Joanna “JoJo” Levesque has been announced as Lea Michele’s replacement in the Broadway hit “Chess.”
Theatergoers last saw the multi-platinum singer on Broadway in 2023 when she performed “Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” according to Playbill.
“Chess” producers announced last week that Michele would give up the role of Florence Vassy on June 21. The 39-year-old Bronx native is likely to be nominated for Tony Award for that part, which she’s played since the show previewed at the Imperial Theatre in October.
Levesque is signed on through September. The show has reportedly been extended for a third time.
The Vermont native who was raised in Massachusetts joins performers Aaron Tveit and Nicholas Christopher who launched the Broadway revival with Michele. She’ll have big shoes to fill. Michele’s performance has been met with growing reviews inducing a write-up from Variety declaring “Lea Michele reigns as queen!” while calling the musical “uneven.”
Daily News critic Chris Jones credited Michel’s “flawless technique” in “Chess,” which he described as as guilty pleasure “that some will claim to dislike and yet most everyone will enjoy, even if that has to be in secret.”