Salve Regina University will present an immersive production of the contemporary musical “Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812” Nov. 5-9 at Ochre Court, the Gilded Age mansion at the heart of the university’s campus.
The show, which originally starred Josh Groban on Broadway, is based loosely on 70 pages of Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace.” The story follows the torturous love yearnings of young Natasha and the inner turmoil of rich, unhappily married Pierre as they navigate peace while family and loved ones fight on the battlefield.
The audience, seated cabaret style, will be invited to participate in the party of 1812 taking place simultaneously in a nightclub and a Russian aristocratic estate. All architectural elements of the space will be used as set pieces.
An electropop opera in the style of “Hamilton,” the show was first performed in 2016 on Broadway and received 12 Tony Award nominations. It was written by composer, lyricist, playwright and orchestrator Dave Malloy.
Salve’s production is directed by Theater Arts Assistant Professor Tara Brooke Watkins. Theater arts major Anna Annese is the assistant production director. The show features Grace Gallagher as Natasha and Robert Campion as Pierre.
Audience members are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance to guarantee a seat at a table. When those seats sell out, standing-room only will be offered on Ochre Court’s second-floor balcony.
Shows run Wednesday through Sunday, Nov. 5-9, from 7:30-10 p.m. at Ochre Court, Salve Regina University, 100 Ochre Point Ave. Tickets are $20 for general admission, $18 for Salve staff and faculty, $10 for non-Salve students, and free for Salve students. For tickets, visit salve.edu.
