JoJo Levesque to Replace Lea Michele in Broadway Chess

Joanna "JoJo" Levesque, the multiplatinum singer and actress known for hits like "Leave (Get Out)" and "Too Little Too Late," will replace Lea Michele in the lead role of Florence Vassy in the Broadway revival of Chess, beginning performances on June 23, 2026, at the Imperial Theatre.

Michele, who has portrayed the complex character since the production's opening last year, will conclude her run on June 21. Levesque joins a acclaimed cast led by Tony Award winner Aaron Tveit as American chess grandmaster Freddie Trumper and Nicholas Christopher as Soviet rival Anatoly Sergievsky. Supporting roles include Hannah Cruz as Svetlana, Bryce Pinkham as the Arbiter, Bradley Dean as Molokov, and Sean Allan Krill as Walter, alongside an ensemble featuring Kyla Bartholomeusz, Daniel Beeman, and others.

The revival, which began previews on October 15, 2025, and opened on November 16, marks the first Broadway staging of Chess since its 1988 debut. Set against the backdrop of the Cold War, the musical follows the intense rivalry between two grandmasters, both entangled with Florence, a woman caught between loyalty, love, and geopolitical tensions. Featuring music and lyrics by ABBA's Benny...