfixable.
Like countless others, Strong found himself bewildered by Chess’s concert version. But instead of surrendering to its tangled plot—a Cold War-era tale of two chess grandmasters, a love triangle, and subplots involving defection and family secrets—he had a bold thought: What if I could make this work?
And this is the part most people miss: Strong didn’t just tweak the script; he reimagined it entirely. His version, starring Lea Michele, Aaron Tveit, and Nicholas Christopher, introduces a narrator to guide audiences through the political and personal drama, heightens the Cold War stakes, and streamlines the story for clarity. Previews begin on Broadway October 15, with an official opening November 16.
But here’s where it gets controversial: Strong’s rewrite cuts songs—a move that could rile die-hard fans. Yet, he argues, it was necessary to create a cohesive narrative. Is less truly more when it comes to a beloved score? Fans are divided, but Strong’s approach has already won over the original creators, including Tim Rice, who granted their blessing.
Strong’s journey began when he watched a concert version featuring Josh Groban and Idina Menzel. “My brain went into rewrite mode,” he recalls. “I started to figure out what was broken and how I could fix it.” He teamed up with director Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening), who saw the same concert and shared Strong’s confusion. “Danny’s ability to marry political storytelling with interpersonal drama is unparalleled,” Mayer says. “He’s got a great ear for both the wonkiness of politics and the emotional punch of personal stories.”
Strong’s process wasn’t without challenges. He admits he never read the American version of the script, focusing instead on the London version and the songs themselves. “I wanted to infuse Cold War storylines and real-life events to raise the stakes,” he explains. “It’s not just about chess matches or a love triangle—it’s about the high-tension dynamics of the era.”
After a successful run at the Kennedy Center in 2018 and a one-night Broadway concert in 2022, Strong continued refining the show. “We expanded what worked and eliminated what didn’t,” he says. “The narrator, for instance, became a sardonic guide that audiences loved.”
But will it satisfy Chess purists? Strong hopes fans approach the show with an open mind. “Our goal was to make it dynamic and engaging, even for those who’ve never seen it,” he says. “If it’s crystal clear, we’ve already won.”
The timing of Strong’s revival is noteworthy, coming on the heels of the successful Broadway revival of Merrily We Roll Along, another show that famously flopped initially. Is there a growing appetite for reimagining troubled musicals? Strong thinks it’s less about trends and more about the enduring love for these shows and their music. “Fans are excited to see these rarely performed works come to life,” he says.
As for Strong, this isn’t his only theatrical venture. He’s also working on Galileo, another musical he hopes to bring to Broadway next year, and has a third project in the works—though he’s keeping that one under wraps.
So, will Strong’s Chess finally crack the code and give the musical the success it’s long deserved? Only time will tell. But one thing’s certain: he’s not afraid to ask the tough questions. Can a show with such a complicated past ever truly be fixed? And if so, at what cost? Let us know what you think in the comments—we’re eager to hear your take on this bold reimagining.
