Key Points
The final performance of Broadway’s Chess was announced Tuesday.
The June 21 show is just two days before singer JoJo was scheduled to take over for star Lea Michele in the role of Florence Vassy.
JoJo revealed on Instagram that she was supposed to start rehearsals the same day news of the closure was announced.
Pop/R&B singer JoJo was especially upset to hear that the Broadway show Chess is closing on June 21, after Lea Michele’s final performance.
JoJo was supposed to take over the role of Florence Vassy from the Glee alum on June 23. The “Too Little, Too Late” singer weighed in after Instagram account @broadwayworks commented on Tuesday’s news that they hoped the Grammy winner would have a chance to perform in the show’s final weeks at Imperial Theatre in New York City.
“Was supposed to start first day of rehearsals TODAY,” JoJo wrote from her official account. “So bummed. All my love to the company.”
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The casting was announced in March, according to PEOPLE. The move was hailed as the musician’s return to Broadway, where she notably appeared in Moulin Rouge! The Musical.
JoJo, whose full name is Joanna Levesque, had told the magazine how excited she was about her upcoming appearances.
“It’s an incredible, exciting opportunity. As soon as I got to see this production of the show, I couldn’t stop getting chills,” she said. “It feels incredibly right, and it is definitely going to be a challenge, but something that I’m excited for.”
Entertainment Weekly has reached out to a rep for the actress.
The musical costars Aaron Tveit and Nicholas Christopher, who play chess opponents fighting over the character JoJo would have played.
‘Chess’ on Broadway stars Aaron Tveit and Lea Michele
Credit: Matthew Murphy
The production announced the end of its run in a news release, describing the show as “the twice-extended, record-breaking new production of Chess,” which has done more than 250 performances.
In her first Broadway part, JoJo portrayed the female lead of Satine in Moulin Rouge! The Musical, where she also worked with Tveit.
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