Nearly a decade ago, Emmy Award-winning writer Danny Strong texted Tony Award-winning director Michael Mayer four words: “I can fix ‘Chess.’”
“Delusional,” Strong told Broadway News just a few weeks before the 2025 revival of the musical — with a new book by Strong — began previews at Broadway’s Imperial Theatre. “Who thinks that? Who says, ‘I can fix ‘Chess.’” Apparently, Strong does. And it would take a writer with audacity and confidence to tackle the musical that has floundered for 40 years.
The idea for the musical first blossomed in the 1970s. Tim Rice, who had become known for his lyrics to hits like “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Evita,” became fascinated with the politics of the Cold War — specifically how they played out on the cultural stage through the sport of chess. Rice believed the dynamics would make a compelling musical. He teamed up with composers Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus (of ABBA renown) to write a concept album. That 1984 “Chess” album cannonballed onto the scene — topping international charts. But that’s where the ease of the musical’s path ended.
After the album, “Chess” experienced one issue after another. (Listen to the podcast episode below for more of the background.) Since the musical bowed in London in 1986, Rice has tried to make it work — on Broadway, in Australia, on concert stages. But the widely held opinion is that the score is brilliant and the story is muddled. But Strong, known for the political drama “Game Change” and the high-impact series “Dopesick,” felt he could do it justice.
“I kind of get the problems,” Strong said on the latest episode of “Broadway Press Day.” “I couldn’t understand the story, so it made me unable to engage with the characters and really care about the love story — but I thought, ‘I should be caring about the love story because these songs are some of the greatest love songs I’ve ever heard!’”
