Created by Dave Malloy
Directed by Rachel Chavkin
Preview by David Roberts
Theatre Reviews Limited
Complete casting has been announced for the new musical NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812, featuring the Broadway debuts of 24 cast and creative team members including Josh Groban* as ‘Pierre’ and Denée Benton* as ‘Natasha.’ Created by Dave Malloy* (Ghost Quartet, Preludes) and directed by Rachel Chavkin* (Hadestown, Artistic Director of The TEAM) – also making their Broadway debuts – THE GREAT COMET will blaze into Broadway’s Imperial Theatre (249 West 45th Street) beginning October 18, with opening night set for Monday, November 14, 2016. Tickets are on sale now and available at Telecharge.com.
Led by Groban and Benton, the cast of THE GREAT COMET will include Brittain Ashford* as ‘Sonya,’ Gelsey Bell* as ‘Princess Mary,’ Nicholas Belton as ‘Bolkonsky/Andrey,’ Nick Choksi* as ‘Dolokhov,’ Amber Gray* as ‘Helene,’ Grace McLean* as ‘Marya D,’ Paul Pinto* as ‘Balaga,’ Scott Stangland as ‘Pierre’ (standby), and Lucas Steele as ‘Anatole.’ The ensemble includes Sumayya Ali, Courtney Bassett*, Josh Canfield, Ken Clark*, Erica Dorfler, Lulu Fall, Ashley Pérez Flanagan*, Paloma Garcia-Lee, Nick Gaswirth, Alex Gibson*, Billy Joe Kiessling*, Mary Spencer Knapp*, Reed Luplau, Brandt Martinez, Andrew Mayer*, Azudi Onyejekwe, Pearl Rhein*, Heath Saunders*, Ani Taj*, Cathryn Wake*, Katrina Yaukey, and Lauren Zakrin.
THE GREAT COMET features choreography by Sam Pinkleton, set design by Mimi Lien*, costume design by Tony Award winner Paloma Young, lighting design by Bradley King*, sound design by Nicholas Pope, music supervision by Sonny Paladino, musical direction by Or Matias*, casting by Stewart/Whitley, and production stage management by Karyn Meek. (*-denotes Broadway debut)
THE GREAT COMET is a theatrical experience like no other. Malloy’s inspired adaptation of a 70-page slice of War and Peace puts audiences just inches away from Tolstoy’s brash young lovers, as they light up Moscow in an epic tale of romance and passion.
The New York Times calls THE GREAT COMET “a heaven-sent fireball” (Brantley) and “vibrant, thrillingly imagined” (Isherwood), Entertainment Weekly calls it “a stunning, blazingly original musical,” and the New York Post calls it “inventive, ravishing and full-on romantic.” The Original Off Broadway Cast Recording can be purchased on iTunes.
THE GREAT COMET recently played a limited engagement at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge where its innovative design was expanded to bring the show’s signature staging to a traditional proscenium-style theatre.
THE GREAT COMET has been showered with rave reviews and a host of accolades, including the 2013 Richard Rodgers Award for Musical Theater, a Special Citation from the OBIE Awards, five Drama Desk Award Nominations, two Drama League Award nominations, a Henry Hewes Design Award, and the Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Outstanding New Musical.
The 2016 production of THE GREAT COMET at American Repertory Theater won eight Annual Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Awards including New Play, Musical, Director, Set Design, Costume Design, Lighting Design, Sound Design, and Actor in a Musical; as well as the Elliot Norton Awards for Outstanding Musical Production, Outstanding Design, and Outstanding Director.
THE GREAT COMET will be produced on Broadway by Howard & Janet Kagan and Paula Marie Black.