By Savannah Miller
Based on a 70-page segment of War and Peace, Dave Malloy’s electropop opera adaptation took New York by storm. Now, the immersive experience is making its Regional Premiere in the Mid-South. Natasha Rostova awaits in Moscow for her fiance’s return, when she falls under the spell of the rogue Anatole, ruthlessly damaging her reputation – It is up to family friend Pierre to pick up the pieces.
RUSSIA IN 1812-ISH
The Napoleonic Wars were a conflict in Europe from 1803 to 1815. The French Empire, commanded by Napoleon Bonaparte, set on a mission to conquer the entirety of continental Europe–and then some. He was successful in many of his military endeavors, including annexing Germany and Spain into the French Empire. However, many historians contribute Napoleon’s downfall to his attempt to conquer Russia.
In the summer of 1812, Napoleon took his Grand Armee to Russia, pushing further and further West until they reached the capital of Moscow in September. However, there wasn’t much capital to take, as the Russians had set fire to the city in lieu of Napoleon’s arrival, destroying many vital resources Napoleon’s army needed to recover from their battles. Napoleon remained in Russia far too long attempting to reach a peace agreement, and by the time the French forces began to head back East, the Russian winter had set in. Half of Napoleon’s forces were lost along the way home to the elements, diseases, and guerrilla warfare. The Grand Armee simply couldn’t recover in number or pride.
WAR, PEACE, AND OPERA
War and Peace is considered by many to be the best novel by Russian writer Leo Tolstoy. It is certainly the longest, coming in at over 1,200 pages, 361 chapters, and four books (not including a two-part epilogue). Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, thankfully, is a bit shorter than that. The rock opera was adapted from 70 pages of that epic novel by Dave Malloy, premiering on Broadway in 2016.
It is fitting that Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet is an opera considering the impact the Italian artform had on Russian society. Opera originated in Italy in the 17th century, but it wasn’t until the 18th century that it made its way to Russia. Even still, it wasn’t until the latter part of the century that Russian writers began to try their own hands at creating the intense musical stories. Russian operas quickly became quintessential examples of the artform, with composers like Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Igor Stravinsky, and Mikhail Glinka. Additionally, opera became the backdrop for many Russian social events and was a venue in which nobility could put each other’s decorum and social skills to the test. In Natasha, audience members will be treated to an opera setting within an opera in a critical scene, so make sure to keep an eye out!
NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812
Playhouse on the Square: April 28th – May 21st, 2023
By: Dave Malloy
Adapted from War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Original Broadway Production presented by: Howard & Janet Kagan
Show Sponsor: tamburrino, inc.
Playhouse on the Square Season 54 Sponsor: Dorothy O. Kirsch
Circuit Playhouse, Inc. Super Sponsor: Dr. Thomas Ratliff
Based on a 70-page segment of War and Peace, Dave Malloy’s electropop opera adaptation took New York by storm. Now, the immersive experience is making its Regional Premiere in the Mid-South. Natasha Rostova awaits in Moscow for her fiance’s return, when she falls under the spell of the rogue Anatole, ruthlessly damaging her reputation – It is up to family friend Pierre to pick up the pieces.
Get your Tickets Today!
THE CAST
Natasha Rostova – Katy Cotten
Pierre Bezukhov – John Brenton Strauss
Anatole Kuragin – Nathan McHenry*
Sonya Rostova – Haley Wilson*
Helene Bezukhov – Brooke Papritz*
Marya Dmitriyevna – Rebecca Johnson
Fedya Dolokhov – Javier Pena
Mary Bolkonskaya – Ily Jeanniton
Old Prince Bolkonsky – CJ Thomas
Andrey Bolkonsky / Dolokhov US / Ensemble – Ben Jaeger**
Balaga / Ensemble – Marc Gill*
Anatole US / Ensemble – Tyler Brumback
Old Prince US / Ensemble – Chris Cotten
Natasha US / Ensemble – Cameron Crawford
Mary US / Ensemble – Patsy Detroit
Ensemble / Swing – John Michael Dukes**
Helene US / Ensemble – Madison Gunn
Ensemble – Austin DeVine
Ensemble / Swing – Lexie Lang
Pierre US / Ensemble – Jay Lattimore
Ensemble – Emma Less
Balaga US / Ensemble – Cleavon Meabon, IV
Ensemble – Eric Schultz
Sonya US / Ensemble – Shelbi Sellers
Marya US / Ensemble – Kirie Walz
THE CREATIVE TEAM
Director – Dave Landis*
Choreographer / Assistant Director – Daniel Stuart Nelson*
Music Director – Dustin Pappin
Scenic Designer – Phillip Hughen
Costume Designer – Lindsay Schmeling
Sound Designer – Joshua Crawford
Stage Manager – Tessa Verner
Dramaturg / Assistant Director – Savannah Miller
Lighting Designer – J.D. Hopper
Props Designer – TBD
*Resident Company Member
**Associate Resident Company Member