This week we have some game-changing contemporary-period musical theatre for you. This week’s TONY Tuesday is:

“Dust And Ashes/Balaga/The Abduction” from Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812.

It seems apt that this show has one of the longest titles in musical theatre history, with it being based on one of the longest books ever written: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. Due to the magnitude of the original novel, the musical is only based on a certain section (specifically volume two, part 5), which charters the affair of Natasha with Anatole and Pierre as he searches for his place in the world. Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 is a story of love, destiny and deception set amongst the upper classes of Russian aristocracy in Moscow prior to Napoleon’s invasion.  

The musical, with book, music, and lyrics by Dave Malloy, opened at the Off-Broadway venue ‘Ars Nova’ in October 2012. The show was directed by future Hadestown Director Rachel Chavkin and was staged as an immersive production within the space, with the action taking place in and around the audience. The opening night cast included Phillipa Soo as Natasha, composer Dave Malloy as Pierre, Lucas Steele as Anatole and Amber Gray as Helene. Mimi Lien designed the set, costumes were designed by Paloma Young, with sound design by Matt Hubbs and lighting by Bradley King. The musical received positive notices, especially for performances as well as the immersive direction and design of the piece.

The production opened in the meatpacking district in May 2013 in a temporary structure for Kazino, before transferring to their Off-Broadway venue in the theatre district halfway through the run. All of the above actors reprised their roles for this run, apart from Dave Malloy when it transferred to the theatre district, being succeeded by David Abeles. The production closed in March 2014.

The same team then remounted it a year later at ‘A.R.T’ in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Denee Benton and Scott Stangland took over the roles of Natasha and Pierre respectively, whilst Lilli Cooper assumed the role of Helene, with Lucas Steele continuing as Anatole. The creative team reimagined their idea, now employing the use of the conventional proscenium arch, however they added onstage seating, dining tables and banquettes. When the show transferred to the Imperial Theatre on Broadway a year later, this design was kept intact, however they removed a further 200 stalls level seats at the Imperial to lengthen the design into the auditorium, making the purchase of dining table and banquette tickets in the audience available, as well on stage to further enforce the immersion and opulence of the show.

The show opened on Broadway in 2016 to extremely positive reviews. For the Broadway run, Amber Gray returned to play Helene, whilst Denee Benton and Lucas Steele continued in their roles of Natasha and Anatole respectively, with singer Josh Groban making his Broadway debut in the title role of Pierre. The score was praised particularly for its variation in genres, from Broadway to electropop to Russian folk. The performances of Benton and Groban were also praised heavenly alongside Rachel Chavkin’s original and immersive direction.

The show was nominated for twelve 2017 TONY awards, the most of that season, winning two for set design and lighting. The musical was also subject to controversy when Hamilton alum Okieriete ‘Oak’ Onaodowan was set to takeover the lead from Josh Groban, but due to dwindling ticket sales and despite strong reviews for Oak’s performance, the producers sought Broadway alum Mandy Patinkin to replace him for a limited engagement. When this news broke, fans and actors were angered by the casting replacement of the black actor for a white actor and commenced a campaign. Two days later, Patinkin made the decision to withdraw and Oak continued in the role until the show’s closure a little over a month later.

Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 has been performed regionally in America and with a few productions internationally. The musical has yet to make its way to London, but word on the grapevine is that talks are underway.

Besties, if you haven’t listened to this vivacious and beautiful show, you simply must.

Cast recording available on Spotify and AppleMusic.

FACTS:

Music: Dave Malloy
Lyrics: Dave Malloy
Book: Dave Malloy
Theatre: The Imperial
Run: 18 October 2016 – 3 September 2017 (32 previews, 336 regular performances)

TONYS:

(NOMINATED) Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical; Original Score and Orchestrations – Dave Malloy, Best Actor in a Musical – Josh Groban, Best Actress in a Musical – Denee Benton, Best Featured Actor in a Musical – Lucas Steele, Best Costume Design in a Musical – Paloma Young, Best Direction of a Musical – Rachel Chavkin, Best Choreography Sam Pinkleton.

(WON) Best Scenic Design in a Musical – Mimi Lien, Best Lighting Design in a Musical – Bradley King