Based on Stefan Zweig’s haunting novella, The Royal Game, Chess Story is a one-man retelling of the Austrian author’s famous last work. It follows a lawyer who is imprisoned by the Gestapo and, forced into isolation, clings to his sanity by playing endless games of chess in his mind - only to find himself slipping deeper and deeper into madness. Chess Story is about the little things that keep us alive and the life-saving power of our imagination.

Adapted for the stage by Roxy Arecco and Mario del Cubo

Directed by Roxy Arecco, starring Mario del Cubo

December 11-14, 2025 at The Wild Project (195 E 3rd St)

Before the concept of drag was politicized and before women were allowed to participate in theater, Shakespeare’s plays were performed with an all-male cast. We plan on doing an all-male identifying production of a Shakespeare play (TBD) to both honor Shakespeare’s original vision and explore the ideas of gender and gender performance. 

Directed by Roxy Arecco