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September 5 - November 3, 2024
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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

Joseph Anthony Byrd

Anatole

At Writers Theatre: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 and The Hot Wing King 

Joseph is 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

At Writers Theatre: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 and Trevor

Sophie is a lifelong performer in theatre & music and 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.

[Bio as of September 2024]

Julia Lennon

Mary [through 10/27]

At Writers Theatre: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812

Julia is making her Writers Theatre debut. NYC: Smith Street Stage (Enemy). TOUR: TheaterWorks USA (Rosie Revere, Engineer and Friends). REGIONAL: Signature Theatre D.C. (Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd, The Bridges of Madison County); Lyric Stage Company of Boston (The Wolves); Adventure Theatre (You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown); Legacy Theatre (The Great American Mousical); Valley Shakespeare Festival (The Winter's Tale, Henry VIII, The Taming of the Shrew); Downtown Cabaret Theatre (Mamma Mia, Sister Act); Madison Lyric Stage (Into the Woods, Agnes of God). UPCOMING: Ford's Theatre (A Christmas Carol). 

[Bio as of September 2024]

Will Lidke

Ensemble, Understudy Dolokhov

At Writers Theatre: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812

Will is making his Writers Theatre debut.  Other Chicago credits include: Alice By Heart, American Psycho (Kokandy Productions); Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Theo Ubique, Jeff Award: Principal Performer in a Musical); Little Shop of Horrors, A Christmas Carol, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Saturday Night Fever (Drury Lane); Violet (Griffin Theater); as well as work with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Mercury Theater and Rhino Fest. TV: Chicago Justice, Chicago PD (NBC). Will holds a BFA in Acting from the Chicago College of Performing Arts and is represented by DDO Artists Agency. He also creates music, available on all streaming platforms under the name Leo Rising. Insta: @leorising93 www.will-lidke.com 

[Bio as of September 2024]

Rob Lindley

Old Prince Bolkonsky [through 10/27]

At Writers Theatre: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, Oh, Coward!, and Bach at Leipzig

Credits: Oh, Coward! (Jeff Award Best Actor Revue), Bach at Leipzig (Writers); M. Andre in Phantom of the Opera (National Tour); Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead, Secret Garden, Angels in America, Caroline or Change, Carousel (Court Theatre); Andy Warhol in Iran, Funnyman (Northlight); Candide (Goodman); Sound of Music (Marriott); Fun Home (Victory Gardens). Directing credits include; 50 Shades! (Off-Broadway); 2 Pianos 4 Hands, Songs for Nobodies (Northlight); many productions at Porchlight; and gala concerts for Ravinia, Chicago Humanities Festival, and several area theaters. 

[Bio as of September 2024]

Evan Tyrone Martin

Pierre

At Writers Theatre: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812

Recent credits: Dreamgirls (Curtis Taylor, Jr) at Goodspeed/McCarter Theatre, RENT! (Tom Collins) and The Color Purple (Mister) at The MUNY, Next to Normal (Dan) at Greenbrier Valley Theatre, Grease (Teen Angel) at Drury Lane, Blues In The Night (Man in Saloon, Black Theatre Alliance Award Winner) at Porchlight Music Theatre, Into The Woods (Baker) at Opera Montana, Queer Eye: The Musical Parody (Karamo) at The Second City, The Black Clown (Ensemble) at American Repertory Theatre/Lincoln Center's 2019 Mostly Mozart Festival, Jesus Christ Superstar (Jesus, BTAA Nomination) at Paramount Theatre, Far From Heaven (Raymond, Jeff Award Nomination) at Porchlight. He also toured with the hit one-man revue An Unforgettable Nat King Cole Christmas, and stars in his one man show Lets Fall In Love – celebrating the music of Nat and other iconic performers of his time. Next, Evan will return to Opera Montana to play the iconic role of Sweeney in Sweeney Todd. 

[Bio as of September 2024]

Andrew Mueller

Dolokhov

At Writers Theatre: Translations and Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812

Andrew 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). 

[Bio as of April 2025]

Andrew Mueller

Aurora Penepacker

Natasha

At Writers Theatre: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812

Aurora is making her Writers Theatre debut! Rory is a mixed Filipina-American actor, singer, and songwriter. After growing up in Glenview, she earned her B.F.A. in Musical Theatre at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University and is represented by Stewart Talent. Notable credits include The King and I (u/s Tuptim) at Drury Lane, Seagulls (Nina) at Oak Park Festival Theatre, The Fantasticks (Luisa) at Citadel Theatre, and Oklahoma! (Laurey) at the Encore Musical Theatre Company. 

[Bio as of September 2024]

Maya Rowe

Sonya

At Writers Theatre: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812

Maya is making her Writers Theatre debut! Favorite regional credits include: Sally Bowles in Cabaret (The Studio Theatre TDS), Babette in Beauty and the Beast (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), Gingy in Shrek (Drury Lane), Clara in The Light in the Piazza (AGPA Festival), Sibella in A Gentleman’s Guide…(Rocky Mountain Rep), Marilyn Wald & u/s Cynthia/Carole in Beautiful! (Marriott Theatre), Ursula & u/s Frau Schmidt/Maria in The Sound of Music (Paramount Theatre), and Charlotte in A Little Night Music (Theo). You can also catch her in ‘Tankhouse’ on AppleTV+.

[Bio as of September 2024]

Bri Sudia

Hélène

At Writers Theatre: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812

Broadway: A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical (Ellie Greenwich, Original Broadway Cast) Chicago: Wonderful Town (Jeff Award nomination; Goodman Theatre), Sweeney Todd (Jeff Award nomination; Paramount Theatre) Oslo (Jeff Award nomination; TimeLine Theatre), Beauty and the Beast (Drury Lane) The Music Man, Ah, Wilderness! (Goodman Theatre), Road Show, Emma, Red Velvet (Chicago Shakespeare Theater) MFA Acting, University of Illinois and a degree in Sign Language Interpreting. 

[Bio as of September 2024]

Bethany Thomas

Marya [through 10/16]

At Writers Theatre: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, Once, Into the Woods, A Moon for the Misbegotten, and She Loves Me

Bethany is thrilled to join the big show after appearing at Writers Theatre in Once, Into the Woods, A Moon for the Misbegotten, and She Loves Me. Other credits include A Christmas Carol (Goodman Theatre); Marie and Rosetta, Songs For Nobodies (Northlight Theatre); Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Ragtime, The Color Purple (Milwaukee Rep); The Tempest (Chicago Shakespeare); Porgy and Bess (Court Theatre); Iphigenia In Aulis (Getty Villa); Moby Dick (Rep of St. Louis). Jeff Award Winner, 3Arts Awardee, Lunt-Fontanne Fellow. Fun with Teatro ZinZanni, Grelley Duvall, Jon Langford, Tawny Newsome, The Fly Honeys; original music on Apple, and Spotify.

[Bio as of September 2024]

Jonah Winston

Balaga [through 10/20]

At Writers Theatre: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 and Parade

CHICAGO: Parade (Writers Theatre) Romeo and Juliet (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); Big Fish The Musical, Damn Yankees (Marriott Theater); Avenue Q, Little Shop of Horrors, Clue, Young Frankenstein, Spamalot (The Mercury Theater Chicago); A Christmas Carol (The Goodman Theater). TOURING: The Play That Goes Wrong, Saint-George's Sword and Bow. REGIONAL: The MUNY, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, The Cleveland Playhouse, Beef and Boards Dinner Theater. OPERA: The Merry Widow, Jesus Christ Superstar (The Lyric Opera of Chicago). FILM: Lacy's Christmas Do-Over, Evil Lurks, The Resentful Angel. TELEVISION: “Chicago Fire” (NBC), “Chicago PD” (NBC), Discover Indie Film “(Amazon Prime). EDUCATION: BA in Theatre and Vocal Music, Butler University. Master of Letters in Acting, Flinders University.

[Bio as of September 2024]

Matthew C. Yee

Andrey

At Writers Theatre: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, Twelfth Night, and Vietgone

CHICAGO: The Lord of the Rings, a Musical Tale (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), Antigone (Court Theatre), Cambodian Rock Band (Victory Gardens), and Lucy and Charlie’s Honeymoon (Lookingglass Theatre) for which he also wrote the book and score. BROADWAY: Almost Famous The Musical. REGIONAL: The Old Globe, Berkeley Rep, Alliance Theatre. FILM: Ghostlight (2024), Consumed (2015). TELEVISION: Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, Chicago Justice, 61st Street, Empire, and The Bear. From 2023-24 he was a writer in residence at The Goodman Theatre, creating a new musical. He is an ensemble member at Lookingglass Theatre.

[Bio as of September 2024]

Bridget Adams-King

Understudy Mary/Ensemble [through 10/27]

At Writers Theatre: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 and Once

Bridget, 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

[Bio as of September 2024]

Vasily Deris

Understudy Pierre

At Writers Theatre: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812

Vasily is a Chicago born performer making his WT debut! You may recognize him from the hit tv show The Bear as Crooked John, Shameless, Shining Girls, Chicago Fire, and the upcoming Deli Boys on Hulu. He has also appeared around town at other theaters such as the Paramount Theater, American Blues Theater, and The Black Ensemble Theater. Vasily is on top of the world to be sharing this experience with his lovely soon to be bride, Sophie Grimm, who raises him up and loves him unconditionally. Repped by DDO ARTISTS AGENCY. Kali Diaskedasi! 

[Bio as of September 2024]

Darryl D'Angelo Jones

Understudy Balaga/Ensemble

At Writers Theatre: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 and The Hot Wing King 

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.

[Bio as of September 2024]

Isabel Kaegi

Understudy Natasha

At Writers Theatre: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 and Trevor

Isabel is thrilled to return to Writers Theatre. THEATRE: Trevor: The Musical at Writers Theatre; A Christmas Carol at Goodman Theatre; Heathers (Veronica Sawyer), A New Brain (Lisa) & Jesus Christ Superstar (Annas) at OU. TV: Proven Innocent (FOX). Born and raised in Chicago, she recently graduated from the University of Oklahoma with her BFA in Musical Theatre & BA in Public Relations. Boomer Sooner! Rep: Henderson Hogan Agency. @isabel.fiona 

[Bio as of September 2024]

Teressa LaGamba

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

At Writers Theatre: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812

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]

Shraga D. Wasserman

Understudy Anatole

At Writers Theatre: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812

Shraga D. Wasserman is overwhelmed with gratitude to take part in their first production with Writers Theatre. They earned their MFA in acting at NIU after working for several wonderful years based in Minneapolis. Favorite credits include: “Roger” in RENT (Porchlight Music Theatre), “Paul” in Quilt: A Musical Celebration (MJP Theatrical / Candid NYC), “Moritz” in Spring Awakening (Theatre Cedar Rapids), “Marius” in Les Misérables (TCR), “Peter” in Peter and Alice (Candid Theater Co.), and “Roy Cohn” in Angels in America (NIU). Joyfully represented by DDO Artists Agency. Thank you to my parents and all those who nurture and believe in me.

Ian Paul Custer

Understudy Old Prince Bolkonsky/Andrey

At Writers Theatre: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 

Ian is excited to be making his Writers Theatre debut.  Chicago credits: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Paramount Theatre); Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Jeff Award, Best Ensemble, Best Musical – Midsize), The Columnist, Little Shop of Horrors, and It’s A Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! (American Blues Theater);  33 Variations (Jeff Award– Best Production, Midsize), and To Master the Art (TimeLine Theatre); Annie Bosh is Missing (Steppenwolf Theatre); High Holidays (Goodman Theatre).  Ian has also had the pleasure of working with Porchlight Music Theatre, Marriott Theatre, The Lyric Opera of Chicago, A Red Orchid Theatre, and Court Theatre.  Regional credits: Hero: The Musical (Asolo Rep Theatre), Cymbeline (Notre Dame Shakespeare), Peter Pan  (360 Entertainment - London, England).  Television credits: Somebody Somewhere, APB, Empire, Chicago Fire, and Chicago PD.   Ian received his BFA from The Theatre School at DePaul University and is an Ensemble Member of American Blues Theater.

[Bio as of September 2024]

Jesse Bhamrah

Balaga [starting 10/23]

At Writers Theatre: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812

John Gregorio

Old Prince Bolkonsky [starting 10/30]

At Writers Theatre: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 and Eurydice

Writers Theatre: Eurydice. 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, Florida Studio Theatre: 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: Chicago Fire, 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 October 2024]

Carisa Gonzalez

Mary [starting 10/30]

At Writers Theatre: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 and 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]

Darilyn Burtley

Understudy Marya [starting 10/14]

At Writers Theatre: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812

Darilyn was born and raised in the Chicagoland area. She grew up performing gospel and soul before finding a love for theatre. She booked her first principal Equity role first semester at Columbia College and hasn’t looked back since. Credits include: Drury Lane, Lyric Opera (x 2), Porchlight (x4), Marriott, Chicago PD, The CHI, and various commercials. Darilyn is thrilled to be debuting at Writers Theatre! Thanks to the amazing folks at Gray Talent, supportive loved ones, and the best cat on the planet.

[Bio as of September 2024]

Crystal Claros

Understudy Mary/Sonya [starting 10/28]

At Writers Theatre: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812

Creative

Charlotte Rivard-Hoster

Conductor/Associate Music Director

Ethan Deppe

Electronic Music Designer

Roger Ellis

Associate Director

Brian Elston

Assistant Lighting Designer

Dave Malloy

Author

DAVE MALLOY is a composer/writer/performer/orchestrator. He has written thirteen musicals, including Octet, a chamber choir musical about internet addiction; Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, an electropop opera based on a slice of Tolstoy’s War & Peace (12 Tony nominations, including Best Musical, Score, Book, and Orchestrations); Ghost Quartet, a song cycle about love, death, and whiskey; Preludes, a musical fantasia set in the hypnotized mind of Sergei Rachmaninoff; Little Bunny Foo Foo, a forest entertainment for small people; Three Pianos, a drunken romp through Schubert’s “Winterreise”; Black Wizard/BlueWizard, an escapist RPG fantasy; Beowulf - A Thousand Years of Baggage, an anti-academia rock opera; Beardo, a reinterpretation of the Rasputin myth; Sandwich, a musical about killing animals; and Clown Bible, Genesis to Revelation told through clowns. He has won two Obie Awards, a Smithsonian Ingenuity Award, a Theater World Award, the Richard Rodgers Award, an ASCAP New Horizons Award, and a Jonathan Larson Grant, and has been a MacDowell fellow and Composer-in-Residence at Ars Nova and the Signature Theatre. Future projects include an adaptation of Moby-Dick. He lives in Brooklyn.

[Bio as of September 2024]

Katie Spelman

Director/Choreographer

At Writers Theatre: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 and Once

KATIE SPELMAN is a Chicago-born choreographer and director, thrilled to be returning to Writers. Spelman made her Broadway choreographic debut this season with The Notebook.  Recent credits include The Music Man (Marriott Theatre, 8 Jeff Nominations), Cabaret (Barrington Stage Company, Berkie Award for Best Choreography); the world premiere of An American Tail (CTC); Hello Kitty Must Die (Edinburgh Fringe), Day 365 - Live from the Rainbow Room with Dylan Mulvaney, Once (Writers Theatre), Swearing in English (Ars Nova), aren’t you glad you stayed in(TEAM Petri Project),  AD 16 (Olney Theater, Helen Hayes Award for Best Choreography), The Beautiful Game (Tokyo, TOHO Productions), The Who’s Tommy (DCPA), and Oklahoma! (Goodspeed). She was the Associate Choreographer on Moulin Rouge for the Boston, Broadway, and Australian companies, as well as an associate on the Broadway productions of Amelie, American Psycho, and Once; she was the Associate Choreographer on RENT Live! on Fox, and the Associate Director for Close To You on the West End. Katie has also collaborated with Lookingglass, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Camerata Bern, Court Theatre, The Hypocrites, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Timeline Theatre, and Northwestern University. 

[Bio as of September 2024]

Matt Deitchman

Music Director

At Writers Theatre: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, Once, Into the Woods, Trevor, Parade, and The Hunter and the Bear

MATT DEITCHMAN returns to Writers Theatre, where his previous credits include: Once (Jeff Nom., Music Direction/Ensemble), Into The Woods (Jeff Nom., Music Direction), Trevor, Parade, and The Hunter And The Bear. Matt is a NYC based music director, actor, composer, orchestrator/arranger, and multi-instrumentalist whose credits include: Broadway — The Heart Of Rock And Roll, Parade, A Strange Loop, Almost Famous. Off-Broadway — Trevor (Disney+ and Original Cast Recording). Chicago — Marriott Theatre (recently, Jeff Nom., Music Direction for Buddy), Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Paramount Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre, Chicago Children’s Theatre, Mercury Theatre, Griffin Theatre, and many others. Add'l select regional: Arena Stage (DC), Shakespeare Theatre Company (DC), Asolo Repertory Theatre (FL), American Stage Theatre (FL), South Coast Repertory (CA), Ogunquit Playhouse (ME), Norwegian Cruise Lines. Northwestern University Grad. 

[Bio as of September 2024]

Courtney O’Neill

Scenic Designer

At Writers Theatre: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, Eurydice, Wife of a Salesman, The Niceties, A Number and Julius Caesar

COURTNEY O'NEILL is thrilled to return to Writers Theatre, having previously designed Eurydice, Wife of a Salesman, The Niceties, A Number, and Julius Caesar. She’s an award-winning Scenic Designer who works extensively in Regional Theatre and considers Chicago her artistic home. Don’t miss their upcoming production of Circus Quixote at Lookingglass Theatre. Chicago: Steppenwolf, Lookingglass Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Writers Theatre, Court Theatre, Paramount, Chicago Children’s Theatre, Northlight, among others. Regional: KC Rep, Denver Center, Baltimore Center Stage, The Apollo Theater, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Great Lakes Theatre, Cleveland Play House, Marin Theatre Company, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. Awards: Jeff Award, USITT Scene Design Award, Michael Maggio Emerging Designer Award. Education: MFA, Northwestern University and BFA, DePaul University. She lives in France with her husband Kirby and enjoys riding her bicycle through the mountains.

[Bio as of September 2024]

Raquel Adorno

Costume Designer

At Writers Theatre: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, The Band's Visit, and Wife of a Salesman.

RAQUEL ADORNO is a costume designer and educator based in Chicago. Selected credits: CHICAGO: The Music Man* (Marriott Theatre); PERSONALITY: The Lloyd Price Musical* (Hard Kill LLC); The Thanksgiving Play, POTUS, Describe the Night (Steppenwolf Theater); Measure for Measure, I, Banquo (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre); Georgiana and Kitty*, Intimate Apparel* (Northlight Theatre); Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Antigone, Gospel at Colonus, The Island, The Tragedy Of Othello, The Moor of Venice (Court Theatre); The Band’s Visit, Wife of a Salesman (Writers Theatre); Mies Julie (Victory Gardens Theater); Unelectable You (The Second City); Plano (First Floor Theater); Top Girls (Remy Bumppo Theatre Company); D.O.A*., The Long Christmas Ride Home, Desperate Dolls (Strawdog Theatre Company); Murder Ballad, Princess Mary Demands Your Attention, CARRIE: The Musical (Bailiwick Chicago); Angry Fags (Steppenwolf Garage) The Submission, Songs from an Unmade Bed (Pride Films and Plays); Barefoot in the Park, Crimes of the Heart, Dead Accounts (Step Up Productions); A Number, Scenes from an Execution (Runcible Theatre). REGIONAL: Waitress, Rent (The MUNY); Choice, The Wolves (McCarter Theatre Center); The Tempest, Intimate Apparel (Utah Shakespeare Festival); August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, A Raisin in the Sun, The Taming of the Shrew, Cymbeline, A Doll’s House, A Doll’s House, Part 2 ( American Players Theatre); Small Mouth Sounds (UCCS Theatreworks). FILM: Curio, Limerence. EDUCATION: Postdoctoral Scholar in Theatre, MFA in Stage Design (Northwestern University); MM in Opera Performance,  BM in Opera, Vocal Performance and Vocal Pedagogy (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign). AWARDS: The Michael Maggio Award 2022, The Michael Merritt Academic Achievement Prize for Collaborative Design 2019. *denotes Jeff Award Nomination. www.raqueladorno.com

[Bio as of September 2024]

Yael Lubetzky

Lighting Designer

At Writers Theatre: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 and Once

YAEL LUBETZKY returns to Writers Theatre after previously designing past season’s production of Once, (Jeff Award Nomination). Design credits include The Broadway production of Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry Jam which won a Tony award for Best Special Theatrical Event; Off-Broadway productions with The New Group, The Public Theater, Playwrights Horizons, WP Theatre, York Theatre Company, The Joyce, National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene. Regional design credits include productions at American Conservatory Theatre, The 5th Avenue Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Paramount Theatre, Drury Lane, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Syracuse Stage, Trinity Repertory Company, Arizona Theatre Company, Arkansas Rep, Children’s Theatre Company, Pioneer Theatre Company.  Most Recent designs include Matilda (Wichita Music Theatre); On Your Feet, Kinky Boots, (Riverside Theatre); Master Class (Arizona Theatre Company); Amid Falling Walls (NYTF).  Yael is a recipient of the NEA/TCG Career Development Grant for Designers. 

[Bio as of September 2024]

Eric Backus

Sound Designer

At Writers Theatre: Dhaba on Devon Avenue, Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 and Pearl's Rollin' with the Blues

Eric is a Jeff-Award winning composer and sound designer, returning to Writers after previously designing Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, and Pearl’s Rollin’ with the Blues. Off-Broadway: Hollow/Wave (United Solo Festival), Churchill (New World Stages); Regional credits include productions at Milwaukee Rep, South Coast Rep, Northern Stage, TheatreSquared, and The Rev. Chicago credits include productions at Goodman, Chicago Shakes, Steppenwolf, Paramount, Northlight, and many others. In addition to theatre, Eric composes and sound designs for film, video, and podcasts. He is a proud member of USA829. www.ericbackus.com.

[Bio as of June 2025]

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

At Writers Theatre: Translations, Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, The Band's Visit, Once, and Athena

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]

Natalie Cohen

Assistant Stage Manager

At Writers Theatre: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, The Band's Visit, Once, Manual Cinema's Christmas Carol, Athena and The Last Match

NATALIE COHEN is thrilled to return to Writers Theatre. Select credits include Manual Cinema's Christmas Carol (2022, 2023), Once, Athena (Writers Theatre); The Gospel at Colonus (Court Theatre); Clyde’s (Goodman Theatre); Love Actually? The Unauthorized Musical Parody, Bachelor: The Unauthorized Parody Musical (Right Angle Entertainment). She is a graduate of Truman State University and a proud member of Actors' Equity Association.

[Bio as of February 2024]

Lexie Wiley

Assistant Stage Manager

Lexie is ecstatic to be returning to Writers Theatre for a fourth time since her debut (Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812). She is a Chicago-based stage manager who also regularly returns to Lookingglass Theatre (Lucy & Charlie's Honeymoon). She was on staff at Roosevelt University as their PSM and Props Designer. Other SM credits include her work at Token Theatre (Zac Efron), Theo Ubique (Baked! the Musical), Capital City Theatre (Shining in Misery), Bristol Riverside Theatre, Pioneer Playhouse, and McLeod Summer Playhouse. All her love to her mom, dad, partner, family, and friends seeing this heartfelt play!

Bio as of June 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

Katie and Matt
Listen

The Green Room: Katie Spelman and Matt Deitchman

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

Alexandra C. & John D. Nichols Theatre

325 Tudor Court Glencoe, Illinois, 60022

Accessibility

Fully ADA accessible with wheelchair seating available

Parking

Free parking is available in the Tudor Court lot, and street parking is readily available

Public Transit

Conveniently located near the Metra Union Pacific North line’s Glencoe station