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 and 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 exalted premiere at Ars Nova in New York City, a subsequent Off-Broadway transfer, and an acclaimed run on Broadway, this award-winning musical expands the possibilities for the genre with its daring score and bold storytelling. 

Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 is for mature audiences.

It takes a village to make exciting theatre. We are grateful to our partners, colleagues, and friends who supported this production with key resources:

The Muny

Opera Theater of Saint Louis

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

STAGES St. Louis

St. Louis Shakespeare Festival

St. Louis University High School

Webster University’s Department of Music

Our production has been made possible by our generous supporters:

Laura Herring

David P. Weiss
 

“Great works of art are only great because they are accessible and comprehensible to everyone” -- Leo Tolstoy

Welcome to Moscow and the Sargent Conservatory's premiere of Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812—an electro-pop opera by Dave Molloy, based on a scandalous slice of Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace. This production demonstrates the spirit of collaboration and imagination. It is filled with epic theatricality, and its inherent challenges asked all of us to stretch our capabilities and elevate our work beyond that which we thought possible. Every artist has worked rigorously and passionately to bring to life this mesmerizing score and lasting story of romance, scandal, and spiritual awakening. It is my hope as you witness these students harness the power of the collective to reveal the depths of their creativity, that you feel as optimistic as I do about the future of musical theatre. It’s alive and real and rich and raw.

Leo Tolstoy’s text and Dave Malloy’s masterful interpretation have guided us through the process. The deftness of their words, the complexity of the music, and the brittle humanity of the characters on a quest for real love have filled us to the brim artistically. I’m grateful that we all had the chance to find meaning in their brilliance and do them justice. Special thanks to music director and conductor Tali Allen, as well as choreographer Ellen Isom, for their steadfast stewardship in doing just that. I’m honored to call them my collaborators and friends, and grateful for their continued inspiration and passion.

Our search for meaning in an ever-changing world feels more pressing than ever. Just a couple of weeks ago, we stepped outside to view the eclipse, and for a brief moment, millions of humans from all walks of life were connected because of a celestial event. So powerful. Sometimes all you need is love and a big ball of fire in the sky to awaken your true self. I hope this “comet” feels you, as it did all of us.

With respect,

Michael Baxter, Director

On a personal note, this evening’s performance is dedicated to Byron Grant, the founding head of the musical theatre program at Webster, my mentor, teacher, friend and the ultimate lover of musical theatre. Thank you for being my guide, and I hope to continue to make you proud in the mirror of your passion.