JoJo to Take Over Lead Role in Broadway’s Hit Revival of ‘Chess’
Pop star and Broadway performer JoJo is stepping into one of the most coveted roles on Broadway, replacing Lea Michele as Florence Vassy in the revival of Chess at the Imperial Theatre.
Michele will give her final performance on June 21, with JoJo — born Joanna Levesque — taking the stage beginning June 23. She joins a cast that includes Aaron Tveit and Nicholas Christopher.
‘It Feels Incredibly Right’
Levesque shared her enthusiasm about the casting in an interview with People in March 2026.
“It’s an incredible, exciting opportunity,” Levesque told the outlet. “As soon as I got to see this production of the show, I couldn’t stop getting chills. It feels incredibly right, and it is definitely going to be a challenge, but something that I’m excited for.”
Levesque said she was already familiar with a few standout songs from “Chess” before getting offered the role of Florence but learned more about the show through Tveit, who has starred in the current production since its launch last year.
She had high praise for her new castmates.
“He is such an amazing scene partner, so generous, and just such a wonderful friend offstage,” she says of the Tony winner. “And Nicholas Christopher, incredible. I was not familiar, but when I heard him sing… It’s really something else. I think these are two of the best male voices I’ve heard live, maybe ever.”
A Familiar Face on the Broadway Stage
This won’t be Levesque’s first time on Broadway. She made her Broadway debut as Satine in Moulin Rouge! The Musical in 2023 and acted alongside Tveit for a segment of her run, a stretch that sparked a friendship between the two. She also originated the role of Tess in “Working Girl” at La Jolla Playhouse.
In a 2024 interview with Time Magazine, Levesque reflected on her connection to performing on stage.
“It wasn’t much of a stretch for me to play Satine. I think she felt a lot of pressure—pressure that she put on herself or pressure that was real because she was the face of the Moulin Rouge—and she wanted to make sure that everything was going to be OK,” she said. “She didn’t want anybody to worry about her. She was very strong and very determined to do what she needed to do, and I relate to that. I never wanted anybody to worry about me, even when I was engaging in dangerous behavior or not treating myself kindly, so I can feel her going through that in the show. I have a lot of love and compassion for Satine.”
From Pop Stardom to the Stage
Levesque has built a wide-ranging career in music, selling over 8 million albums with hits including “Leave (Get Out)” and “Too Little Too Late.” She won a 2020 Grammy for “Say So” with PJ Morton, and her memoir “Over the Influence” became a New York Times bestseller in 2024.
During her Time Magazine interview, she signaled that theater would remain a major part of her future: “New music soon. Touring. And I want to develop an original musical, so that’s in the works. That’s something I’m really passionate about. I want to produce and be behind the scenes and also originate a role. I’m really, really, really into theater these days. It just makes me feel so alive.”
About the Show
Chess is set during the Cold War and follows two chess grandmasters — one American, one Soviet — both connected to Florence. The show features music and lyrics by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Tim Rice, with songs including “Nobody’s Side” and “One Night in Bangkok.”
The musical originally debuted on Broadway in 1988 but drew criticism at the time for a confusing plot. The current revival features a new book by Danny Strong and is directed by Michael Mayer.
A new block of tickets is on sale through Sept. 13, 2026.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
