Broadway Vets & Original Cast Members on Board for A.R.T.'s Regional Premiere of 'THE GREAT COMET OF 1812'

Harvard University's American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) will soon bring a little Off-Broadway musical back to life.

The Boston-based theatre company, under the artistic direction of Tony-winner Diane Paulus, will stage the much-loved immersive musical NATASHA, PIERRE AND THE GREAT COMET OF 1812, based upon Leo Tolstoy's WAR AND PEACE later this winter. Rachel Chavkin directs, with choreography by Sam Pinkleton. The production will begin performances on Dec. 6 and continue through Jan. 3, 2016. 'THE GREAT COMET OF 1812' will officially open on Dec. 16.

A.R.T.'s regional premiere of 'THE COMET OF 1812's will star Brittain Ashford as Sonia Rostova, Gelsey Bell as Maria Bolkonskaya, Denee Benton as Natasha Rostova, Nicholas Belton as Andrey Bolkonsky, Nick Choksi as Dolokhov, Lilli Cooper as Hélène Bezukhova, Grace McLean as Marya, Paul Pinto as Balaga, Scott Stangland as Pierre Bezukhov, and Lucas Steele as Anatole Kuragin.

The ensemble will feature Courtney Bassett, Josh Canfield, Ken Clark, Erica Dorfler, Lulu Fall, Ashley Perez Flanagan, Nick Gaswirth, Azudi Onyejekwe, Heath Saunders, Lauren Zakrin, and Katrina Yaukey.

Set design is by Mimi Lien, costume design by Paloma Young, lighting design by Bradley King, sound design by Matthew Hubbs.

Per press notes, "Natasha is young, Anatole is hot, and Andrey isn't here...But what about Pierre? Based on a scandalous 70-page slice of Tolstoy's War and Peace, this electropop opera is Tolstoy like you've never experienced him before. Step into a glamorous, romantic world of chandeliers, vodka and caviar in the salons and opera houses of 19th century Moscow, where passions ignite as Napoleon's war rages outside the city. With the cast and musicians swirling among audience members, this new musical brings to life the heart of literature's most epic tale of love and fate."

Tickets will go on sale this Wednesday, October 21st at 12:00pm. To purcahse, call 617.547.8300, visit AmericanRepertoryTheater.org, or head to the box office.

Denée Benton (Natasha) appeared in The Book of Mormon on the West End and its US National Tour. Her regional credits include Annie, Sunset Boulevard, and Fiddler on the Roof at Pittsburg Civic Light Opera. She holds a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University (2014).

Nicholas Benton (Andrey) understudied Berger in Hair on Broadway & on Tour, and played Andrey in Natasha Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 at Kazino. Other credits include the national tour of Wicked (Fiyero u/s), Evita (Che u/s), See Rock City (Duke Theatre), My Life With Albertine (Playwrights Horizons), Turn of the Century (Goodman Theatre), and Carousel (Long Wharf Theatre).

Lilli Cooper (Hélène) played Martha in the Atlantic Theater world premiere production of Spring Awakening, as well as on Broadway and its national tours. Other credits include Elphaba on Broadway and in touring productions of Wicked in the US and Australia; LMNOP at Goodspeed's Norma Terris Theatre, Independents (New York Times' Critic's Pick), Skin of Our Teeth, and Reasons to Be Pretty. She is the creator of Glamour.com's web-series "It's Not Okay, Cupid".

Scott Stangland (Pierre)'s theater credits include Once (Broadway), The Wheel (Steppenwolf Theatre); Eastland (Lookingglass Theatre Company); and A Christmas Carol (Goodman Theatre). Select TV/film credits include "Crisis," "Chicago Fire" (NBC), "Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story" (TNT); Contagion, and End of the Tour. Scott received his MFA from The Theatre Conservatory at Roosevelt University. As a musician, Scott also plays in the band Youth in a Roman Field.

Lucas Steele (Anatole) returns to the A.R.T. where he was previously seen as Toby Crackett in Oliver Twist (a role he also played at TFANA in New York). He originated the role of Anatole in Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 at Ars Nova in New York, followed by Kazino and Off-Broadway. Other credits include The Three-Penny Opera with Cindy Lauper and Alan Cumming on Broadway, Myths and Hymns at Prospect Theater Co and The Kid at The New Group. He has appeared at Berkeley Rep, Rubicon Theatre Company, Walnut Street Theatre, and Intiman Theatre.

Casting by Stewart/Whitley

Pictured: Original Off-Broadway Cast