Menzel and Groban to Star in London Chess Concerts

By Andrew Gans
09 Jan 2008

Idina Menzel
Idina Menzel

Tony Award winner Idina Menzel and international recording artist Josh Groban will head the cast of two upcoming Chess concerts at London's Royal Albert Hall.

The concerts, scheduled for May 12 and 13 at the famed London venue, will be introduced by Chess co-creator Tim Rice. Groban will portray the Russian with Menzel as Florence. Additional casting will be announced at a later date. Show time is 8 PM.

Chess, according to the official Royal Albert Hall website, "involves a romantic triangle between two players in a World Chess Championship, and the woman who manages one and falls in love with the other. Although the protagonists were not intended to represent any specific individuals, the characters' personalities are loosely based on those of Victor Korchnoi and Bobby Fischer."

The Benny Anderson-Tim Rice-Björn Ulvaeus musical Chess debuted on the London stage with a cast led by Elaine Paige, Tommy Körberg and Murray Head, while the short-lived Broadway company featured Judy Kuhn, Philip Casnoff and the late David Carroll. The score includes such tunes as "Nobody's Side," "One Night in Bangkok," "Anthem," "I Know Him So Well," "Pity the Child" and "You and I." The original Broadway cast recording was released on RCA Victor.

Idina Menzel won a Tony Award for Leading Actress in a Musical for her work as Elphaba in Wicked; she also opened the London production of that hit musical. Menzel created the role of Maureen in the original Broadway company of Rent, and her other theatrical credits include the City Center Encores! production of Hair, the Manhattan Theatre Club The Wild Party, the Public Theater's See What I Wanna See and the benefit Funny Girl concert. Menzel's film credits include "Ask the Dust," "Rent" and "Enchanted." Her new solo recording, "I Stand," is due in stores Jan. 29.

Josh Groban starred in the Actors Fund of America's benefit concert of "Chess." His numerous recordings include "Awake," "Closer," "Josh Groban in Concert" and "Josh Groban Live at the Greek"; his newest recording is titled "Noel."

For ticket information visit royalalberthall.com.