Nicholas Christopher on Tony Nomination and Portraying a Complex Character

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Nicholas Christopher is nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical.

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13 years after making his Broadway debut in Motown, Nicholas Christopher is at last a Tony nominee for his stellar performance in the first ever Broadway revival of Chess .

"I wouldn't have bet you a million dollars if you told me I was going to be nominated for playing a Russian Chess master during the Cold War," he told BroadwayWorld. "There was excitement in going to Brighton Beach and learning Russian culture and Chess culture and really reading different books or watching documentaries. Mikhail Baryshnikov was a big inspiration and his defection in Toronto. All of these things sort of come together and you you let it simmer and then then you eat."

Watch in this video as Nicholas chats more about the honor of getting a nomination, the nuance of his complicated character, and so much more. Plus, check out who he is up against and catch up on all the latest Tony Awards coverage!

The 79th Annual Tony Awards will air on Sunday, June 7, 2026.

The Lost Boys

Joanna 'JoJo' Levesque has shared her reaction to the news that the Broadway revival of CHESS would be ending its run early on Broadway. In a new video, JoJo gives fans a behind the scenes look at her preparation process for the show, rehearsing the songs, 'Nobody's Side,' and, 'I Know Him So Well'.

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 set to take over the role of 'Florence Vassey' from Lea Michele.

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.

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_Originally reported by [BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Video-How-Playing-the-Long-Game-Earned-Nicholas-Christopher-a-Tony-Nomination-20260603)._