TADA Productions, Inc. proudly presents CHESS The Rock Opera opening at the award-winning TADA Theatre on February 14th at 7:30 pm.
The TADA Theatre is one of the first theatres in the country to be granted the rights for the newest version of this musical and will redesign part of the theatre to accommodate the full orchestra that will accompany the production.
With music by ABBA’s Benny Andersson & Bjorn Ulvaeus and lyrics by Tim Rice (Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) CHESS tells a story of love and political intrigue, set against the background of the Cold War in the late 1970s-early 1980s, in which superpowers attempt to manipulate an international chess championship for political ends. From Bangkok to Budapest, the players, lovers, politicians, and spies become pawns of the game and make their moves to the pulse of this monumental rock opera featuring such stellar songs as “I Know Him So Well,” “One Night in Bangkok,” “Anthem,” “Someone Else’s Story,” and “Pity The Child.”
Professional actor Con O’Shea-Creal heads up the cast in the role of chess champion Anatoly Sergievsky. Originally from Lincoln, Nebraska, Con’s Broadway credits include Irving Berlin’s White Christmas and Side Show. He has toured nationally in productions of Something Rotten, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas and Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins in which he portrayed the chimney sweep, Bert. His additional regional credits include 42nd Street, Singin’ In The Rain, Annie Get Your Gun, Urinetown and Kiss Me Kate. He first worked under Mr. Rook’s direction during the musical State Fair at Pinewood Bowl.
Additional cast members include Megan Smith as Florence Vassy, John Schnoor as Freddie Trumper, Kyle Sandall as Alexander Molokov, Neal Stenberg as Walter de Courcey, Hannah Segura as Svetlana Sergievskaya, and Nick Prior as The Arbiter. The ensemble includes Sara Fullerton, Shaun Harner, Matthew Harroun, Mark Mesarch, Judy Welch, and Kevin Welch.
CHESS is directed by Robert D. Rook, musical direction by Cris Rook, assistant musical direction and conducted by David Galant, choreography by Con O’Shea-Creal, stage management by Andi Manakdan, scenic painting by Juli Burney, costume coordination by Karen Statham, stage carpentry and technical coordination by Bryan Watson, and sound assistance from Donald Robertson. The production is sponsored by Home Real Estate and Woods Brother’s Reality and the orchestra is sponsored by Schaefer’s.
CHESS is on stage at The TADA Theatre at 701 P Street in Lincoln, Nebraska’s Historic Haymarket February 14-24 with 7:30 pm curtain times Thursday-Saturday and 2:00 pm on Sundays. Reservations are encouraged by going to www.tadatheatre.info. TADA’s phone number is 402-438-TADA (8232). All tickets start at $20.00. The TADA Theatre also offers V.I.P. reserved parking on show dates in the West Depot parking lot for its patrons. For details contact The TADA Theatre box office.