Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 Lands at American Repertory Theater
(© Chad Batka)
American Repertory Theater's production of Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 starts its run this evening.
The show is an electropop opera based on an excerpt of Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace, detailing Natasha’s affair with Anatole, while her betrothed, Andrey, is off at war. Napoleon’s war rages just outside the city walls, but in the salons and opera houses of 19th-century Moscow there is vodka and caviar, chandeliers and romance. This production's new staging has actors dancing among audience members as they bring to life a classic tale of love and fate.
Adapted by Dave Malloy, the musical is directed by Rachel Chavkin and choreographed by Sam Pinkleton. The cast comprises Brittain Ashford as Sonia Rostova, Gelsey Bell as Maria Bolkonskaya, Denee Benton as Natasha Rostova, Nicholas Belton as Andrey Bolkonsky, Nick Choksi as Dolokhov, Lilli Cooper as Hélène Bezukhova, Grace McLean as Marya, Paul Pinto as Balaga, Scott Stangland as Pierre Bezukhov, and Lucas Steele as Anatole Kuragin.
The creative team includes Mimi Lien (set design), Paloma Young (costume design), Bradley King (lighting design), and Matthew Hubbs (sound design).
Performances will run through January 3.
