The Great Comet Brings Theatre Wesleyan’s Season to a Close

Theatre Wesleyan’s production of Dave Malloy’s Tony Award®-winning musical, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, will be presented for one weekend only at the Thad Smotherman Theatre at Texas Wesleyan University (1205 Binkley Street, 76105) from Thursday, April 18, 2024 through Sunday, April 21, 2024. Ticket prices range from $10.00 to $15.00 and are now available at txwes.edu/theatretickets.

The Great Comet is 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. The musical’s 2017 Broadway run was nominated for 12 Tony Awards® including Best Musical, Best Book, Best Original Score, and Best Orchestrations.

photo credit: Lauren Garza

The cast, design team, and crew comprised of Texas Wesleyan theatre majors and minors pursuing Bachelor or Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees. The cast includes Abigale Hunt (Natasha), Grace Philipbar (Sonya), Madison McKinzie (Marya), Nicholas Keel (Anatole), Peri Zachmeyer (Hélène), Henry Valentine (Dolokhov), Hayden Kirkbride (Bolkonsky/Andrey), Abigaile Webb (Mary), Ian Kooistra (Balaga), and Chase Di Iulio (Pierre). The ensemble includes Trinity Chenault, Hunter Heart, Mercedes Kuhn, and Jackson Loya.

The production team includes Jeanne Everton (director), Mark Mullino (music director), Stephanie Locker-Hall (choreographer), Hunter Heart (dance captain), Natalie Mitchell (vocal coach), Jacob Rivera-Sanchez (stage manager/graphic design), Jazmin Rebollar (assistant stage manager), Sidney Hernandez (production assistant), Joe Allen Brown (scenic design), Karen Potter (co-costume design), Nicole Ellis (co-costume design), Rocky Olguin (assistant costume design), Zachary Gafford (lighting design), Pella LeFever (assistant lighting design), Ricky Olivarez (sound design and engineer), Elizabeth Holmes (A2), Colin Schwartz (technical director), Nathalie Beyna (assistant technical director), Myles Curry (stage crew), Alicia Lerma (stage crew), Kothan Leyva (stage crew), Alex Bennett (props crew), Roman Posner (light board operator), Kristina Randerson (projections operator), Jaalen Williams (spotlight operator), Tristen Brown (prop firearm safety training), and Jennye James (production manager).

photo credit: Lauren Garza

The band includes Sal Bollinger, Chris Crotwell, Randy Honeycutt, Michael Ptacin, along with music director Mark Mullino. Production photography by Lauren Garza.

PERFORMANCE DATES

Thurs., April 18 at 7:30pm
Fri., April 19 at 7:30pm
Sat., April 20 at 7:30pm – TXWES Alumni Night
Sun., April 21 at 2:00pm Matinee

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 uses non-firing prop weapons with gunshot sound effects and contains mild adult themes. The show is produced by special arrangement with Concord Theatricals, Inc.

Tickets range from $10.00 to $15.00 and are available online at txwes.edu/theatretickets or by calling (817) 531-4211. Tickets will also be available at the door in-person beginning one hour before each performance.

All plans and information are subject to change, and announcements will be made in the event of adjustments. Please check the Theatre Wesleyan Facebook for the most up-to-date details. Audience members who purchase their tickets in advance will receive any updates at the email address they provide upon checkout.

If you have questions, please contact the Theatre Wesleyan office at (817) 531-5867.