Simcoe Little Theatre brings CHESS: The Musical in Concert to its stage in March (Simcoe Reformer)

Simcoe Little Theatre is taking on the Tony Award-winning CHESS: The Musical In Concert as its March production.

By Simcoe Reformer Staff

March 4, 2026

With music by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus (of ABBA fame) and lyrics by Tim Rice (Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Lion King) CHESS blends high-stakes drama, powerful music, and timely political intrigue. 

Professional and community productions alike have been lauded for the score, with soaring anthems such as One Night in Bangkok; Anthem; and I Know Him So Well. 

Set against the backdrop of an international chess championship during the Cold War, CHESS follows two rival players — one American, one Russian — whose battle over the chessboard mirrors a much larger conflict of ideology, loyalty, and power.  

At the heart of the story is a love triangle involving a brilliant female strategist, forcing all three characters to confront questions of identity, personal freedom, and the cost of ambition.  

It uses the chess game as a metaphor for superpower conflict, personal rivalries and romance, exploring themes of loyalty, betrayal, and identity as the players navigate intense pressure from their respective nations and their own hearts. 

Ultimately, CHESS is a dramatic rock opera where the chessboard isn’t just a game, but a battleground for personal passions and global power struggles. 

The Simcoe show is directed by Andy Dominick, who tours Canada part time as Kristoff in Frozen in Time and is the head technician at Lighthouse Festival. 

New for Simcoe Little Theatre, CHESS will be presented “in concert,” meaning the focus will be on the score and vocals with minimal theatrical staging. This type of presentation allows smaller theatres to present larger musicals in a scalable manner to fit stage size and community theatre production budgets.  

Performances dates are March 5, 6, 12 and 13 at 7:30 p.m. and March 7, 8, 14 and 15 at 2 p.m. 

Tickets start at $27 with youth pricing available. Buy tickets by calling 519-583-0505 or online at simcoelittletheatre.org/chess-the-musical/