STAGE TUBE: A Look at the CHESS UK Tour

The U.K. touring production of CHESS, featuring a company of actor-musicians playing their own accompaniment, is set to open at Toronto's Princess of Wales Theatre Sept. 24. The production will officially open on September 28 and run through Oct. 30 before opening in London's West End.

Craig Revel Horwood directs the cast, made up of West End performers including James Fox (Fame Academy, Jesus Christ Superstar), Shona White (Wicked), Tam Mutu (Love Never Dies), Rebecca Lock (The Phantom of the Opera, Avenue Q), James Graeme (The Phantom of the Opera), David Erik (Dirty Dancing, The Phantom of the Opera), Steve Varnom (The Woman in White) and more.

With lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, "Chess" captures the '80s-era conflict between two international chess stars - one American, one Russian - who compete for the world championship only to find that their greatest contest is for the love of the same woman. Set against a backdrop of 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.

Among the show's memorable musical numbers are "One Night in Bangkok," "I Know Him So Well," and "Nobody's Side." Released as a highly successful concept album in 1984, the first theatrical production of "Chess" opened in London's West End in 1986 and ran for three years. An altered U.S. version played briefly on Broadway in 1988, and the show has continued to evolve in both stage and concert versions ever since.

For a look at the production, click below.