ABBA composers Andersson and Ulvaeus created their first musical theater work more than a decade before striking pay dirt with their phenomenon, Mamma Mia. It was the inspired idea of lyricist/librettist Rice to match the pair with his cold war tale: the East/West Chess Championship and the romantic triangle that develops between the Russian and American competitors and the beautiful woman who manages one and falls in love with the other. Chart topper Josh Groban (Awake, Closer, Noel) sings the Russian player, Anatoly; Rent Tony and Drama Desk Award-nominee Adam Pascal is the American Freddie, and Tony-winner Idina Menzel (Wicked Witch Elphaba) is Florence, the woman between them.

For Chess in Concert, Thirteen interviewed Josh Groban about his role in this cult musical. See clips from the performance and watch the interview here on the SundayArts Web site.