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Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812

Written by Dave Malloy

Directed & Choreographed by Katie Spelman

Music Direction by Matt Deitchman

September 5 - October 27, 2024

Location: | Get Directions ›
Theatre: Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre

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Recipient of two Tony Awards
and 12 nominations

About
Showtimes
Artists
Special Events

About the Play

"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. www.concordtheatricals.com

SEE THE FULL SHOW PROGRAM

Audience Guide

Enhance your play-going experience with these videos, podcasts, and articles!

WATCH A video of director/choreographer Katie Spelman talking about her passion for Great Comet

READ

About the writing of Great Comet and its adaptation from War and Peace Read full article >
A brief overview of life in Russia in the early 19th century Read full article >
Our Great Comet plot synopsis Read synopsis >

Showtimes

Evenings
Wednesdays – Saturdays 7:30pm
Sundays 6pm

Matinees
Saturdays 3pm
Sundays 2pm
Select Wednesdays at 3pm

This is a reserved seat venue. Doors to the performance space will open approximately 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the performance.
There is no late seating or readmittance.
For performances listed as “Sold Out,” contact the Box Office for more information about our standby and wait list options as well as for assistance locating currently available dates and times.

See Full Show Calendar ›

MEET THE ARTISTS

	Joseph Anthony Byrd* (Anatole)
	Sophie Grimm* (Ensemble, Hélène US, Dance Captain)
	Julia Wheeler Lennon (Mary)
	Will Lidke (Ensemble, Dolokhov US)
	Rob Lindley* (Bolkonsky)
	Evan Tyrone Martin* (Pierre)
	Andrew Mueller* (Dolokhov)
	Aurora Penepacker (Natasha)
	Maya Rowe (Sonya)
	Bri Sudia* (Hélène)
	Bethany Thomas* (Marya D)
	Jonah D. Winston* (Balaga)
	Matthew C. Yee* (Andrey)
	Bridget Adams-King (Ensemble/Mary US)
	Ian Paul Custer* (Andrey/Bolkonsky US)
	Vasily Deris* (Pierre US)
	Darryl D'Angelo Jones (Balaga/Ensemble US)
	Isabel Kaegi (Natasha US)
	Teressa LaGamba* (Marya D US/Alternate)
	Juwon Tyrel Perry* (Anatole US)

CREATIVE TEAM

Courtney O’Neill^ ( Scenic Designer)
Raquel Adorno^ ( Costume Designer)
Yael Lubetzky^ ( Lighting Designer)
Eric Backus^ (Sound Designer)
Ethan Deppe (Electronic Music Designer)
Amber Wuttke (Violence Director)
Melissa Foster (Vocal Coach)
Miranda Anderson* (Stage Manager)
Katie Galetti, CSA (Casting Director)
Bobby Kennedy (Dramaturg)
Charlotte Rivard-Hoster (Assistant Music Director and Conductor)
Roger Ellis (Associate Director)
Heather Boehm (Music Coordinator)
Natalie Cohen* and Lexie Wiley (Assistant Stage Managers)

*Denotes member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers
** Denotes member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society
^ Denotes member of the United Artists Local 829
All musicians are members of the Chicago Federation of Musicians, Local 10-208

Special Events

FAMILY MATINEE SERIES: NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAt Comet of 1812

Saturday, September 21, 2024
3:00pm @ Writers Theatre
$10 per participant

Saturday, September 21st is Family Day at Writers Theatre! 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. Register here >>

Open Caption Performance

Thursday, September 26, 2024
7:30pm @ Writers Theatre

$30.00 Ticket Promo Code: OCNatasha

The *Great War & Peace** Read ALoud of 2024:

well, ok, not all of War & Peace*

Saturday, October 5, 2024
10am-2:30pm @ Writers Theatre

In 1812, a comet streaked across Russian skies. In 1869, Leo Tolstoy wrote the literary classic War & Peace. In 2012, composer and playwright Dave Malloy adapted 70 pages of the book into the musical Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812. On October 5, 2024, Writers Theatre, the Glencoe Public Library, and the Woman’s Library Club of Glencoe team up for a marathon community read-aloud of those 70 pages.

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. To get more information about signing up to read, fill out this form.

The Read-Aloud is drop-in and free of charge. Feel free to register if you’d like an event reminder. Register here >>

ASL-INterpreted Performance

Saturday, October 19, 2024
3:00pm @ Writers Theatre

$30.00 Ticket Promo Code: ASLNatasha

The Final word audience discussion: NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812

Sunday, October 27, 2024
12:00pm @ Writers Theatre

Seeing the show is just the beginning of the conversation. Join fellow audience members and dive deeper into the music, characters, and themes of Great Comet at this audience discussion facilitated by Writers Theatre Artistic staff. Register here >>

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