Multi-platinum recording artist Ingrid Michaelson will join the cast of ‘Natasha Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812’, playing the role of Sonya, next month at the Imperial Theatre. Michaelson will take over the role of Sonya Rostova July 3rd through August 13th while it’s originator, Brittain Ashford, goes on temporary leave. Sonya’s character is a Cinderella-like soft character who cares deeply about the title character Natasha, dubbed by the first song in the show as “…good, Natasha’s cousin and closest friend.” She wears her heart on her sleeve, and it shows especially in her Act 2 solo number that anyone with a beating heart can somehow relate to.
‘Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812’ is a musical written Dave Malloy, and directed by Rachel Chavkin, adapted from a section of the Leo Tolstoy novel, ‘War and Peace”. The section depicted in the musical follows the characters as Natasha falls in love with Anatole, their relationship a turbulent one that somehow affects pretty much every character in one way or another. Recording artist Josh Groban originated the role of the male title character, Pierre, on Broadway, but he will be taking his final bow with the show on July 2nd. Hamilton’s Okieriete Onaodowan, who originated the roles of Hercules Mulligan and James Madison, will take over the role on July 3rd, and make’ Natasha Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812′ one of the few Broadway shows with two black leads.
The show got the most Tony nominations of this season at 12, taking home 2 wins for Lighting and Set design. It’s praised as being one of the most innovative shows on Broadway, performers traveling all around the theater singing, dancing, playing instruments, interacting with the audience on a grand scale throughout the show. Their Tony Awards performance exemplified this, the show even going as far as including fans in the performance, to better replicate the actual show.Tickets and more information can be found here. Ingrid will not be performing August 2-6.
