JoJo to Take Over Florence in Broadway Revival of Chess

JoJo is set to return to Broadway this summer, taking over the lead role of Florence Vassy in the Broadway revival of Chess from Lea Michele.

The singer, songwriter and actor, whose full name is Joanna Levesque, will begin performances on June 23, 2026, joining a company led by Tony Award winner Aaron Tveit and Nicholas Christopher. Her casting marks a major new chapter for the revival, bringing a pop artist with both chart success and stage experience into one of musical theatre’s most vocally demanding central roles.

Best known for early hits including Leave (Get Out) and Too Little Too Late, JoJo first rose to prominence as a teenager and went on to build a career spanning music, theatre and writing. She made history as the youngest solo artist to top Billboard’s Mainstream Top 40 chart and later earned a Grammy Award in 2020 for Say So with PJ Morton. In recent years, she has also expanded her presence in theatre, appearing on Broadway in Moulin Rouge! The Musical and originating the role of Tess in Working Girl at La Jolla Playhouse. In 2024, she added bestselling author to her list of achievements with the release of her memoir Over the Influence.

Her arrival in Chess places her at the centre of a musical long known for its soaring score and complicated legacy. Set during the height of the Cold War, the show follows two rival chess champions, one American and one Soviet, whose lives become entangled with Florence, a brilliant woman caught between them. Politics, romance and personal allegiance collide as the competition unfolds against a tense international backdrop.

When Chess first opened on Broadway in 1988, it faced significant challenges. Although its score quickly developed a devoted following, the production struggled critically and commercially, with many reviewers pointing to a convoluted plot and uneven storytelling. The timing of its Broadway premiere, as the Soviet Union was beginning to weaken, also complicated its reception, blunting some of the urgency of its geopolitical framework.

This new revival has aimed to address those long-standing issues by reshaping the book for contemporary audiences. Emmy-winning writer Danny Strong has been brought in to craft a revised script, while the production retains the celebrated music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA, alongside Tim Rice. The result is a revival attempting to preserve the musical’s famously powerful songs while giving clearer dramatic shape to the story.

That score remains one of the show’s greatest assets, featuring enduring numbers such as Nobody’s Side and One Night in Bangkok, songs that have outlived the original production and helped keep Chess in the musical theatre conversation for decades. With Michael Mayer directing, the revival has positioned itself as both a reappraisal and a reinvention of a cult favourite.

JoJo’s casting is likely to add fresh interest to the production, particularly given her crossover appeal between pop music audiences and Broadway theatregoers. Florence is a role that demands emotional intensity, vocal precision and commanding stage presence, making it a significant undertaking for any performer. JoJo’s previous theatre work, combined with her long-established recording career, suggests she brings the kind of versatility the part requires.

The production has also announced a new block of tickets, now on sale through September 13, 2026, signalling confidence in the show’s ongoing run and in the attention likely to follow this casting change.

With JoJo stepping into Florence later this year, Chess is preparing for a new phase in its Broadway run, one that pairs an iconic score with a high-profile new leading lady as the revival continues to reintroduce the musical to modern audiences.

Photo Credit: DepositPhotos.com