Strategy, Love & Politics: UCI Drama presents a Concert Staging of CHESS

UC Irvine's Claire Trevor School of the Arts Department of Drama opens its 2017 - 18 season with a concert staging of the musical Chess, a complex exploration of strategy and love set at the intersection of US - Russia political relations. With music by ABBA's Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus and lyrics by Tim Rice, Chess premiered in 1986 telling the story of a match between an American Grandmaster (loosely based on the life of Bobby Fischer) and his Soviet rival, and was generally seen as a metaphor for the Cold War politics of the day. This is the first show in a season themed "The Business of Politics/The Politics of Business," which takes a look at the shady underbelly of capitalism.

UCI Drama's production is directed by Professor Robin Buck and musically directed by Drama Chair Daniel Gary Busby, who have adapted the narrative to reflect our current political climate. "While the threat during the cold war was physical, a threat of bombs, we now are faced with the invasiveness of a foreign power in our election process," said Buck. While references to communism and the Soviet Union have been altered, the cult of personality embodied by American Grandmaster "Freddy Trumper" is in full effect, as he revels in his pop-idol status and remains focused on financial gain. His Russian counterpart, meanwhile, navigates what it means to remain loyal to his homeland while exploring opportunities outside its borders, asking himself how far he is willing to go to achieve greatness in the game, and at what personal price?

There have been many versions of Chess since its concept album was first released over thirty years ago, and while some have been fully staged, the concert format has always proven more successful. "The minimalist staging of this show seems to better capture its intimacy; there is always the feeling of characters in an intensely private moment together, while at the same time the whole world is watching," said Buck. "The concert staging is not a compromise, but actually the best theatrical format in which to realize this piece." From the rollicking "One Night in Bangkok" to the soaring "Anthem," backed by a 25-piece professional orchestra, the score is always driving this tale that is ultimately about love: of people, of money, of country, of the game.

Performances and Ticket Information

Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, CA 92612

Evenings: November 11, 16, 17, 18 @ 8 p.m.

Matinees: November 12, 18 @ 2 p.m.

General Admission $25 / Seniors & Groups 10+ $21 / UCI Students & Children under 17 $12. Box Office (949) 824-2787 or www.arts.uci.edu/tickets.

The UCI Drama production team will host a post-performance TalkBack on November 12 after the 2 p.m. matinee with the creative team and cast.

About UCI Claire Trevor School of the Arts: As UCI's creative laboratory, the Claire Trevor School of the Arts explores and presents the arts as the essence of human experience and expression, through art forms ranging from the most traditional to the radically new. The international faculty works across a wide variety of disciplines, partnering with others across the campus. National-ranked programs in art, dance, drama, and music begin with training but end in original invention. Students come to UCI to learn to be citizen-artists, to sharpen their skills and talents, and to become the molders and leaders of world culture. For more information, visit www.arts.uci.edu.

About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UCI is the youngest member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The campus has produced three Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 30,000 students and offers 192 degree programs. It's located in one of the world's safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County's second-largest employer, contributing $5 billion annually to the local economy. For more on UCI, visit www.uci.edu.

Media access: Radio programs/stations may, for a fee, use an on-campus ISDN line to interview UCI faculty and experts, subject to availability and university approval. For more UCI news, visit news.uci.edu. Additional resources for journalists may be found at communications.uci.edu/for-journalists.

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