Entertainment
JoJo Blindsided After Learning ‘Chess’ Was Closing as Singer Was Set to Step Into Lea Michele’s Role
JoJo was left stunned after learning her highly anticipated gig on Broadway vanished practically overnight.
According to a Tuesday, May 26, Daily Mail report, the “(Leave) Get Out” singer, 35, was set to replace Lea Michele in the Broadway revival of Chess beginning June 23 at New York City’s Imperial Theatre. But producers abruptly announced the musical would close on June 21 — the same day Michele, 39, is scheduled to exit the production.
The shocking decision reportedly came just hours before JoJo was due to begin rehearsals.
“I was supposed to start first day of rehearsals TODAY. So bummed,” she commented on the show’s Instagram page on Tuesday May 27, adding, “All my love to the company.”
In March, JoJo — whose full name is Joanna Levesque — told People that Michele had personally encouraged her to take over the role of Florence Vassy.
“[Lea] was super kind, embraced me and said that she had actually brought up my name [to producers], which I didn’t know,” JoJo said. “So when they were looking for somebody to take over for her, she was like, ‘What about JoJo?’ And that was a beautiful thing to hear.”
Per the Daily Mail, JoJo previously made her Broadway debut starring as Satine in Moulin Rouge! The Musical from 2023 to 2024.
Chess earned five Tony Award nominations this year.
