Once Alum David Abeles Joins the Cast of Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812

Once alum David Abeles will take over the role of Pierre in the acclaimed off-Broadway musical Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 beginning July 9. Abeles succeeds the show’s creator and star, Dave Malloy, who will depart the production on June 21. Featuring direction and musical staging by Rachel Chavkin, the Ars Nova production is currently playing at Kazino, a new cabaret venue built specifically for the production.

Adapted from War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 invites audience members to join Tolstoy’s young lovers for an evening they’ll never forget, as vodka flows and passions ignite. Billed as an electropop opera, the production began performances May 1.

In addition to Abeles, Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 stars Brittain Ashford as Sonya, Ashkon Davaran as Balaga, Blake DeLong as Bolkonsky/Andrey, Nick Choksi as Dolokhov, Lulu Fall as Helene, Grace McLean as Marya D, Phillipa Soo as Natasha, Lucas Steele as Anatole and Shaina Taub as Princess Mary. The cast also features Nicholas Belton, Catherine Brookman, Luke Holloway, Azudi Onyejekwe, Mariand Torres and Lauren Zakrin.

Abeles made his Broadway debut in Million Dollar Quartet. He played Eamon in the original cast of Once. His film and TV credits include Son of Morning and Where God Left His Shoes.