Get a First Listen to Aaron Tveit Singing 'One Night in Bangkok' Ahead of Broadway Chess Revival

Chess began as a concept album released in 1984, after Tim Rice had mulled over the idea of a musical about the Cuban Missile Crisis for nearly a decade with his frequent collaborator Andrew Lloyd Webber, never quite beginning the project. In the early 1980s, he approached Andersson and Ulvaeus, who had been itching to find creative projects outside of their hit pop music group ABBA. The concept album dominated the charts worldwide, reaching number three on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and earned global critical acclaim. Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson's duet "I Know Him So Well" even ranked number one on the U.K.'s singles charts for a month, and "One Night in Bangkok" was an international hit.

It's hard to beat the 1984 original...

One Night in Bangkok (CHESS) with Murray Head

Tveit is a compelling broadway performer. The best actor, no. The best singer, no. The best dancer, no. But still quite compelling. I'd see the show just because of him.

[quote] opposite Lea Michele

That’s sad.

I saw the original "Chess" in London in 1985.

Loved it, Spectacular, fascinating show.

In addition to "One Night in Bangkok," the brilliant, standout song was "I Know Him So Well" sung by Elaine Paige, Barbara Dickson.

Gorgeous.

I always hoped that Tveit was a homo.

Maybe-his brother is a catholic priest.

[quote]I always hoped that Tveit was a homo.

R7. Aaron Tviet is married to Ericka Hunter Yang, who was born to a Canadian mother and Chinese-born Hong Konger father. So Aaron still may be a homo.

[quote]In addition to "One Night in Bangkok," the brilliant, standout song was "I Know Him So Well"

Susan Boyle's rendition is incomparable.

R10. Elaine Page is in a rage and uncontrollable.

Beanie Feldstein IS Cuba!

Chess has a lot of great music but the story is just not very compelling and none of the characters very likeable. They've rewritten the book countless times, adding songs and changing which character sings what but 40 years on nothing has quite worked. It's unfortunate the big hit song was One Night In Bangkok since it doesn't advance the story at all but they're forced to keep it in to every production because everyone expects it. The best addition to the original concept album is the beautiful Someone Else's Story but they should have cut Florence's other ballad Heaven Help My Heart for it. Some productions have given it to Svetlana to beef up her role but that just adds to the already overlong runtime.

I hope they get it right this time and the show has a lengthy run. I'd love to see it but wouldn't be able to go until early next year.

"I Know Him So Well" is in Lea Michele's wheelhouse. Who is playing the Russian wife?

Zzzzzzzzz.

Bad cheesy score. Bad cheesy show.

Dopey theater kids swoon. Ticket buyers don't.

Isn't Elaine Paige known as Elliot now ?

Saw Chess during its original London run. I think I liked it, but I can’t remember a bloody thing about it. Nothing. Nada.

[quote]Isn't Elaine Paige known as Elliot now ?

Yes, but please don't ask her about starring in "Evitx"!

Tveit needs to spend One Night in Burger King. And another in McDonald's. And another in KFC. Too gaunt.

Is there any less erotic performer is NY? And boring AF.

Beanie Feldstein IS Nikita Khrushchev

“Pity the Child” is the true litmus test for someone performing that role. Has he got the grit and emotion to pull it off?

Freddie TRUMPer?!

Book it for the Trumpy Kennedy Center!

R6, r10, after Whitney & Cissy Houston no one ever needed to sing that song again.