More than two dozen ɫƵstudents, alumni, faculty and staff are behind the current run of “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812.”
A scene from the Idaho Shakespeare Festival’s summer 2023 production of “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812,” now on stage at Cleveland's Great Lakes Theater.
While ɫƵmusic theatre fans are looking forward to the staging of "Pippin" on campus later this fall, ɫƵstudents, faculty, staff and alumni are wowing audiences at Cleveland’s Great Lakes Theater (GLT) in the production of "Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812."
"Great Comet," described as a “bold, imaginative electropop opera from award-winning composer (and Lakewood, Ohio native!) Dave Malloy,” takes its inspiration from a "sensational slice of Leo Tolstoy’s 'War and Peace.'"
ɫƵtalent takes a break from rehearsals for "Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812" at Cleveland’s Hanna Theater, home to the Great Lakes Theater company.
The show, which runs through Oct. 8 at the Hanna Theater, also beautifully encapsulates the long-running and beneficial partnership between ɫƵand Great Lakes Theatre.
“On stage and behind the scenes, the roles are filled by ɫƵstudents, alumni and faculty,” explains Bryan Bowser, associate dean for ɫƵTheatre Arts & Entrepreneurship.
“With one exception, the entire cast is comprised of ɫƵalumni and current students. Many of the production staff are also ɫƵgrads, faculty and staff members, including director, music direction, set design, costume design and stage management roles all being filled by ɫƵtalent, as well.”
The ɫƵcollaborators, including students, alumni and faculty from BW’s theatre, dance, music theatre and arts management programs, first staged "Great Comet" over the summer at the .
GLT's cross-country strategic alliance has yielded many summers of experience for ɫƵstudents and alumni in beautiful Boise before the shows head across the country to Cleveland.
This summer, ɫƵmusic theatre grad Dan Hoy '18 was playing the lead role in the Idaho production of "Great Comet" when he received news that he’d been cast in the new Broadway musical "," which features a score by Barry Manilow.
ɫƵand Broadway alum and Aurora, Ohio, native Chris McCarrell '13 has stepped into the role for the Cleveland production of the critically acclaimed, Tony Award-winning "Great Comet."