JoJo Was Slated to Begin CHESS Rehearsals When the Show Announced Its Closure

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The Broadway revival is now closing just days before Joanna "JoJo" Levesque was set to join the cast.

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Joanna "JoJo" Levesque has revealed that she was supposed to start rehearsals for Chess on Broadway the day that the show announced its early closing. JoJo was announced to take over the role of "Florence Vassey" from Lea Michele on June 23. However, the show announced Tuesday that they will close on June 21, just days before her first bow.

Levesque was slated to reunite with her Moulin Rouge! the Musical co-star Aaron Tveit , along with Tony nominee Nicholas Christopher in the Broadway revival at the Imperial Theatre.

In an Instagram comment on the Chess closing announcement , the multi-platinum singer stated that she was "so bummed" after she was set to begin rehearsals the day the final performance was announced.

"Was supposed to start first day of rehearsals TODAY. So bummed. All my love to the company."

Chess is nominated for five Tony Awards including Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (Nicholas Christopher), Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical ( Bryce Pinkham ), Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical ( Hannah Cruz ), and more.

Featuring a new book by Emmy Award winner Danny Strong , with music and lyrics by Emmy and Tony Award nominees ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus and Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award winner Tim Rice , based on an idea by Tim Rice , this new production is directed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer and choreographed by Drama Desk Award nominee Lorin Latarro with original orchestrations by Anders Eljas , orchestrations by Anders Eljas and 2026 Tony Award nominee Brian Usifer and music supervision by Brian Usifer .

Chess features scenic design by Tony Award winner David Rockwell , costume design by Tom Broecker , lighting design by four-time Tony Award winner and 2026 Tony Award nominee Kevin Adams , sound design by John Shivers and video design by Tony Award nominee Peter Nigrini .

Johanna McKeon serves as Associate Director, Travis Waldschmidt serves as Associate Choreographer and Music Direction is by Ian Weinberger. Casting is by Jim Carnahan C.S.A. and Jason Thinger C.S.A. Hair, Wig and Makeup Design are by Luc Verschueren for Campbell Young Associates .

Ghostlight Records recently released the Chess (2025 Broadway Cast Recording), which is now available in digital and streaming formats. The recording will be released on CD and vinyl later this year.

Chess will play its final performance on Sunday, June 21, 2026 at Broadway’s Imperial Theatre after over 250 performances starring Aaron Tveit,  Lea Michele and Nicholas Christopher.

Bryce Pinkham has spent nearly a decade helping shape CHESS’ new Broadway life. With a Tony nomination for his Arbiter, the actor reflects on creativity, collaboration, family & why this long-complicated musical has finally found its moment.

Watch in this video as 2026 Tony Award nominee Bryce Pinkham chats more about the amazing audience reactions at Chess, how his role is different every night, and so much more.

Lea Michele exclusively tells BroadwayWorld about auditioning for her first Broadway show, the 1987 production of 'Les Miserables,' on a whim.

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_Originally reported by [BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/JoJo-Was-Set-to-Start-CHESS-Rehearsals-the-Day-They-Announced-Closing-20260527)._