Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
by Dave Malloy
Full Length Musical, Drama / 5m, 5f, 6m or f
An electropop opera ripped from a slice of Tolstoy's War & Peace.
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Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
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Cast Size
5m, 5f, 6m or fDuration
120 minutes (2 hours)Subgenre
Adaptations (Literature), Period, ExperimentalAccolades
Obie, From Off-BroadwayTarget Audience
- Adult
- Teen (Age 14 - 18)
Additional Info
From the celebrated and award-winning composer Dave Malloy comes Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, an electropop opera based on a scandalous slice of Leo Tolstoy’s War & Peace. Young and impulsive, Natasha Rostova arrives in Moscow to await the return of her fiancé from the front lines. When she falls under the spell of the roguish Anatole, it is up to Pierre, a family friend in the middle of an existential crisis, to pick up the pieces of her shattered reputation. Following a critically acclaimed premiere at Ars Nova in New York City, a subsequent Off Broadway transfer, and opening on Broadway – this award-winning musical expands the possibilities for the genre with its daring score and bold storytelling.
Accolades
Nominee! 2017 Tony® Award: Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Orchestrations
Winner! 2014 Lucille Lortel Award: Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, Outstanding Scenic Design, Outstanding Costume Design
Winner! 2013 Off Broadway Alliance Award, Best New Musical
Winner! 2013 Obie Award, Special Citation
Winner! 2013 Richard Rodgers Award for Musical Theater
Reviews
REVIEWS:
Critic's Pick! "A witty, inventive enchantment from rousing start to mournful finish. It is both the most innovative and the best new musical to open on Broadway since Hamilton!" - The New York Times, Read More
Critic's Pick! "A vibrant, transporting new musical [...] Mr. Malloy’s lyrical voice is blunt, funny and forthrightly contemporary [...]” - The New York Times, Read More
"5 Stars (out of 5) [...] Dave Malloy’s Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 feels like a party from start to end: lively, intelligent and utterly engrossing [...] The dazzlingly variegated score - which covers musical terrain from folk songs through rock, R&B and house music - captures their story in stirring and surprising ways; [...] this is a rare and marvelous event: amid the din of New York, an oasis of artful illumination.” - Time Out New York, Read More
"Inventive, ravishing and full-on romantic! [...] Appearing out of nowhere to brighten the theatrical season, this thrilling new show relies on ambition, ingenuity, craft and heart.” - New York Post, Read More
"This astonishing new musical adapts a 70-page section of [War and Peace], mashing up imperialist Russia and an eclectic range of styles, turning Tolstoy into a swoon-worthy, vodka-soaked party. It's a sensual, wild ride: rollicking music, beautiful singing, a feast for the eye, ear and mouth." - NY1, Read More
“Dave Malloy may be a genius.” - New York Theatre Review, Read More
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A.R.T. Series: On All Sides, An Interview with Director Rachel Chavkin
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A.R.T. Series: On the Set of GREAT COMET
by Tessa Nelson
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A.R.T. Series: The Great Experiment
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Videos
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What is the Comet - film about Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812
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A.R. T scenic and prop shops for Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812
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A.R. T direction and scene design of Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812
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Theatre Talk - Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812
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"No One Else - Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812
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Brittain Ashford, "Sonya Alone - Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812
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Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812 - Trailer
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Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 - Commercial
Keywords
Adolescence, Aging, Betrayal, Death, Friendship, Illness/Health, Love, Marriage, Parenting/Family, WarConsiderations
Performing Groups
- High School/Secondary
- College Theatre / Student
- Community Theatre
- Dinner Theatre
- Professional Theatre
- Large Stage
- Blackbox / Second Stage /Fringe Groups
Cautions
- Alcohol
- Gun Shots
- Mild Adult Themes
License details
- Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.
Production
Details
- Time Period: 19th Century
- Duration: 120 minutes (2 hours)
- Setting:
Various locations in 19th-century Russia. The original production used immersive staging to create a Russian-Samovar-meets-New-York-City-Night-Club atmopshere.
- Additional Features: Not Applicable
- Features / Contains: Elaborate / High Volume Costumes, Period Costumes
Music
- Musical Style: Pop/Rock, Folk, Operetta
- Vocal Demands: Difficult
- Orchestra Size: Medium
- Chorus Size: Small
Song Samples
Casting
5m, 5f, 6m or fThere's a war going on out there somewhere, and ANDREY isn't here.
(Range: Baritone, F2-Eb3)
NATASHA is young; she loves Andrey with all her heart.
(Range: Soprano, G3-F5)
SONYA is good; Natasha's cousin and closest friend.
(Range: Mezzo-Soprano, B3-C5)
MARYA is oldschool; a grande dame of Moscow. Natasha's Godmother, strict yet kind.
(Range: Alto, G3-B4)
ANATOLE is hot; he spends his money on women and wine.
(Range: Tenor, B2-C#5)
HÉLÈNE is a slut; Anatole's sister, married to Pierre.
(Range: Alto, G3-F5)
DOLOKHOV is fierce (but not too important). Anatole's friend, a crazy good shot.
(Range: Baritone, E3-F4)
OLD PRINCE BOLKONSKY is crazy, and MARY is plain; Andrey's family - totally messed up.
(BOLKONSKY Range: Baritone, Ab3-F4) (MARY Range: Mezzo-Soprano, G3-B4)
BALAGA is just for fun.
(Range: Baritone, A2-E4)
And what about PIERRE? Dear, bewildered, and awkward PIERRE?
(Range: Bari-Tenor, Ab2-Ab4)
ENSEMBLE/VARIOUS OTHERS (2F 2M +)
Cast Attributes
- Ensemble cast
- Non-Traditional casting
- Expandable casting
- Flexible casting
- Room for Extras
- Strong Role for Leading Man (Star Vehicle)
- Strong Role for Leading Woman (Star Vehicle)
Casting Notes
In the original production, actors played many of the instruments. While this is not mandatory, an Instrument Breakdown Guide is included in the rental package.
BOLKONSKY and ANDREY are double-cast.
Resources
Rehearsal Resources
Music Material Rental Packages
Full Package
Full Package
Piano/Conductor Score
Piano/Vocal Score
Data Disc (QLab Sound Files)
Roving Clarinet
Roving Violin 1 & 2
Roving Viola 1 & 2
Roving Accordion 1 & 2
Oboe/English Horn
Clarinet/Bass Clarinet
Viola
Cello 1 & 2
Guitar
Keyboard/Accordion/Glockenspiel
Bass
Drums
Pierre Piano/Accordion/Vocal
Ensemble Guitar/Vocal
Available Services
Transposition
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Authors
Dave Malloy
Dave Malloy is a composer/writer/performer/orchestrator/sound designer. He has written twelve musicals, including 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 ...
View full profileNatasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 premiered at Ars Nova in New York City in October 2012, under the direction of Rachel Chavkin.
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