Find Tickets

September 5 - November 3, 2024
Subscribe
Subscribe

Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812

Recipient of two Tony Awards and 12 nominations

  • Written by Dave Malloy
  • Music Direction by Matt Deitchman
  • Directed & Choreographed by Katie Spelman

Running time: 2 hours and 20 minutes, including a 15 minute intermission

Watch the trailer View digital program

“There’s a war going on somewhere out there, and Andrey isn’t here.” Young and impulsive, Natasha Rostova arrives in Moscow to await the return of her fiancé from the front lines. But when she falls under the spell of the roguish Anatole, family friend Pierre must push through his existential crisis to help Natasha pick up the pieces of her shattered reputation. Based on a scandalous slice of Leo Tolstoy’s epic novel War and Peace, this innovative musical spectacle took Broadway by storm with its “electropop opera” score, receiving two Tony Awards and 12 nominations. Katie Spelman and Matt Deitchman, the inspired creative team behind WT’s hit production of Once, reunite to bring this modern spin on a literary classic to Chicago for the first time.

Synopsis

Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812

“There’s a war going on somewhere out there, and Andrey isn’t here.” Young and impulsive, Natasha Rostova arrives in Moscow to await the return of her fiancé from the front lines. But when she falls under the spell of the roguish Anatole, family friend Pierre must push through his existential crisis to help Natasha pick up the pieces of her shattered reputation. Based on a scandalous slice of Leo Tolstoy’s epic novel War and Peace, this innovative musical spectacle took Broadway by storm with its “electropop opera” score, receiving two Tony Awards and 12 nominations. Katie Spelman and Matt Deitchman, the inspired creative team behind WT’s hit production of Once, reunite to bring this modern spin on a literary classic to Chicago for the first time.

Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals.

Cast

Julia Lennon

Mary [through 10/27]

Will Lidke

Ensemble, Understudy Dolokhov

Rob Lindley

Old Prince Bolkonsky [through 10/27]

Evan Tyrone Martin

Pierre

Aurora Penepacker

Natasha

Maya Rowe

Sonya

Bri Sudia

Hélène

Bethany Thomas

Marya [through 10/16]

Jonah Winston

Balaga [through 10/20]

Matthew C. Yee

Andrey

Vasily Deris

Understudy Pierre

Isabel Kaegi

Understudy Natasha

Shraga Wasserman

Understudy Anatole

Ian Paul Custer

Understudy Old Prince Bolkonsky/Andrey

Jesse Bhamrah

Balaga [starting 10/23]

Darilyn Burtley

Understudy Marya [starting 10/14]

Crystal Claros

Understudy Mary/Sonya [starting 10/28]

Joseph Anthony Byrd

Anatole

At Writers Theatre: The Hot Wing King and Great Comet

Excited to be returning to Writers Theatre where he was just seen as Isom in The Hot Wing King. Some of his Chicago credits include The Play That Goes Wrong at Broadway Playhouse, And The World Goes Round (Jeff Nomination) at Marriott Theatre and Cabaret at Paramount Theatre. Broadway/Touring credits include Kinky Boots, The Play That Goes Wrong, and The Lion King. Joseph has also appeared on TV in Justified: City Primeval, Chicago Med, 4400 and Proven Innocent. 

[Bio as of September 2024]

Anthony

Sophie Grimm

Ensemble, Understudy Hélène

 (Ensemble, Helene US/Dance Captain) a lifelong performer in theatre & music, sends love to family, blood & chosen, as well as friends & patrons. Other theatre credits include Writers’ world premiere of Trevor: The Musical, Paramount Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Marriott Lincolnshire, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Stages St. Louis, Rocky Mountain Rep, Wagon Wheel, Little Theatre on the Square, About Face, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre/Globe, as well as singing, producing, & directing across the country with family, friends, & Hasbro’s CLUE: A Walking Mystery. Cheers to self-love & the awareness & courage to embrace one another! Instagram @sophiegrimminthehouse & sweetheart to Vasily Deris.

Andrew Mueller*

Dolokhov

Andrew Mueller (was last seen at Writers as Dolokhov in 2024’s Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812. Other Chicago credits include: Gerry Goffin in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Marriott; Jeff Award), Ernest Shackleton in Ernest Shackleton Loves Me (Porchlight; Jeff nomination), Peter in Jesus Christ Superstar (Lyric Opera), and Mark in RENT (Paramount), among others. Off-Broadway: Alice by Heart (MCC) and Peter and the Starcatcher (New World Stages). 

Andrew Mueller

Bridget Adams-King

Understudy Mary/Ensemble [through 10/27]

 (Ensemble/Mary US), a Chicagoland native, is thrilled to return to Writers Theatre! Chicagoland credits include: The Music Man, Beehive: The 60’s Musical!, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (Marriott Theatre); Once (Writers Theatre); RENT (Porchlight Music Theatre); Queer Eye: The Musical Parody (The Second City); Haymarket (Underscore Theatre Company - Jeff Award Nominee – Performer in a Leading Role); If/Then (Brown Paper Box Co.; Jeff Award Nominee – Performer in a Supporting Role); Head Over Heels (Kokandy Productions); and many others! Bridget was also seen in an episode of Chicago PD. Represented by Gray Talent Group. @badamsking www.bridgetadamsking.com

Darryl D'Angelo Jones

Understudy Balaga/Ensemble

Darryl D’Angelo Jones is a Chicago implant, and is a native to Memphis TN. He is large and in charge! He is sweet, and exuberant! Darryl received his BFA in Acting in 2018 from The Southeast Conservatory of Theater and Dance. This Gentle Giant is proud of his skin and culture, and is very excited to be joining the cast of The Hot WingKing for his Writers Theatre debut! Recent Credits include: Jakieth Gill in Rock of Ages (The Mercury Theater), Zacky Price 1st Cover (8 Shows) & Giant 2nd Cover in Big Fish ( Marriott Theatre), Ensemble in Ragtime (Music Theater Works), Jake in Sideshow (The Black Hills Playhouse), Tom Collins in Rent (Possibilities Theater) and Mercutio in Romeo & Juliet (The Shakespeare Project). Darryl would like to give thanks to God, his family, friends, and late mother Angela K. Horton.

Teressa LaGamba

Understudy Marya [through 10/15], Marya [starting 10/16]

At Writers Theatre: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet

Teressa LaGamba is a Chicago based actor/musician from Pittsburgh, PA and holds a BA from Columbia College Chicago in Acting and American Sign Language. Writers Debut! Some theatre credits include Paramount Theatre (Little Shop of Horrors, Groundhog Day, Legally Blonde, Sweeney Todd; Jeff Award Best Musical), Porchlight Music Theatre (Rent, 1776), Rivendell Theatre (IWFTYA; Midwest Premiere), Marriott Theatre (Ragtime; Jeff Award Best Musical), BoHo Theatre (A Little Night Music), Kokandy Productions (Heathers, Little Fish, Tomorrow Morning) and more, as well as being a frequent player in The Grelley Duvall Show(s) at countless comedy and music venues throughout Chicago. Represented by DDO Artists Agency. For mom!

[Bio as of August 2024]

John Gregorio

Old Prince Bolkonsky [starting 10/30]

At Writers Theatre: Eurydice

John is delighted to make his Writers Theatre debut in Eurydice. NEW YORK: Off-Broadway: The Davenport Theater: Around the World in 80 Days; The Lamb’s Theatre: Silent Laughter; The Belt Theatre: The Nuclear Family. REGIONAL: Lookingglass Theatre Company: The Steadfast Tin Soldier; Goodman Theatre: Notebooks of Leonardo DaVinci; Berkeley Repertory: Treasure Island; Arizona Theatre Company: Miss Bennet Christmas at Pemberley; Merrimack Repertory: The Villain Supper Club; Milwaukee Repertory: The Royale; Geva Theatre Center: The 39 Steps, Little Shop of Horrors; Actors Theatre of Louisville: A Christmas Carol; North Shore Music Theatre: A Funny Thing Happened…Forum; Alliance Theatre: The Legend of Pecos Bill. FILM: Gut Feelings. TV: Good Eats, Smoking Gun TV. John is a founding member of Dad’s Garage Theatre Company of Atlanta, an improvisation instructor, puppet filmmaker and faculty member of The Heifetz International Music Institute.

[Bio as of August 2023]

Carisa Gonzalez

Mary [starting 10/30]

At Writers Theatre: Once

Carisa is so grateful to be simultaneously making her Writers Theatre debut and reigniting her love for piano in Once! She was most recently seen as Maria in The Sound of Music at The Paramount Theatre. Other Chicagoland credits include: Regina in Rock of Ages (Paramount) Debbie in Groundhog Day (Paramount) and Ensemble in both Kinky Boots and the world premiere of The Secret of My Success (Yes, also Paramount.) Carisa is super open to being hired by other theaters in Chicago. @carcass_g @thebarenakedpole @shirleyhamiltontalent

 

 

[Bio as of March 2023]

Creative

Dave Malloy

Author

Katie Spelman

Director/Choreographer

Matt Deitchman

Music Director

Courtney O’Neill^

Scenic Designer

Raquel Adorno^

Costume Designer

Yael Lubetzky^

Lighting Designer

Eric Backus^

Sound Designer

Charlotte Rivard-Hoster

Conductor/Associate Music Director

Ethan Deppe

Electronic Music Designer

Roger Ellis

Associate Director

Brian Elston

Assistant Lighting Designer

Natalie Cohen

Assistant Stage Manager

Lexie Wiley

Assistant Stage Manager

Bobby Kennedy

Dramaturg

Bobby Kennedy is the Director of Artistic Development at Writers Theatre. He has been the resident dramaturg at the theatre since 2008 and has led the theatre's new work program since 2014. Highlights of his tenure include the world premieres of Manual Cinema's Christmas Carol, Wife of a Salesman by Eleanor Burgess, Dishwasher Dreams by Alauddin Ullah, Witch by Jen Silverman, Trevor by Dan Collins and Julianne Wick-Davis, and Death of a Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf by Tim Sniffen; the national premieres of Quixote: On the Conquest of Self by Mónica Hoth, Claudio Valdés Kuri, and Georgina Escobar, and The Dance of Death by Conor McPherson; and the Chicago premieres of Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, A Distinct Society, Tiger Style!, Athena, The Last Match, The Niceties, Smart People, and Marjorie Prime. In addition to his dramaturgy work at WT, his credits also include the world premieres of Give It All Back (SideShow Theatre Company), Body and Blood (The Gift Theatre), Ibsen is Dead (Interrobang Theatre Project) and The Peacock (Jackalope Theatre Company), as well as the midwest premiere of The Luck of the Irish (Next Theatre Company). Kennedy co-founded The Spontaneous Theater Project in Boston and has also worked with Huntington Theatre Company and New Repertory Theatre. He is an alumnus of Boston University.

Katie Galetti, CSA

Casting Director

Katie Galetti is the Artistic Producer and Casting Director at Writers Theatre in Glencoe and a member of CSA. She also serves as the Casting Consultant at Remy Bumppo Theatre in Chicago, and is a freelance casting director regionally. In addition to her casting work, Katie produces and directs events of multiple genres, including opera, digital, experiential, and film. She's worked with Little Cinema Digital, 13Exp, and HERE Arts & Culture Consulting as a producer, is the founder and Artistic Director of Janus Concert Series, and is a founding member of the Chicago Opera Collective. Outside of theater, Katie is a volunteer with Resilience Chicago as a Sexual Assault Crisis Advocate and a classically trained vocalist. More information can be found at www.katiegaletti.com.

Amber Wuttke

Violence Director

At Writers Theatre: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet

Amber is is delighted to join Writers Theatre and this production! She has choreographed for movement, dance, and fights for over a decade, including being a co-founder of Violent Delights, a stage combat and intimacy design team in Chicago. Recent credits include: The Full Monty (Paramount Theatre), Carousel, Brigadoon, Pippin (Music Theater Works), Jeff Award Nominated The Crucible (Invictus Theatre), Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Frankie & Johnny in the Claire de Lune (Elsinore Ensemble). @violentdelights_chi

[Bio as of August 2024]

Miranda Anderson

Production Stage Manager

MIRANDA ANDERSON is happy to be back at Writers where she has previously worked as the stage manager for Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, The Band's Visit, Once and Athena. She has frequently worked with TimeLine Theatre where selected credits include: What the Constitution Means to Me, Trouble in Mind, Campaigns Inc., and Relentless. She has also worked at Rivendell Theatre, The House Theatre, First Folio Theatre, and The Hypocrites, among others. From 2012 to 2018, she toured with The Hypocrites’ Gilbert and Sullivan productions to regional theaters including Olney Theatre Company, Pasadena Playhouse, Skirball Center at NYU, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, and American Repertory Theatre in Boston. Miranda is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association.

[Bio as of April 2025]
Watch

Watch

Watch the trailer

Audience Guide

Great Comet
Read

War and Peace and Comets and Accordions and Electronic Beats: The Making of a Musical

Read

In 19th Century Russia...: The World of Great Comet

This is rated 4 out of 5 stars
Chicago Tribune
This is rated 6 out of 5 stars

Family Matinee Series

Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812

Parents and caregivers can see the 3pm performance of Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 while their young ones dive into a journey of adventures and exciting stories. For ages 5–11.

Saturday, Sep. 21st at 3:00pm

Sold Out
The Great War and Peace

Read Aloud of 2024:

*well, ok, not all of War & Peace

Featuring special guest readers and community members, attendees are welcome to participate as a reader and/or listener and to come and go over the course of the event. Food and beverages will be available for purchase

Saturday, Oct. 5th at 10:00am-2:30pm

Free

Sold Out