Chess

Chess

Sponsored by:  Springfield Theatre Centre & Midwest Family Broadcasting

Directed by: Laurie O’Brien
Produced by: Debbie Copp

Choreography:  Anna Bussing
Vocal Direction:  Steve Rotello

Auditions:  Saturday, November 12 @ 9:00 a.m.; callbacks, if needed, November 13
Performances: January 13-15 & 20-22, 2012
Curtain Times: Friday/Saturday – 8 p.m.; Sunday 2 p.m.

About the show

CHESS is a musical with lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, formerly of ABBA.  The story involves a romantic triangle between two top players, an American and a Russian, in a world chess championship, and a woman who manages one and falls in love with the other; all in the context of a Cold War struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Parts Available

Florence (female) – strong belt voice (to E) Born in Hungary, has been brought up in America since 1956.  She is clever, theatrical, touching, vivacious, volatile.  Freddie’s chess “second”.

Freddie (the American) – (male) – Rock Tenor (to C).  An American chess champion.  A cross between Bobby Fisher and John McEnroe.  Arrogant and temperamental, but a genius; his chess playing is revolutionary.  We need to see his artistry along with his danger and obsessiveness.

Anatoly (the Russion) – (male) – High Baritone (to G sharp)  A Russian chess champion.  Unexpectedly charming.  He doesn’t seem a romantic hero at first, but becomes one through his personality.  An intelligent, feeling, passionate man.

Molokov (male)  Bass (down to F sharp) Not a fake, comic, stage Russian.  Intellectually formidable.  Seemingly a father figure to Florence.  Anatoly’s chess “second.”

Svetlana (female)  Strong Soprano.  Anatoly’s wife.  Domestic, wholesome, homey.  A dramatic contrast to Florence-not a contemporary cosmopolitan woman.

Walter (male) A marketing agent.  Seemingly respectable, substantial, trustworthy.  Srong singer/actor.

Arbiter (male) Rock High Baritone (up to A)  International businessman.  Smooth, but with a quick temper.  Dancer

Young Florence (female young adult or child)  Non-singing small part.

Plus a large cast of adults as singers and dancers for the ensemble.

CAST

Florence – Michelle Boone

Freddie – Layne Roate

Anatoly – Kellen Fant

Molokov – Jeff Prince

Svetlana – Aasne Vigesaa

Walter – Jim Leach

Arbiter – Kelly Trier

Young Florence – Willa Daniels

Ensemble …………Terry Schoppenhorst, Julie Finnell, Alex Edwards, Alyssa Furling, Lance Perko, Marina Fokina, Lindsay Finnell, Laura Mitchelle, Ryan Mitchelle, Mary Matheny, Seth Wheeler, Zac Clemons, Bridget Ratz, Matt Ratz