Chess - West End Creative Team

Born 16 December 1946 in Stockholm. 1952 Received accordion lessons from his father and grandfather. 1964-68 Member of the Hep Stars, Sweden's most popular rock band in the 1960's. During this time, he began composing music. "Sunny Girl" and "Wedding" were huge hits for the Hep Stars. 1972 - 82 ABBA. 1982 - 84 Composed the music (together with Björn Ulvaeus) for the musical, Chess. 1987 Began collaborating with Orsa Spelmän. Recorded three albums deeply rooted in Swedish folk music: Klinga Mina Klockor, November 1989 and Fiolen Min. In 2001, this collaboration led to the formation of Benny Anderson's Orchestra, a 16-man constellation with vocalists, ... read more ... read more Sir Tim Rice is an author and Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Emmy Award, Tony Award, and Grammy Award-winning lyricist. He is best known for his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber, with whom he wrote Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Evita; with Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson of ABBA, with whom he wrote Chess; for additional songs for the 2011 West End revival of The Wizard of Oz; and for his work with Alan Menken on Disney's Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and the musical King David. He also worked with Elton John on Disney's ... read more Michael Bennett was a renowned American dancer, choreographer, and director, known for his innovative work in musical theater. Born in Buffalo, New York in 1943, Bennett began his career as a performer, dancing in the chorus of Broadway shows such as "Subways Are for Sleeping" and "Here's Love." However, it was his choreography that would make him a legend in the industry. Bennett's breakthrough came in 1975 with the groundbreaking musical "A Chorus Line," which he conceived, directed, and choreographed. The show, which followed the lives of aspiring dancers auditioning for a Broadway show, was a critical and commercial success, winning ... read more McAnuff is a two-time Tony Award-winning director and former Artistic Director of the Stratford Festival. Broadway: Summer, Doctor Zhivago, Jesus Christ Superstar, Guys and Dolls, Aaron Sorkin’s The Farnsworth Invention, Jersey Boys (Tony and Olivier Awards for Best Musical), Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays (Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event), Dracula, the Musical, How to Succeed..., The Who’s Tommy (Tony and Olivier Awards for Best Director), A Walk in the Woods, Big River (Tony Awards for Best Director, Best Musical). McAnuff is also Director Emeritus of La Jolla Playhouse, where during his tenure as Artistic Director, he staged more than 35 ... read more Trevor Nunn was educated at Downing College, Cambridge, and in 1962 he won an ABC Director’s Scholarship to the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, where, as resident director, his productions included The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Peer Gynt and a musical version of Around the World in Eighty Days. He recently returned to the Belgrade to direct a production of Scenes from a Marriage. In 1964, Trevor joined the RSC, and was made the company’s youngest-ever artistic director in 1968. He was responsible for running the RSC until he retired from his post in 1986. Productions for the RSC included: The Revenger’s Tragedy, The Relapse, ... read more