NATASHA, PIERRE AND THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 Eyes Big Screen Adaptation; Kickstarter Campaign to Launch Feb 11

Entertainment Weekly writes that the producers of off-Broadway's Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 are planning a film adaptation of the interactive, operatic stage spectacle and will launch a Kickstarter campaign this coming Tuesday, February 11, to help fund the venture. The goal is currently set for $500,000.

Abe Sylvia (Dirty Girl, Nurse Jackie) is on board to direct the project, which will be "part HD live recording, part concert film, part feature film, and part music video".

Most or all of the current cast is being vetted to reprise their roles in the film, with the show's creator Dave Malloy, as well as director Rachel Chavkin and producers Howard and Janet Kagan, also set to join the team.

The two-hour film version is aiming to begin production just after 'GREAT COMET's last performance on March 2 at Kazino. It will premiere in New York City before hitting the distribution market.

Backers who contribute to the Kickstarter campaign will receive perks, such as digital downloads, lunch with the creators, private screenings, or even a table-read of their own play or musical.

NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 recently extended for a third time at Kazino (45th Street between Times Square and 8th Avenue) through Sunday, March 2, 2014. Since its first production at Ars Nova in the fall of 2012, THE GREAT COMET has become a sensation, meriting expansion this summer to a 199 seat pop-up supper club built specifically for the production in the Meatpacking District. After playing to packed houses since May, producers Howard & Janet Kagan brought Dave Malloy's acclaimed electropop opera and its opulent custom venue - Kazino - to the heart of the theater district in September of 2013.

The cast of NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 includes: David Abeles as 'Pierre,'Brittain Ashford as 'Sonya,' Blake DeLong as 'Bolkonsky/Andrey,' Amber Gray as 'Hélène,' Nick Choksi as 'Dolokhov',Grace McLean as 'Marya D.,' Ashkon Davaran as 'Balaga,' Phillipa Soo as 'Natasha,' Lucas Steele as 'Anatole.' and Katrina-Yaukey as 'Princess Mary.' The cast also features Catherine Brookman, Josh Canfield,Ken Clark, Lulu Fall, Luke Holloway, Azudi Onyejekwe, Mariand Torres and Lauren Zakrin.

Directed by Rachel Chavkin, NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 has been showered with rave reviews and a host of accolades, including the 2013 Richard Rodgers Award for Musical Theater, a Special Citation from the OBIE Awards, five Drama Desk Award Nominations (Outstanding New Musical, Outstanding Music, Outstanding Lyrics, Outstanding Direction of a Musical, Outstanding Costume Design), two Drama League Award nominations (Distinguished Production of a Musical, Distinguished Performance - Phillipa Soo), a Henry HewesDesign Award (for scenic design by Mimi Lien), and the Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Outstanding New Musical.

The original cast recording of NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 was released digitally by Ghostlight Records on Tuesday, October 29 and the deluxe two-CD set is now available in stores. A highlights version, featuring special selections from the acclaimed work, is also now available in digital format. The two-disc album was recorded Monday, August 26th at MSR Studios in New York City. The album was produced by Dean Sharenow, with Kurt Deutsch and Howard & Janet Kagan serving as Executive Producers.

NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 invites you to join Tolstoy's brash young lovers for an evening you'll never forget as passions ignite in Dave Malloy's electropop opera, ripped from a slice of War and Peace. At once stunning, sensual, and inspired, this is a singular theatrical event.

NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 features choreography by Sam Pinkleton, scenic design by Mimi Lien, costume design by Tony Award winner Paloma Young, lighting design by Bradley King, music direction by Or Matias, sound design by Matt Hubbs, music supervision bySonny Paladino and casting by Duncan Stewart and Company.

NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 is produced by Howard and Janet Kagan and co-produced by Paula Marie Black, John Logan, Lisa Matlin, Daveed Frazier, Tom Smedes, and Vertical Entertainment/Roman Gambourg/Lev Gelfer.