Talking CHESS with the two leads of Scottsdale Desert Stages' production of this rarely produced musical

Zac Bushman and Nicholas Hambruch
photo by Jason K. Walz

by Gil Benbrook

15 years before the music of the pop group ABBA exploded onto the stage in the hit musical Mamma Mia!, the group's songwriting duo of Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus wrote music for another stage production, Chess. Along with long time Andrew Lloyd Webber collaborator Tim Rice, who contributed lyrics and co-wrote the book, the musical had a fairly successful run in London but flopped on Broadway.

The musical is set in the 1980s and tells the story of two chess players, Freddie, who is American, and the Russian, Anatoly, who are competing in an international chess match in Bangkok while the Cold War tensions of that time period are always present.

Chess was first released as a concept album that spawned the hugely successful hit song "One Night in Bangkok" as well as "I Know Him So Well," which went to #1 on the UK charts. The musical has received numerous concert productions and has been re-worked several times, including for a 2018 London revival, but it's a show that isn't often produced even though the score has many wonderful songs.

Scottsdale Desert Stages presents the musical for a three week run from March 4-March 20 which features Zac Bushman and Nicholas Hambruch as Freddie and Anatoly, respectively. In between final rehearsals for the show, Bushman and Hambruch sat down to answer some questions about the show.

Chess was a fairly big hit in London but flopped on Broadway and has been rarely produced in the US in the last 30 years. It's understandable that most people aren't that familiar with this musical, so what would you tell them it’s about? 

Zac Bushman (Freddie): "It’s about a Chess championship match between America and Soviet Russia in the 80’s. Although the focus is much more on the politics and drama surrounding the match as opposed to the actual game of chess."

How familiar with the show were you before you auditioned?

 Nick Hambruch (Anatoly): "Decently! I have of course heard some of the hit songs such as “Anthem” “Pity the Child” “One Night in Bangkock” etc. but midway through quarantine I decided to check the show out. It’s fascinating because there are so many completely different versions of the show. Some versions are almost completely sung through like Les Mis, and there are other versions like ours that have an actual script and treat it as a proper book show. 

Bushman: I had heard a couple of the songs but honestly didn’t know anything about the plot of the show. Much less about Freddie Trumper. 

Zac Bushman, Nicholas Hambruch, and the cast of Chess in rehearsals
photo by Jason K. Walz

What can you tell us about your character, and why did you want to play him? 

Hambruch: "Anatoly’s trajectory in the show is very similar to many other characters. He is just a cog in a machine, a pawn in someone else’s game. He’s someone who is debating whether he still even has a passion for chess, or anything at all for that matter. What to him was a game, became someone else’s war, and he no longer feels the connection to the only thing he ever truly loved. Luckily someone comes along that completely alters his course. I believe we can all relate to being in a situation in which everything is taken from us before we ever get a chance to remove the veil, and see what kind of fight we’ve landed in the middle of.  I think we can all relate to wanting to break free from a situation in which we have no voice."

Bushman: Freddie is a very troubled kid stuck in a 30 year old’s body. He doesn’t know how to communicate or control his emotions. I actually auditioned for and was called back for Anatoly but one thing led to another, and here we are. 

What kind of research did you do for the role? 

Hambruch "Speaking lines of dialogue in another language was a challenge I’ve never had to face before, and I can only hope I’m doing it any justice. I had a great time learning all the different versions of the show, and finding the path that led to this particular script."

Bushman: "I watched a lot of videos of Bobby Fisher and John McEnroe as well as "Queen’s Gambit" to get a feel for the intensity one might feel when playing such a high stakes chess match. "

Zac Bushman, Alice Johnson, and Nicholas Hambruch
photo by Jason K. Walz

What is your favorite moment in the show and why is it your favorite? 

Hambruch: "This is definitely a hard one for me. I could listen to Zac sing “Pity The Child” for days on end. One of my absolute favorite songs to sing for years has been “Anthem” and I’m glad I get to give it a go here as well! But I cannot forget the epic feeling of being able to belt Endgame with the rest of the cast!"

Bushman: "Anytime I am onstage with Alice Johnson. She is such a powerhouse scene partner and has left me in tears several times with the energy that she gives on stage. "

Chess premiered in the late 1980s, so why do you think this show is still relevant today? 

Hambruch: "There is a lot of things i could say here, but I will leave it at this. There is always a game. Two sides, one outcome. One side takes their pawns and begins to move, forever changing the fate of all the players on the board. “They move, We move” and the wheel keeps on turning. No matter the justification, you have no idea how many fates will be torn, lives broken. I think we all deserve to remove the veil. To see the board, and give ourselves the chance to choose love over fear."

Bushman: "In this show, Freddie and Anatoly are treated as celebrities from their respective countries but aren’t really in control of their own lives. They are both used as “pawns” by people with power over them. "

What do you hope audiences will take away from seeing Chess at Desert Stages Theatre? 

Hambruch: "Maybe it’s the absolutely 80s score, maybe it’s the interest to pick up a chess set, but ultimately I think this is a musical for anyone who tries. If you pursue the things that make life worth living, sometimes you’ll win and sometimes you’ll lose. But you did it anyway. And that’s what matters. I hope people leave the theater feeling the freedom to choose." 

Bushman: "I hope that people leave this show more willing to be patient with their loved ones. Oftentimes we only see the last few pages of someone’s story without realizing what kind of traumatic events got them to that place. This world would be a much better place if we were all a little more understanding. "

CLICK HERE for more information, and to purchase tickets, for Chess at Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre