Jo Kwon, a member of K-pop boy band 2AM, has been cast as the male lead role for the musical “Chess,” his agency JYP Entertainment said Wednesday.

“Chess” is a stage musical, with music by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, formerly of ABBA, and lyrics by the award-winning Tim Rice, who is behind the musicals “Jesus Christ Super Star,” “Evita” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”

The musical, which opened in London’s West End in 1986, centers on a Cold War-era chess championship between two rivals from Russia and America.

Jo, 26, takes on the role of the Russian chess grandmaster Anatoly Karpov, sharing the role with Key of SHINee, Shin Dong-woo, better known by his stage name CNU, of B1A4, and Ken of VIXX. 

Jo made his musical debut in 2013 with “Jesus Christ Super Star” and starred in “Priscilla” last year.

The Korean production of “Chess” will raise the curtain on June 19 at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul.

By Ahn Sung-mi (sahn@heraldcorp.com)