Joanna ‘JoJo’ Levesque was scheduled to replace Lea Michele in the role of Florence Vassy in the Broadway musical revival of Chess from June 23-September 13 at the Imperial Theatre in New York City.
However, producers unexpectedly announced Tuesday that the entire show was closing on June 21 – the same day as the 39-year-old Glee alum’s final performance.
The 35-year-old R&B belter was absolutely blindsided by the news, commenting on the official Chess Instagram post: ‘[I] was supposed to start first day of rehearsals TODAY. So bummed. All my love to the company.’
It was ‘super kind’ Michele who originally recommended that JoJo take over the plum part, which she told People in March ‘was a beautiful thing to hear.’
The three-time Grammy nominee had already ‘fallen in love’ with the songs by ABBA‘s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus as well as lyricist Tim Rice, and she shared a snap of herself singing Quartet (A Model of Decorum and Tranquility) on April 18.
Joanna ‘JoJo’ Levesque (L) was scheduled to replace Lea Michele (R) in the role of Florence Vassy in the Broadway musical revival of Chess from June 23-September 13 at the Imperial Theatre in New York City
However, producers unexpectedly announced Tuesday that the entire show was closing on June 21 – the same day as the 39-year-old Glee alum’s final performance
JoJo previously made her Broadway debut playing the lead Satine in Moulin Rouge! The Musical – based on the 2001 Baz Luhrmann film – at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre in New York City from 2023-2024.
‘I feel like the only way to prepare for doing Broadway is to dive right into that schedule,’ the Porcelain singer said.
‘It’s all consuming. It becomes your life, and that requires a level of discipline and surely a hundred-percent commitment.’
Michael Mayer’s Chess revival – which centers on a love triangle amid Cold War-era chess matches – will compete for five trophies at the 79th Tony Awards, which air June 7 on CBS/Paramount+.
‘We are immensely proud of the extraordinary work this cast and creative team have done in reimagining Chess for a new generation of theatregoers while honoring the passionate fans who have championed this musical for nearly four decades,’ producers said in a joint statement on Tuesday.
‘To see longtime fans and first-time audiences alike embrace this production so wholeheartedly has been incredibly rewarding for everyone involved and a powerful reminder of why Chess has endured for so many years.
‘The opportunity to witness Aaron Tveit, Lea Michele and Nicholas Christopher perform this legendary score by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Tim Rice alongside a company filled with some of Broadway’s most remarkable talent is something that will stay with audiences long after they depart the Imperial Theatre.
![The 35-year-old R&B belter was absolutely blindsided by the news, commenting on the official Chess Instagram post: '[I] was supposed to start first day of rehearsals TODAY. So bummed. All my love to the company'](https://i.dailymail.com/1s/2026/05/27/02/108890719-15850843-image-a-7_1779846477975.jpg)
The 35-year-old R&B belter was absolutely blindsided by the news, commenting on the official Chess Instagram post: ‘[I] was supposed to start first day of rehearsals TODAY. So bummed. All my love to the company’
It was ‘super kind’ Michele who originally recommended that JoJo take over the plum part, which she told People in March ‘was a beautiful thing to hear’ (pictured April 15)
The three-time Grammy nominee had already ‘fallen in love’ with the songs by ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus as well as lyricist Tim Rice, and she shared a snap of herself singing Quartet (A Model of Decorum and Tranquility) on April 18
JoJo previously made her Broadway debut playing the lead Satine in Moulin Rouge! The Musical – based on the 2001 Baz Luhrmann film – at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre in New York City from 2023-2024
Michael Mayer’s Chess revival – which centers on a love triangle amid Cold War-era chess matches – will compete for five trophies at the 79th Tony Awards, which air June 7 on CBS/Paramount+ (pictured November 16)
JoJo is next scheduled to put her four-octave mezzo-soprano pipes to use on July 20 for a concert at The Muse & Pizza Joint in Nantucket, Massachusetts (pictured July 4)
‘Bringing Chess back to Broadway for the first time in nearly 40 years has been an enormous privilege, and we are extremely proud of everything this production accomplished during its historic Broadway run.’
JoJo is next scheduled to put her four-octave mezzo-soprano pipes to use on July 20 for a concert at The Muse & Pizza Joint in Nantucket, Massachusetts.
The New England native – who released an eight-track EP called NGL last year – pulls 4.6 million monthly listeners on Spotify and boasts 9.3 million social media followers.
JoJo – who’s sold over 7 million records worldwide – first found fame, at age 13, in 2004 when she released her eponymous debut, which peaked at number four on the US Billboard 200 chart.
