The world of Cold War intrigue, forbidden love, and 1980s rock rules when the legendary musical Chess, by the composers of Mamma Mia!, plays Signature Theatre, August 10 through September 26. The first major American production in almost 20 years-and the Washington region's very first professional production-stars Broadway's Jill Paice (Curtains), Euan Morton (Boy George in Taboo), and Jeremy Kushnier (Footloose) in the Russian/American conflict made new again. Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Million Dollar Quartet) and his creative team capture the gritty, sexy world of Chess' 1985 radio hit ‘One Night in Bangkok' in the amazing intimacy of Signature's 276-seat MAX Theatre. The Tony Award®-winning Signature Theatre has a national reputation for its work with musicals - polishing underappreciated gems, as well as producing world premieres and reinventing classics.
Chess: two international chess masters-one American, one Russian-compete for the world championship only to find that their greatest contest is for the love of the same woman. Amidst political intrigue and international conspiracies, Freddie and Anatoly fight to take the queen in a romantic triangle that mirrors the heightened passions of the Cold War. Originally produced on Broadway in 1988, this Tony-nominated rock musical explores the classic themes of love, loss and betrayal. In addition to ‘One Night in Bangkok,' Chess features unforgettable songs as such ‘Anthem,' ‘I Know Him So Well,' ‘Nobody's Side,' and ‘Pity the Child.' Time Magazine called it "one of the best rock scores ever produced in the theater."
Chess features music composed by the male half of ABBA Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson (Mamma Mia!), lyrics by Evita and Lion King lyricist Tim Rice, and book by award-winning playwright Richard Nelson. At Signature Theatre, the music direction and new orchestrations are by David Holcenberg, an expert on Ulvaeus and Andersson's musical theatre work who is currently the Associate Music Supervisor for Mamma Mia! in North and South America. The creative team also includes Karma Camp (choreography), Daniel Conway (sets), Chris Lee (lights), Kathleen Geldard (costumes), Matt Rowe (sound), and Aaron Fisher (projection design).
Tickets for Chess range in price from $55 - $81 and are available by calling Ticketmaster at (703) 573-SEAT (7328) or visiting www.signature-theatre.org. Group discounts are available for parties of ten or more by contacting tickets@signature-theatre.org. For more information please visit www.signature-theatre.org
---
Jeremy Kushnier plays the American chess master, Freddie. Born in Canada, Kushnier made his 
Broadway debut originating the role of Ren in Footloose. He continued on Broadway as Roger in Rent as well as in the road companies of Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida (Radames) and Rent (Roger). Most recently he starred as Tommy Devito in the Toronto, Chicago, Las Vegas and touring companies of Jersey Boys. Regionally Kushnier has performed at Maine State Music Theater's Full Monty (Jerry), Prince Music Theater's Bright Lights Big City (Jamie), Kansas City Starlight's Jesus Christ Superstar (Judas), and in the original Canadian companies of The Who's Tommy and Rent. In film Kushnier has appeared I Adulterer and on television on "Late Night with David Letterman," "FX" and John Woo's "Once a Thief." Jeremy has two independent CDs, In Time and his self titled EP Jeremy Kushnier, which can be found online at his web site www.jeremykushnier.com. Kushnier is making his directorial debut this summer with the Rent at Rainbow Stage in Winnipeg, MB.
