Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812
Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812
By Dave Malloy
Directed by Amy Dugas Brown
Musical Direction by Kennedy McAlister
Choreographed by Jenn Rose
Broadway premiere presented by Howard & Janet Kagan, Paula Marie Black, Carole Shorenstein Hays, Jenny Steingart and Jason Eagan, Mary Lu Roffe and Susan Gallin, Diana DiMenna, Mary Maggio/Sharon Azrieli/Robin Gorman, Darren Sussman/Roman Gambourg/Lev Gelfer, Tom Smedes, John Logan, Lisa Matlin, Margie and Bryan Weingarten, Daveed Frazier, Argyle Productions/Jim Kierstead, In Fine Company/Hipzee, Gutterman & Caiola/Backdrop Partners, Siderow Kirchman Productions/Sunnyspot Productions, Gordon/Meli Theatricals, Rodger Hess/Larry Toppall, Daniel Rakowski/Matt Ross/Ben Feldman, Mike Karns, The American Repertory Theatre (Diane Paulus, Artistic Director; Diane Quinn, Executive Producer; Diane Borger, Producer), and Ars Nova.
Originally commissioned, developed, and world premiere produced by Ars Nova; Jason Eagan, Founding Artistic Director; Renee Blinkwolt, Managing Director.
Further developed and produced by the American Reperatory Theater at Harvard University; Diane Paulus, Artistic Director; Diane Quinn, Executive Producer; Diane Borger, Producer.
PRODUCTION TEAM
Amy Dugas Brown (Director)
Spencer Boyce (Assistant Director, Image Design)(he/him) is a Sophomore Directing, Playwriting and Production major and Film minor. Past UArts credits include Delivery Boy (AD), My Mother Once Read...(ASM), as well as being the Assistant Artistic Director of Secret Menu Theater Workshop and a member of Chicken Noodle Troupe. Other work includes My Son Pinocchio Jr. (Director, Saratoga Children's Theatre) and Singin' in the Rain Jr. (Director, SCT). Spencer is the Artistic Producer on the upcoming 2024 Equinox Play Festival. Thanks to Mom, Dad, Matthew, and Emma for all their support.
Aidan Schultz (Assistant Director)(she/her) is a Senior DPP/Acting major with a minor in Songwriting. Past UArts credits include; Bodies & Bones, I Want A Country, All At Once, In The Green, WOF, Esther's Play, and Hamlet. Many thanks to the cast and crew for creating such an uplifting, heartfelt experience!
Jenn Rose (Choreographer)
Liv Aldridge (Assistant Choreographer)
Kennedy McAlister (Music Director)
Matthew Bock (Stage Manager)
Cori Strauss (Associate Stage Manager)
Chase Catling (Assistant Stage Manager)
Kel Fleming (Technical Stage Manager)
Sabrina Liberatore (Dramaturg)
J. Alex Cordaro (Fight Director)
Zoe Nebraska Feldman (Intimacy Director)
Teayra Bowden (Season Dramaturg)
Jaden Alvaro Gines(Assistant Season Dramaturg)
Antonio Ferron (Set Designer)
Alice Poznyak (Assistant Set Designer)
Kelly McLaughlan (Props Head)
Thom Weaver (Lighting Designer)
Manny Garcia-Castro (Assistant Lighting Designer)
Finn Powers (Light Board Programmer and Operator)
Rebecca Kanach (Costume Designer)
Damien Figueras (Sound Designer)
Alex Dembner (Assistant Sound Designer)
Clare Devlin (Audio Engineer/A1)
Troy Martin-O'Shia (Production Electrician)
Joe Fasciano (Technical Director)
Anna Sorrentino (Costume Shop Manager)
V Perlah-Hard (Wardrobe Supervisor, Assistant Costume Shop Manager)
Holly Fasciano (Scenic Artist)
Anastastia Vertjanova (Additional Scenic Painting)
Kayce Dygert (Additional Scenic Painting)
Flannel and Hammer Workshop (Additional Scenic Construction)
CAST
Lizz Hughes (Natasha)(she/her) is a Junior Musical Theater major. Past credits include The Sweet Hereafter (Zoe), In the Green (Hand), Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder (Sibella), Diary of Anne Frank (Anne), & Matilda, Mary Poppins, Crazy for You (Ensemble). Thanks to her family, friends & teachers for their support! אני אוהב את כולכם!
Adam Furgal (Pierre)(he/him) is a Junior Musical Theater major at UArts. Previous Brind School credits include The Sweet Hereafter (Sam Burnell) and Woyzeck (Drum Major). Endless love and thanks to the entire cast, crew, and creative team and to Adam's wonderful family.
Julian Perez (Anatole)(they/he) is a Senior Musical Theater major and is thrilled to be apart of this production of “Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812” portraying the iconic role of Anatole Kuragin. Previous UArts credits include Hot Spot (Sid), Head Over Heels (Basilius), and Urinetown (Bobby Strong). Julian would like to thank all of the teachers that have helped him grow throughout his four years at UArts, as well as their mother, father and sibling for all of their constant love and support. Sit back, relax and enjoy the Opera!
Felicity Mundy (Sonya)
Tayler Aprile (Hélène)(she/her) is a Junior Musical Theater Major and is THRILLED to be in her first Brind School Main Stage Musical!!! Past UArts credits include In The Green (Shadow) and Untitled Cherry Orchard (ensemble) Many thanks to her cast/friends and family (Mom, Dad & Emmie) who’ve supported her during the process!
Carl Bright-Walck (Dolokhov)(he/him) is a Senior Acting major here at UArts. At UArts, he was in "A Psychic Investigation Into The Death Of Someone I Once Knew", and "Hot/Cold Shower". Carl would like to thank Isabel Penn for being loving and supportive. He would love to thank "It's Raining" and "Godspeed" for being the greatest friends a man could ask for.
Osyrus Brewer (Andrey/Old Prince Bolkonsky/Ensemble)
Emily Rooney (Marya D.)(she/her) is a Junior Musical Theater major. Past UArts credits include Head Over Heels, and Horse Girls. Other favorite credits include Spring Awakening (Madison Lyric Stage) and The Pajama Game (Curtain Call). Emily would like to thank her friends and family for their love and support.
Ev Dowling (Balaga/Ensemble*) is ecstatic to be apart of Great Comet this semester! Previous UArts credits include: Head Over Heels, Delivery Boy and The Untitled Cherry Orchard musical. Ev is extremely grateful for the entire cast and crew for all of their hard work and dedication. All my love to ZD, and to my friends! And to my biggest support system, my family, the biggest gratitude and thanks. My wonderful Grammy, thank you for always believing in me. This one is for you!
Megan Kimiko Derbick (Princess Mary/Ensemble)(she/her) is a Senior Musical Theater major and Music minor. She is so excited to be a part of her final Fall semester show at UArts. Professional Credits: Head Over Heels (Ensemble, u/s Philoclea) at Theatre SilCo, Rent (Ensemble/Alexi Darling) at Millbrook Playhouse. She will be returning to Theatre SilCo this Winter to be a cast member in Haul Out The Holly. Past UArts credits include Everybody (Everybody/Somebody), Pippin (Player), Esther’s Play About Esther’s Play (Sally/Character 1), The Blazing World (Pyra), Dear Mr. C (The Writer’s Sister), and Untitled Cherry Orchard Musical (Anya). She is so grateful to share the stage with such a wonderful cast and be supported by an amazing creative team. Much love to her family, friends, and the entire cast and crew.
Gideon Caro McDonald (Opera Singer/Ensemble*)(he/him), is a Junior Musical Theater major. Past UArts credits include Visiones Del Cuerpo (Lungs), Felipillo (Atawalpa), and The Untitled Cherry Orchard Musical (Yasha). He wants to thank his family, friends, and teachers for their constant love and support, and is excited to have his UArts main stage debut. #OoOoOoOoOo
Sierra Steinberg (Opera Singer/Ensemble*)(she/her) is a Junior Musical Theater major with a minor in Business. Past UArts credits include In The Green (Mouth) and Norton I (Margot St. James, Backup Girl). Endless love to her supportive and incomparable family and friends! She is forever grateful for this incredible cast and team! #LaLaLaLaLa
Lolly Lynch (Opera Dancer/Ensemble*)(she/her) is a Sophomore Musical Theater Major. This is her first UArts show and she could not be more grateful to have such an amazing show to start with! Some of her past credits include Pepper in Crybaby, Ladybug in James and the Giant Peach, and more. She wants to thank her loved ones for listening to her talk about how cool this production. She also wants to thank the cast and crew for constantly putting up with her doing her Mort impression all the time.
Zaire Moorer-Washington (Opera Dancer/Ensemble*) This is Zaire’s 3rd UArts production as-well as 3rd MainStage. Previously Zaire has been apart of the ensemble of Head Over Heels (lion) and the supporting role of Hot Blades Harry in Urinetown.
Carly Dagilis (Ensemble)(she/her) is a Junior Musical Theater major and very excited to be a part of Great Comet! Past UArts credits include Robin in Horse Girls, Claire in Esther's Play about Esther’s Play and Amy in the Director’s Workshop presentation of Dryland. For Grandpa.
Lizeth Lopez (Ensemble*)(she/her) is a Sophomore Musical Theater major. Past UArts credits include the Untitled Cherry Orchard Musical in the Polyphone Festival.
Isabel Lucio Penn (Ensemble*)(they/he) is a Senior Musical Theater major. Past UArts credits include Felipillo and My Mother Once Read, most recently in Manflor (Zeta) in Philly Fringe Fest. Much love and gratitude to those who lift me up and keep me sane :) ¡Hechale Ganas!
Emma Price (Ensemble*)(she/her) is a Senior double major in DPP (Directing, Playwriting and Production) and Musical Theater. Past UArts performance credits include Will: A Coverup written by Kel Fleming (Will/James) and This Beautiful City directed by Max Segarnick (Ensemble), Urinetown (Assistant Dir.) and Midsummer Night’s Dream (Assistant Dir.). Emma would like to thank her friends and family, the faculty of UArts and the cast and crew of Great Comet.
Rocco Pugliese (Ensemble*)(he/him) is a Sophomore Musical Theater major. Past UArts credits include The Untitled Cherry Orchard Project. He’d like to thank his family, friends, and the staff/crew!
Brandon Hodgkinson (Ensemble)(he/him) is an exchange student from Rose Bruford College, here to study at UArts for the semester. Past theatre credit include; Tom (Glass Menagerie), The Poet (Joe turners come and gone), CB (Dog Sees God). Directors Credits include; Hurt village (by katori hall), Glass Menagerie ( By Tennessee Williams), Fool for love (By Sam Shepard)
*Understudy
BAND
Piano: Kennedy McAlister
Keys 2: Paul LoPresti
Cello 1: Marcela Reina
Cello 2: Alfonso Gutierrez
Clarinet/Bass Clarinet: Gabe Preston
Guitar: Corinne Kite-Dean
Viola: Nicole Fassold
Bass: Charlie Allen
Drums: Mollie Schechter
Oboe/Eng Horn: Catherine Lachance-Duffy
RUN CREW
Alexis Castro
Brooke Dusseau
Bryant Fleming
Mandie Perez
SPOTLIGHT OPERATORS
Lainie Monez
Brenna Patzer
Brandon Searle
Camden Westfall
SPECIAL THANKS:
Avista Custom Theatrical Services
Flannel and Hammer Workshop
Matthew Groeneveld
Arden Theater Company
Shane Dreher
Dalton Whiting
Content disclosures: Alcoholism, A duel with pistols, Attempted suicide, Use of derogatory term for the Romani people, Musicalized Verbal Abuse
University of the Arts
Kerry Walk, President
Kikau Alvaro, Interim Dean, Ira Brind School of Theater Arts
Aanika Allen, Assistant Dean, Ira Brind School of Theater Arts
Madison Claus, Senior Administrative Assistant
Krista Apple, Program Director, Acting
Amy Dugas Brown, Program Director, Directing, Playwriting and Production
Thom Weaver, Interim Program Director, Theater Design & Technology
Jacob Brent, Interim Program Director, Musical Theater
Quinn Bauriedel, Program Director, Pig Iron School MFA in Devised Performance
Nick Embree, Associate Professor
Sarah Sanford, Assistant Professor
Issac Byrne, Visiting Assistant Professor
Kyle Metzger, Visiting Assistant Professor
Lindsay Cram, Associate Producer
Joe Fasciano, Technical Director
Troy Martin-O’Shia, Production Electrician
Anna Sorrentino, Costume Shop Manager
Larry Fowler, Sound Practicum Instructor
Chris Haig, Technical Practicum Instructor
Rebecca Kanach, Costume Practicum Instructor
Juliana Luber, Audience Services Coordinator
NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. www.concordtheatricals.com
THE VIDEOTAPING OR MAKING OF ELECTRONIC OR OTHER AUDIO AND/OR VISUAL RECORDINGS OF THIS PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTING RECORDINGS OR STREAMS IN ANY MEDIUM, INCLUDING THE INTERNET, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, A VIOLATION OF THE AUTHOR(S)’S RIGHTS AND ACTIONABLE UNDER UNITED STATES COPYRIGHT LAW. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: https://concordtheatricals.com/resources/protecting-artists