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Austin Playhouse And SummerStock Austin Partner For Austin Debut Of CHESS

Updated: Friday, June 22 2012, 03:36 AM CDT
By Rob Faubion, AustinOnStage.com
 
Austin Playhouse and SummerStock Austin will partner this summer for the Austin premiere of the ground-breaking musical, CHESS.  The production - using the original U.K. version with modern additions from the recent U.S. concert version, will be performed from July 6 through 22 at Austin Playhouse at Mueller as the final production of Austin Playhouse’s 2011-2012 season, and then again in August as part of SummerStock Austin’s 2012 season at the Long Center in August.

The musical began life as a highly successful concept album that was released in 1984.  The first theatrical production opened in London's West End in 1986 and played for three years.  A much-altered U.S. version premiered on Broadway in 1988.  Hits from the show include “One Night in Bangkok” and “Heaven Help My Heart.”
    
The acclaimed rock musical features music by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus of ABBA and lyrics by Tim Rice (Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita).  Set at the height of the Cold War, the story involves a romantic triangle between two top players - an American and a Russian - in a world chess championship.
    
However, their greatest battle is for the love of a woman, forming a complex romantic triangle within the context of the larger struggle for world domination between the United States and the Soviet Union.  The character of the American was loosely based on chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer and the Russian on grandmasters Viktor Korchnoi and Anatoly Karpov.
     
Jacob Trussell (Dayboynightgirl, Sweeney Todd) plays the hot-headed American champion, with the Russian champion played by David Gallagher (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, The Last 5 Years).  Marita Stryker (Zilker Theatre's Crazy for You) plays the woman caught in the middle of their rivalry.  The cast also features Josie Yount, Brian Coughlin, Joe Penrod and Philip Kreyche, with Joey Banks, Kimberly Barrow, Ryan Borses, Chelsea Duvall, Nick Kier and Ann Pittman.  SummerStock Austin participants will enhance the ensemble.
     
Michael McKelvey - the Artistic Director of SummerStock Austin - serves as the music and stage director, with Austin Playhouse Associate Artistic Director Lara Toner serving as Associate Director. Danny Herman and Rocker Verastique share the choreography duties, with set design by Leilah Stewart, costume design by Glenda Barnes, and lighting design for the Austin Playhouse performances by Patrick Anthony.
    
The Austin Playhouse performances will run Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m.  Tickets are $28, with a special $35 Opening Night ticket for Friday, July 6th.  All student tickets during the run of the show are half-price,
     
Austin Playhouse is located in the Mueller Development at 1800 Simond Avenue.  For more information, tickets and directions, call (512) 476-0084 or visit www.AustinPlayhouse.com

(Image courtesy Broadway.com)
Austin Playhouse And SummerStock Austin Partner For Austin Debut Of CHESS