REVIEW
The idea of Chess in a Colorado dinner theatre may seem strange, but this was an excellent production of the musical. The dinner was served, eaten and cleared before the theatre began, as many of the serving staff were also performers and technicians in the show. Amazingly, they excelled at both. The facility has a large, thrust stage and the Chicago script (with some of the formality of the Concept Album added) was performed with a fluidity and seamlessness rarely seen. Again the concept of human chess pieces was used, though with different costuming. But it was the actors and director who kept this Chess moving.
Alex Ryer (Florence) had just come from several Off-Broadway shows and several national tours, but she and the rest of the cast were mainly local talent. Steven Bogard (The Russian) was a BDT veteran who had also performed on cruise ships and in a jazz vocal group. Wayne Kennedy hailed from Salt Lake City. The show was extended and won six (of 10 nominations) Denver Drama Critics' Circle Awards: Best Production of a Musical, Direction, Costume Design and acting awards for Alex Ryer, Wayne Kennedy and Jeff Cyronek.
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