CHESS: The Musical This is one of those shows that must be experienced live, again my inept recordings does not do it justice. The show’s relevance right now is honestly a little unhinged… and a little terrifying. This was my 3rd time seeing at as I heard that Lea is leaving in June and being replaced by JoJo so I wanted to see her one last time because she really is a huge talent and they have a wonderful chemistry together. I loved every second of it: from the parade of fantastic songs and ballads, to the sharp, satirical humorous writing that keeps the tension humming, to a score that is stacked, and a minimalist staging that smartly keeps the focus where it belongs: on the performances where the real gag is that Aaron Tveit, Lea Michele, and Nicholas Christopher could each sell this show solo. Everything else is icing...and that is a huge bonus with Hannah Cruz as Svetlana, and Bryce Pinkham as The Arbiter as they are both stupendous! This is a major Broadway hit, skip the cosmetic upkeep and invest in this instead. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This wonderful eye-pleasing dance number "The Arbiter" has unbelievable choreography and has you dancing in your seats. It really shows Bryce’s talent and is such a joy to watch, kudos to the choreographer who put this together. Sorry for the sloppy camera work, this guy in front of me kept on shifting his head which annoyed the crap out of me . The song itself establishes him as the referee’s absolute authority, portraying him as a ruthless, impartial figure amidst the chaotic, high-stakes political maneuvering of the Cold War chess rivalry. He pretty much declares he is above the tricks and manipulation of either side (American or Soviet), ensuring a fair game despite pressures. FDT HARD 💙 #broadwaymusicals #slimetutorial #leamichele #broadway #arbiter @leamichele @Audra Mcdonald @Gavin Newsom @Zohran Mamdani @Jasmine Crockett @Idina Menzel @colbertlateshow @Julie Benko @Pete Buttigieg @Cynthia Erivo @iamjojoofficial @aarontveit @Bryce Pinkham @Darren Criss @ladygaga - @bluetsunami2026