NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812
By Dave Malloy
Directed by M. Bevin O’Gara
Music Direction by Sariva Goetz
Choreographed by Christopher Shin
Young and impulsive, Natasha awaits 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 having an existential crisis, to pick up the pieces of her shattered reputation. An electropop opera based on a scandalous slice of Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace.
april 18-20, 2024
CUTLER MAJESTIC THEATRE
All performances open to the public
NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. www.concordtheatricals.com
Broadway premiere presented by Howard & Janet Kagen, Paula Marie Black, Carole Shorenstein Hays, Jenny Steingart and Jason Eagan, Mary Lu Roffe and Susan Gallin, Diana DiMenna, Mary Maggio/Sharon Azrieli/Robin Gorman, Darren Sussman/Roman Gambourg/Lev Gelfer, Tom Smedes, John Logan, Lisa Matlin, Margie and Bryan Weingarten, Daveed Frazier, Argyle Productions/Jim Kierstead, In Fine Company/Hipzee, Gutterman & Caiola/Backdrop Partners, Siderow Kirchman Productions/Sunnyspot Productions, Gordon/Meli Theatricals, Rodger Hess/Larry Toppall, Daniel Rakowski/Matt Ross/Ben Feldman, Mike Karns, The American Repertory Theatre (Diane Paulus, Artistic Director; Diane Quinn, Executive Producer; Diane Borger, Producer), and Ars Nova.
Originally commissioned, developed, and world premiere produced by Ars Nova; Jason Eagan, Founding Artistic Director; Renee Blinkwolt, Managing Director.
Further developed and produced by the American Repertory Theater at Harvard University; Diane Paulus, Artistic Director; Diane Quinn, Executive Producer; Diane Borger, Producer.
Run Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes, including a 15 minute intermission.
Content Advisory: This musical includes drinking, mentions of suicide through poison, and gun violence/a duel.
Sensory Advisory: This production includes strobing lights and a stylized gunshot sound effect.
THE VIDEOTAPING OR MAKING OF ELECTRONIC OR OTHER AUDIO AND/OR VISUAL RECORDINGS OF THIS PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTING RECORDINGS OR STREAMS IN ANY MEDIUM, INCLUDING THE INTERNET, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, A VIOLATION OF THE AUTHOR(S)’S RIGHTS AND ACTIONABLE UNDER UNITED STATES COPYRIGHT LAW. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: https://concordtheatricals.com/resources/protecting-artists
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Production Photos by Craig Bailey/Perspective Photo. View full album.
GREAT COMET
Creative Team
Scenic Design
Baron E. Pugh
Costume Design
Chloe Moore
Lighting Design
Henry Kacik
Sound Design
Elizabeth Cahill
Props Lead
Mariel Richardson
HAIR & MAKEUP DESIGN
Livvy Waszak
STAGE MANAGER
Emma Alvarez-Roth
PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR
Blake Berggren
Dramaturg
David Estabrooks & Seramay Schultz
Opening Night Special Award
2024 Leonidas A. Nickole Award of Distinction
Awarded to
MIMI Lien
The Musical Theatre Society of Emerson College (MTS) is proud to present the 2024 Leonidas A. Nickole Award of Distinction to Mimi Lien. This great honor has previously been held by artists such as Pascale Florestal (last year’s recipient), Christopher Seiber, Jeremy Pope, Christopher Jackson, Stephen Sondheim, Hal Prince, Bernadette Peters, Patti LuPone, Stephen Schwartz and many more. This award is presented each year to an individual (or individuals) who have distinguished themselves in the field of the American Theatre. Mimi’s career in stage design is certainly astounding and MTS is honored to be presenting her with this award.
Mimi Lien is a designer of sets/environments for theater, dance, and opera. Arriving at set design from a background in architecture, her work often focuses on the interaction between audience/environment and object/performer. She hails from New Haven, CT and is based in Brooklyn, NY.
In 2015, she was named a MacArthur Fellow, and is the first set designer ever to achieve this distinction. Selected work includes Natasha, Pierre, & The Great Comet of 1812 (Broadway, TONY Award, Lortel Award, 2013 Hewes Design Award), John (Signature Theatre, 2016 Hewes Design Award), Appropriate (Mark Taper Forum, LA Drama Critics Circle Award), Preludes, The Oldest Boy (Lincoln Center), An Octoroon (Soho Rep/TFANA, Drama Desk and Lortel nominations), Black Mountain Songs (BAM Next Wave). Her stage designs have been exhibited in the Prague Quadrennial in 2011 and 2015, and her sculptures were featured in the exhibition, LANDSCAPES OF QUARANTINE, at the Storefront for Art and Architecture.
Her designs for theater, dance, and opera have been seen around the U.S. at such venues as Lincoln Center Theater, Signature Theatre, Playwright’s Horizons, the Public Theater, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, The Joyce Theater, Goodman Theatre, Soho Rep, and internationally at Perm Opera and Ballet Theatre (Russia), Intradans (Netherlands), National Theatre (Taiwan), among many others. Mimi Lien received a B.A. in Architecture from Yale University (1997) and an M.F.A. in Stage Design from New York University (2003).
She is a company member of Pig Iron Theatre Company and co-founder of the performance space JACK.
A note from the
Dramaturgs, David Estabrooks & Seramay Schultz
Complicated Russian Novel or Vodka Infused Romp Through Imperial Russia? Why Not Both?
Welcome to the Opera!
The world of Tolstoy’s War and Peace is not a stable one. While the extravagant and untouchable lifestyle of Russian aristocrats continues, the war creeps closer and closer to their doorstep. A mere year after the events of the Great Comet, Moscow will be ablaze. Against the backdrop of this fragile world, Tolstoy tells the stories of dozens of these Russian aristocrats as they seek happiness, glory, love, and meaning in their lives.
Within the dense tome of War and Peace, Dave Malloy selected a seventy page excerpt that he could see standing alone as a story in and of itself. He found the inner musicality within the text and made this 150 year old Russian novel sing. Most of the words in Great Comet are taken directly from the novel, blended with some more unexpected anachronisms and a signature musical style that creates something that feels both fresh and timeless.
In Great Comet, we focus on two of these stories, following the awkward, uninspired, but fundamentally loving Pierre as he searches for meaning in an inherently unknowable world, and the bright, naïve Natasha as she is flung headfirst into an ill-fated tryst that she convinces herself to be love. In these two it is easy to see some of ourselves, as like Pierre we grow old before our time and like Natasha we learn what love is by experiencing what it isn’t.
As Pierre and Natasha’s personal stories orbit around each other we experience the overindulgent excess and undeniable fun of the club, the strange absurdity of the opera, the novel excitement and fear of the Ball. Malloy lets us revel in the more raucous elements of the story without shying away from the deep, difficult, and confusing.
To learn more about the world of Great Comet, take some time to look through our comprehensive dramaturgy guide, which includes everything you may need to know going into the show, such as a brief history of the Napoleonic Wars, a family tree, and three different War and Peace summaries of different lengths to choose from.
The Family Tree & Synopsis
Meet the
Cast
Natasha — ISAN SALEM GHARAJEH
Pierre — WESLEY MAHON
Sonya / Ensemble — BOWEN HUANG
Marya D. / Ensemble — NATALIE TAYLOR
Hélène / Ensemble — ELLIANA KARRIS
Anatole / Ensemble — GILBERT ALMARAZ
Dolokhov / Ensemble –– ASA DUPRAS
Andrey / Old Prince Bolkonsky / Ensemble –– ERICH PHELPS
Balaga / Ensemble –– HOPE KIM
Mary / Ensemble –– TATUM GRELL
Ensemble –– EVELYN ALUMBREROS, SOFIA BORDNER, JASMINE GELFER, TUCKER GOLD,
HAYDN KELLEY, CECE LAMPA, GRACE OSIER, ELIJAH SILER, COLIN WELTER, LILLY WHELAN
Understudies
Natasha — SOFIA BORDNER
Pierre — HAYDN KELLEY
Sonya / Ensemble — GRACE OSIER
Marya / Ensemble — JASMINE GELFER
Hélène / Ensemble — CECE LAMPA
Anatole / Ensemble — ELIJAH SILER
Dolokhov / Ensemble –– TUCKER GOLD
Andrey / Old Prince Bolkonsky / Ensemble –– COLIN WELTER
Balaga / Ensemble –– LILLY WHELAN
Mary / Ensemble –– EVELYN ALUMBREROS
SWINGS & OFF STAGE VOCALS
MAGGIE CAVANAUGH
ZEKE MANRY
SYDNEY HOFFMAN
Musical Numbers
Act 1
“Prologue” – Full Company
“Pierre” – Pierre, Ensemble
“Moscow” – Marya D., Natasha, Sonya
“The Private and Intimate Life of the House” – Bolkonsky, Mary
“Natasha & Bolkonskys” – Mary, Natasha, Bolkonsky
“No One Else” – Natasha
“The Opera” – Natasha, Sonya, Marya D., Hélène, Ensemble
“Natasha & Anatole” – Natasha, Anatole
“The Duel” – Anatole, Dolokhov, Pierre, Hélène, Ensemble
“Dust and Ashes” – Pierre, Ensemble
“Sunday Morning” – Natasha, Sonya, Marya D.
“Charming” – Hélène
“The Ball” – Natasha, Anatole
act 2
“Letters” – Pierre, Natasha, Mary, Anatole, Dolokhov, Ensemble
“Sonya & Natasha” – Sonya, Natasha
“Sonya Alone” – Sonya
“Preparations” – Anatole, Dolokhov, Pierre
“Balaga” – Balaga, Anatole, Dolokhov, Ensemble
“The Abduction” – Ensemble, Anatole, Dolokhov, Pierre
“In My House” – Marya D., Natasha, Sonya
“A Call to Pierre” – Marya D., Pierre
“Find Anatole” – Pierre, Anatole, Hélène, Natasha
“Pierre & Anatole” – Pierre, Anatole
“Natasha Very Ill” – Sonya
“Pierre & Andrey” – Pierre, Andrey
“Pierre & Natasha” – Pierre, Natasha
“The Great Comet of 1812” – Pierre, Ensemble
Meet the
Orchestra
Conductor — SARIVA GOETZ
Keyboard 1 — JON GOLDBERG
Accordion / Glockenspiel / Keyboard 2 — DAN RODRIGUEZ
Guitar — TOM YOUNG
Clarinet / Bass Clarinet — RYAN YURE
Oboe / English Horn — ELIZABETH ENGLAND
Violin –– BRIAN CLAGUE
Viola –– NORALEE WALKER
Cello 1 –– SANDI-JO MALMON
Cello 2 –– KEVIN CRUDDER
Bass –– SAHIL WARSI
Drums –– DOUG LIPPINCOTT
QLab Operator –– AMELIA DUVAL
Meet the
Artistic and Production Staff
Assistant Director — MATTHEW GUERBER
Assistant Director –– DAVID ESTABROOKS
Music Assistant –– AMELIA DUVAL
Music Assitant –– HALEY KIRCHHOFF
Assistant Choreographer –– CAMILLE CAPPELLO
Assistant Scenic Designer — AMAYA GONZALEZ-MOLLMANN
Scenic Artist –– LINDSEY WETTSTEIN
Assistant Costume Designer — ANNA TEN EYCK
Assistant Costume Designer –– KAREN TORENTO
Wardrobe Supervisor — MARISSA WOLF
Associate Wardrobe Supervisor — NINA TUROVSKIY
Hair and Makeup Supervisor — HEIDI KEITHAN
Assistant Lighting Designer — MATT DANDINO
Assistant Lighting Designer — EMERY FROST
Assistant Lighting Designer — LIZZIE LAMB
Production Electrician — OLIVER HAWKE
Production Electrician –– LAUREN HODGKINS
Lead Electrician –– ELI GOLDBERG
Assistant Lead Electrician — GRACE ELPHINSTONE
Assistant Lead Electrician –– SPENCER SWETLOW
Associate Sound Designer –– SARAH MILLER
Production Sound Engineer — JO WILLIAMS
Production Sound Engineer –– LORENZO SOSA LOPEZ
Assistant Production Sound Engineer — ERI LACKEY
Assistant Production Sound Engineer — SKYLAR D’AMORE
A1 –– SARAH MILLER
A2 –– ERI LACKEY
A2 –– IAN SONNABEND
Assistant Props Lead — LIV MILLER
Assistant Technical Director — ANTON SANTIAGO
Assistant Stage Manager — KAILEY PELLETIER
2nd Assistant Stage Manager — JENNA THOMAS
Production Assistant — ALYSSA SCHLAIFER
Production Assistant –– NATHAN HERNANDEZ
Associate Production Supervisor — KAYLA COPPING
Assistant Production Supervisor — ALAYNA DOMBOSKI
Company Manager — ESTHER CHILSON
Assistant Company Manager — LOEY JONES-PERPICH
Assistant Company Manager — MADDIE WRIGHT
Run Crew
FARREN BOWERS, ATIAH CAN OZTURK, NATALIE DALTON, JACOB HARRIS, DECLAN IRELAND, KAYDEN JUNG, JESSE LIPSCHUTZ, EMIE LIU, AUTUMN MCNEW, MARY MONROE, MARIANA MORALES, SHAE MUCHLER, ARIEL PHILLIPS, NIKO RINCON, NANXI SHAO, FREDDIE THORNLEY IV, ANNA UEHLEIN, LILY VENTURA, DOROTHY WHITE, WILL YUAN
Cast Bios
GILBERT A. ALMARAZ — Anatole / Ensemble
BFA ’26 Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage credits: Bat Boy: The Musical (U/S Edgar/Bat Boy, Bud/Daisy/Pan/Doctor), NewFest Short Works: Recognition (Martin). Emerson College credits: MTAG’S The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Chip); MTS’ You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown (Snoopy); MTS’ Ride the Cyclone (Noel). Thank you Mom, Dad, Giselle, & Gabriella (and the dogs too) for all the love and support, and for having to put up with me obnoxiously singing whenever I come home. Mucho amor para todos en mi familia. A pesar que estoy tan lejos nunca los olvido. Los quiero mucho. Instagram: @gilbert.almaraz
EVELYN ALUMBREROS — Ensemble, U/S Mary / Ensemble
BFA ’25 Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage credits: Old Jake’s Skirts (Storyteller/Ensemble); Emerson College credits: Musical Theater Against The Grain’s A Chorus Line (Maggie Winslow); Musical Theater Society’s Secret Garden (Martha). Other Theater credits: Rent (Ensemble/Maureen Cover); Into the Woods (Little Red); Something Rotten! (Portia); Pippin (Catherine). Thank you to my family and friends for their unconditional support.
SOFIA BORDNER — Ensemble, U/S Natasha
BFA ’26 Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage debut! Emerson College credits: Musical Theatre Against the Grain’s The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Marigold, Swing), Musical Theatre Society’s 2022 and 2023 EFA Cabaret (Soloist), and Mercutio Troupe’s The Trail To Oregon (Son). She is thankful for this opportunity and experience to work with this wonderful team. She would like to thank the cast and crew for being so wonderful to work with and her friends and family for all their support! @sofi_stitch
MAGGIE CAVANAUGH (she/her) — Swing & Off Stage Vocals
BFA ’25 Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage credits: Cabaret (Ilse/Tomorrow Belongs to Me Soloist). Emerson College credits: Musical Theatre Against the Grain’s 25th Annual… Spelling Bee (Olive), Tanner Maverick’s Book of Sound (Molly), and A Chorus Line (Music Director); Musical Theatre Society’s Equity Fights AIDS Cabaret (Soloist); Kidding Around’s Seussical (Music Director). Other credits: Spring Awakening (Anna). Thank you to my family for your unwavering support!
ASA DUPRAS — Dolokhov / Ensemble
BFA ’25 Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage credits: The Impracticality of Modern-Day Mastodons (Buster/History Narrator & Chorus), The Loyals (Lawrence/Joseph Stansbury). Emerson College credits: Musical Theatre Society’s La Cage Aux Folles (Albin), Heathers (Heather Chandler), Urinetown (Senator Fipp), 2023 EFA Cabaret (Co-Director); Musical Theatre Against the Grain’s A Chorus Line (Zach), Rock of Ages (Drew Boley), Hot Dam (Really Worried Citizen); RareWorks’ To the End of The World (Travis); Mercutio Troupe’s Romeo & Juliet (Costume Designer). Upcoming: EVVY43 (Host). Incredibly grateful for this experience. asadupras.weebly.com
JASMINE GELFER (she/her) — Ensemble, U/S Marya D. / Ensemble
BFA ’24 Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage debut! Emerson College credits: A Chorus Line (Tricia, u/s Cassie, Val, Diana), Myths and Hymns (featured soloist), A Wrinkle in Time (mother), Tavern Song (Jill/swing), Big Fish (ensemble), La Cage Aux Folles (Anne Dindon), Musical Match Game (Julie Andrews). Emerson Dance Company: Revival (choreographer), Momentum (choreographer). Upcoming: Missoula Children’s Theatre summer tour. Thanks to my family and friends for all of their support! Website: jasminegelfer.com
ISAN SALEM GHARAJEH (she/her) — Natasha
BFA ’25 Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage credits: Bonnets: How Ladies of Good Breeding are Induced to Murder (u/s Georgette and Fortitude), Old Jake’s Skirts (Ellis/Good Samaritan), and NewFest Short Works’ Vampire Therapy (Charlene). Emerson College credits: Musical Theatre Society’s La Cage aux Folles (Cagelle), RareWorks’ How Macy Survived Without Her Wisdom Teeth (Winnie), and Cabaret of Color 2024 (soloist). Thank you to the team and cast for your support, wisdom and trust. Extra big thank you to my family for your support and for coming all the way from Toronto to see this show. Instagram: @isansalem
TUCKER GOLD (he/him) — Ensemble, U/S Dolokhov / Ensemble
BFA ’26 Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage debut! Emerson College credits: Musical Theatre Society’s 13 (Evan) and The Secret Garden (Dickon). Thank you to my family, my friends, my cuzins, and Grace. @tuck.gold
TATUM GRELL (she/her) — Mary / Ensemble
BFA ’24 Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage debut! Emerson College credits: Musical Theatre Against the Grain’s A Chorus Line (Vicki) and Musical Theatre Society’s Tavern Song (Irritated Pirate). Other credits: The Moors (Agatha) and The Wolves (#00). Many thanks to my family and friends for all of the support, love, and miles traveled!
SYDNEY HOFFMAN (she/her) — Swing & Off Stage Vocals
BFA ’26 Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage debut! Emerson College credits: MTAG’s Tanner Maverick’s Book of Sound (Caitlyn); MTAG’s A Chorus Line (Butch and u/s Mike). Regional credits: Mid Valley Music Theatre’s Newsies (u/s Katherine); Trentino Music Festival’s Into The Woods (Narrator). Thank you to my friends and family for their love and support!
BOWEN HUANG (she/her) — Sonya / Ensemble
BFA ’24 Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage credits: Cabaret (Rosie); Other Theater credits: Curtain Call Theater: I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Woman #1); The Umbrella Art: Dracula (Marilla); The Prizery: Xanadu (Muse). Born and raised in Chongqing, China, I appreciate my loved ones from all around the world for all the support. 特别感谢爸爸妈妈支持我的音乐剧梦想，我爱你们！Instagram: @on_bw
ELLIANA KARRIS (she/her) — Hélène / Ensemble
BFA ’24 Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage credits: Cabaret (u/s Frau Schneider/ Female Swing), Into the Woods (Giant VO/ Female Swing). Emerson College credits: A Chorus Line (Co-Director/ Co-Choreographer), Me and My Friends Killing Nazis (Truus Oversteegen), Dance Nation (Vanessa/ The Moms). Other credits: Legally Blonde (Serena), Footloose (Wendy Jo). Special thanks to the gang (Ruby, Spencer, Asa, Campbell) for being my home away from home. So grateful to the cast, crew, and creative team for a rockin’ two months. I owe my sanity the past four years to Sabrina Learman. IG: @elliana.karris
HAYDN KELLEY (he/him) — Ensemble, U/S Pierre
BFA ’26 Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage credits: Bat Boy the Musical (Reverend Hightower/Mrs. Taylor/Roy/ Institute Man). Emerson College credits: Jasmine Hawkins’ Jelly’s Last Jam (Chimney Man), Mercutio Troupe’s The Trail to Oregon! (Grandpa). Regional credits: The Boston Pops’ Ragtime: The Symphonic Concert (Harlem Ensemble Cover *PERFORMED*). All the love to Mom, Dad, Graham, Grammy, Grandpa, Grandma, and the rest his family. IG: @haydnkelley
HOPE KIM — Balaga / Ensemble
BFA ’26 Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage credits: Bat Boy the Musical (Ruthie/Ned). Emerson College credits: MTAG’s A Chorus Line (Al) and The Wild Party (Kate). Thank you to the team for supporting me through this process. Thanks to Jasper and Renee, I wouldn’t be the person I am without you guys. 엄마, 아빠, 오빠, 나를 계속 믿어주고 하고 나위해 기도 해줘서 너무너무 고마워. 계속 더 열심히 할께. Instagram: @epoh.kim
CECE LAMPA — Ensemble, U/S Hélène / Ensemble
BFA ’25 Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage credits: Cabaret (Swing for Lulu, Petra, Helga), Bat Boy (Assistant Choreographer). Emerson College credits: MTAG’s A Chorus Line (Judy/Dance Captain), The Wild Party (Jackie), 25th Annual… Spelling Bee (Marcy Park/MD), Tanner Maverick’s… (Choreographer); MTS’ Dogfight (Choreographer), Heathers (New Wave Girl/US Heather Duke/Dance Captain), Big Fish (Mermaid/Dance Captain), La Cage Aux Folles (Bitelle/Tabaro), Urinetown (Choreographer), and EFA Cabaret (Soloist/Tap Choreographer). Other credits: Skokie Theatre’s Give it a Year (Terry/Ensemble). A big thank you to Mom, Dad, and Mason for all of your support. I also want to shout out the amazing cast and crew — thank you for your endless care and hard work!
WESLEY MAHON (he/him) — Pierre
BFA ’24 Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage credits: Bat Boy (Rick, Lorraine, Mr. Dillon). Emerson College credits: MTAG’s Rock of Ages (Hertz Kleinman), MTAG’s Wild Party (u/s Burrs), MTAG’s Seussical (ensemble). Wesley would like to thank friends and family for the support and the cast, crew, and creative team for all of their hard work.
ZEKE MANRY (he/any pronouns) — Swing & Off Stage Vocals
BFA ’26 Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage debut! Emerson College credits: MTAG’s A Chorus Line (Greg), 25th Annual… Spelling Bee (Barfée), Andrew Lippa’s Wild Party (Sam), and Tanner Maverick’s Book of Sound (Jack, u/s Tony); Kidding Around’s Seussical (Wickersham Brother); and Mercutio Troupe’s Trail to Oregon (Choreographer). Proud member of Emerson Dance Company and Emerson Urban Dance Theatre. Thank you to my family, Juliet, and Erich! IG: @manryonthestage
GRACE OSIER (she/her) — Ensemble, U/S Sonya / Ensemble
BFA ’26 Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage credits: Bonnets: How Ladies of Good Breeding Are Induced to Murder (U/S Claire/Mistress Stone). Emerson College credits: MTAG’s Hot Dam (Gayorg), Mercutio Troupe’s Romeo & Juliet (Assistant Costume Designer), Emerson Dance Company. Regional credits: Gypsy (Louise), Shrek: The Musical (Fiona), Freaky Friday (Ellie). Thank you to this cast and crew, my wonderful parents, Hannah, Juliet, and my lovely friends!
ERICH PHELPS (any pronouns) — Andrey / Old Prince Bolkonsky / Ensemble
BFA ’25 Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage credits: Cabaret (Herman/Max), Old Jake’s Skirts (Storyteller, U/S Shoestring), Bat Boy the Musical (U/S Dr. Thomas Parker, Rick/Lorraine/Mr. Dillon). Emerson College credits: Musical Theatre Against the Grain’s A Chorus Line (Mike Costa), Rock of Ages (Dennis Dupree), and The Wild Party (Eddie); Musical Theatre Society’s Heathers: the Musical (Ram Sweeney) and Urinetown (Robby the Stockfish). Thank you to Bevin, Chris, Sariva, Mom, Dad, Gabby, Zeke and Kell!
ELIJAH SILER (pronouns) — Ensemble, U/S Anatole / Ensemble
BFA ‘26 Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage credits: Bat Boy: The Musical (u/s Mrs. Taylor, Roy, Institute Man, Sheriff); How We Got On (Luann’s Dad, Julian u/s). Emerson College credits: Kidding Around’s Seussical TYA (Yertle the Turtle); MTS’s Heathers (Big Bud Dean/Ram’s Dad); and MTAG’s The Wild Party (Mr. Black). Big thanks to the cast and crew, I’m super glad I got to be a part of this show.
NATALIE TAYLOR (she/they) — Marya D. / Ensemble
BFA ’24 Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage debut! Emerson College credits: MTAG’s A Chorus Line (Kristine), Kidding Around’s Seussical (Mrs. Mayor/ Cat U/S), and RareWorks’ To The End of The World (Lauren). Regional credits: Missoula Children’s Theater’s The Little Mermaid Tour (Prof. Thumper Dumper/ Mrs. M). Thank you to my parents for everything, I couldn’t have done it without you! Hugs and kisses to Libby, Sarah, The Boys, and MT ’24.
COLIN WELTER (he/him) — Ensemble, U/S Andrey / Old Prince Bolkonsky / Ensemble
BFA ’25 Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage credits: Cabaret (Swing). Emerson College credits: Musical Theatre Against the Grain’s A Chorus Line (Don); Musical Theatre Society’s Urinetown (Music Director), EFA Cabaret 2022-2023 (Music Director/Piano/Arrangements), and The Summer I Turned Pretty (Arrangements/Additional Music). Additional Theatre credits: Little Shop of Horrors (Seymour), Sweet Charity (Oscar), and A Chorus Line (Bobby). He would like to thank his parents for their endless love and support.
LILLY WHELAN (she/her) — Ensemble, U/S Balaga / Ensemble
BFA ’24 Theatre Education & Performance. Emerson Stage debut! Emerson College credits: Kidding Around’s Snow Angel (Eva); Myths and Hymns Workshop (Soloist); EIV’s How You Get The Girl (Girl) and Blind Dining (Talent). Regional credits: Prescott Park Arts Festival’s The Little Mermaid, Seussical, Beauty and the Beast, and Mary Poppins; Upside Art’s Pippin (Catherine). She would like to thank the production team, cast and crew of Great Comet! She would also like to thank her family, friends, and her parents and brother for their constant love and support!
Creative Team Bios
M. BEVIN O’GARA — Director
M. Bevin O’Gara is an Associate Professor of Theatre at Boston Conservatory. She was the Producing Artistic Director at the Kitchen Theatre and spent most of her career at the Huntington Theatre Company in a variety of roles. As a Director credits include: Huntington Theatre Company, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Cleveland Playhouse, Geva Theatre, Kitchen Theatre Company, SpeakEasy Stage, Company One, Actors’ Shakespeare Project, Lyric Stage Company, Nora Theatre, Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, New Repertory Theatre, and others. Bevin is the proud recipient of the Lois Roach Award for Outstanding Commitment to the Boston Theatre Community. She holds a BFA from Boston University. mbevinogara.com
SARIVA GOETZ (she/her) — Music Director/Conductor
Sariva Goetz has worked on numerous Broadway shows including ten years as the assistant conductor/keyboardist for the original Broadway production of Les Misérables. Other Broadway credits include Aladdin, Sister Act, Mamma Mia, Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Miss Saigon, City of Angels, Secret Garden, Once on This Island, and Sweeney Todd. Off-Broadway and regional credits include Splendora, The Jerusalem Syndrome, Empire the Musical, and two productions of Really Rosie, one directed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge and the other by author Maurice Sendak. She has worked at major regional venues across the country including the Cleveland Playhouse, Cape Playhouse, Cincinnati Playhouse, Baltimore Center Stage, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Goodspeed Opera House, Bucks County Playhouse, and La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. Sariva has coached hundreds of musical theatre performers for auditions, shows, and cabaret and is currently a member of the musical theatre faculty here at Emerson. Previous Emerson Stage credits include Stardust, Lucky Stiff, Spring Awakening, and Cabaret. Sariva holds a Master of Arts from New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Arizona. SarivaGoetz.com
CHRISTOPHER SHIN (he/him) — Choreographer
Christopher Shin is currently on faculty at Emerson College as Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre Choreography. He has performed professionally for nearly two decades. Broadway/Tour: Disney’s Mary Poppins, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. Regional: Goodspeed Opera House (42nd Street, Thoroughly Modern Millie), Arena Stage (Anything Goes), Maltz Jupiter Theatre (South Pacific), Walnut Street Theatre (The Wizard of Oz, A Christmas Story, The Producers), Kansas City Starlight (Miss Saigon), Sacramento Music Circus (La Cage aux Folles, The King and I), Gulfshore Playhouse, Ogunquit Playhouse, Ocean State Theatre Company, North Shore Music Theatre, Westport Country Playhouse, Arkansas Rep, Merry Go Round Playhouse. Recent Choreography credits include: Newsies (Zilker Theatre Company), Annie, Grease (TexArts). Past EmStage: Bat Boy, Cabaret. MFA in Musical Theatre from San Diego State University, BFA in Theatre from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Member of Actors’ Equity Association.
BARON E. PUGH — Scenic Designer
Baron E. Pugh is a Boston-based scenic designer for theater, opera, and other live performance arts. Recent credits include: Emerson Stage: Paris; Off-Broadway: shadow/land (associate designer) (The Public Theater). NYC: King Lear, The Tempest (The Juilliard School, Drama Division). Regional: Million Dollar Quartet, B.R.O.K.E.N code B.I.R.D switching (Berkshire Theatre Group); ABCD (Barrington Stage); Trouble in Mind (Hartford Stage); K-I-S-S-I-N-G (associate designer), The Bluest Eye (associate designer) (The Huntington Theatre); Tiny Beautiful Things, Radio Golf (Trinity Rep); Detroit ’67, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, School Girls (TheatreSquared); Assassins, The Light, Breath and Imagination, The Wiz (Lyric Stage Company of Boston). Baron received his MFA in Scenic Design from Boston University and is a proud member of United Scenic Artists Local 829. Baron also serves as an Affiliated Faculty member in the Performing Arts Department. @bpscenic on Instagram
CHLOE MOORE (she/her) — Costume Designer
Chloe Moore (she/her) is a Boston-based Educator, Costume-maker and Designer for Opera, Theatre and Dance. Recent design credits include Cabaret with Emerson Stage, L’étoile, Voir Dire, L’ile de Tulipatan and As One with Boston Conservatory at Berklee Opera, and OTP at Boston Playwrights Theatre. Her work has been seen in productions with the American Repertory Theatre, Central Square Theater, Boston Early Music Festival, Boston University’s School of Theatre and Opera Institute, and as a part of the Berkshire Fringe Festival. Since earning her MFA in Costume Design from Boston University in 2020, she has served as Faculty at Shenandoah University, Boston University and Emerson College and as Costume Staff at American Players Theatre in Spring Green, WI. ChloeMooreDesigns.com
HENRY KACIK (pronouns) — Lighting Designer
BFA ’24 Theatre Design & Technology. Bio coming soon!
ELIZABETH CAHILL — Sound Designer
Elizabeth Cahill is the Sound Area Head and Resident Sound Designer for Emerson Stage. Recent Emerson Stage design credits include: Bat Boy, The Secret in the Wings, This Girl…, Marisol, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Squeaky Fromme Love Song, Working, Pride and Prejudice, and many others. Elizabeth has sound designed for Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, Lyric Stage Co., SpeakEasy Stage, Actors’ Shakespeare Project, New Repertory Theatre, Gloucester Stage, Shakespeare and Company, The A.R.T. Institute, Dance The Yard, Central Square Theatre, New England Conservatory, Fresh Ink Theatre, Bridge Rep, Greater Boston Stage Company, Hasty Pudding Theatricals at Harvard University, Brownbox Theatre Project, Baldwin Wallace University, Boston Conservatory, Moonbox Productions, and more. A/V Supervisor for operas with New England Conservatory, Boston Early Music Festival, and Boston University.
MARIEL RICHARDSON (she/her) — Props Lead
BFA ’24 Theatre Design & Technology. Emerson Stage credits: Little Women (Scenic Designer), Mary, Sweet Mary (Props Lead), Old Jake’s Skirts (Co Props Lead), The Wolves (Asst. Scenic), Baltimore (Scenic Painting), Rage (Asst. Scenic), Into The Woods (Asst. Props) Thank you to my mom and my friends and Ryan Bates!
LIVVY WASZAK (she/her) — Hair & Makeup Designer
BFA ’25 Theatre Design & Technology. Emerson Stage credits: Bonnets (Hair/Makeup Assistant), Cabaret (Hair/Makeup Supervisor), Old Jake’s Skirts (Wardrobe). Regional credits: The MUNY’s Beautiful, Beauty and the Beast, Chess, West Side Story, Little Shop of Horrors, Rent, and Sister Act (Hair/Makeup Design Intern). A big thank you to all of my friends and family for the love and support!
EMMA ALVAREZ-ROTH (she/her) — Stage Manager
BFA ’24 Stage & Production Management. Emerson Stage credits: Bat Boy (Production Supervisor), Paris (1st Assistant Stage Manager), RAGE (Assistant Production Supervisor), Interior of The Artist Without Her Sister (2nd Assistant Stage Manager). Thank you to my family and friends who have supported me and helped me get here and to whole production company and cast for a wonderful show!
BLAKE BERGGREN (he/him) — Production Supervisor
BFA ’24 Stage & Production Management. Emerson Stage credits: A Doll’s House (Stage Manager), How We Got On (Production Supervisor), Cabaret (Assistant Stage Manager), The Secret in the Wings (Production Supervisor), The Spitfire Grill (Company Manager), The Wolves (Company Manager), RAGE (Assistant Stage Manager), This Girl… (Associate Production Supervisor & Assistant Company Manager), The Late Wedding (Assistant Company Manager), Everybody (Assistant Production Supervisor), Men on Boats (Production Assistant). Emerson College credits: EVVY42, EVVY43 (Production Manager), Full Fathom’s Mr. Burns… (Assistant Stage Manager). Regional credits: Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker (Stage Management Intern), Contemporary American Theater Festival 2023 (Production Management Intern) and CATF 2022 Sheepdog (Production Assistant).
DAVID ESTABROOKS (he/him) — Dramaturg
BFA ’24 Theatre. Emerson Stage credits: 16 Winters (Costume Designer), A Doll’s House (Asst. Company Manager), The Impracticality of Modern-Day Mastodons (Asst. Company Manager), Little Women (Associate Costume Designer), Mary, Sweet Mary (Asst. Costume Designer). Emerson College credits: MTS’ 2023 EFA Cabaret (Stage Manager); MTS’ Falsettos (Costume Designer); MTS’ Ride the Cyclone (Co-Director); MTS’ 2022 EFA Cabaret (Co-Director); RareWorks’ Hookman (Costume Designer); MTAG’s Ghost Quartet (Asst. Director); emShakes’ The Fog Around Us (Asst. Director). Film credit: Your Mama’s Pie (Casting Director). Thank you to my friends, family, and also Audible for getting me through War and Peace.
SERAMAY SCHULTZ (he/him) — Dramaturg
BA ’25 Marlboro IDS. Thanks to my family for talking about War and Peace with me during my upteenth research-lensed reread and to Dave Malloy for writing this show, which is such a delight to visit over and over again.
Meet the
Emerson Stage Staff
Staff
Artistic Director — Annie G. Levy
General Manager — David Colfer
Assistant General Manager — Joshua M. Feder
Production Manager — Timothey Sullivan
Technical Director — Kristin Knutson
Head Carpenter — Connor Thompson
Scenic Painter — Joe Keener
Scenic Charge –– Sam Galvao
Scenic Artist –– Matt Baynes
Props Director — Ryan Bates
Assistant Properties Manager — Lauren Corcuera
Costume Shop Supervisor — Richelle Devereaux-Murray
Assistant Costume Shop Supervisor — Becky Pieroth
Draper/Cutter — Laurie Bramhall
Electrics Advisor — Nicole Cerra
Resident Sound Designer — Elizabeth Cahill
Sound Technician — Julie Beaulieu
Advisors FOR THIS PRODUCTION
Stage and Production Management — Debra A. Acquavella
Lighting Design — Scott Pinkney
Fight & Intimacy — Ted Hewlett
Dramaturgy — Marissa Friedman
Vocal Coach — Valerie Madden
Student Staff
Emerson Stage Office Assistants — Jake Tolentino, Kayla Copping, Alayna Domboski, Samantha Duggan, Karli Fisher, Carly Mentis
Production Management Assistants — Blake Berggren, Esther Chilson, Oliver Worner
Videographers — Vincent Chen, Xiao Chen, Ethan West
Scenic Technicians — Casper Apodaca, Kieran Graeff, Ari Flaherty, Davis Kranchalk, Yuyuan “Echo” Lu, Oscar McQuilkin, Dylan Norris, Harley Novy, Elise Tuckwood
Scenic Artists/Painters — Rayan Afif, Nel Blinman, Lily Hourin, Katherine Kendrick, Elodie Lambert, Elizabeth Nunnery, Leo Servetar, David Staats, Charlize Tabrizi
Paint Shop Assistant — Maggie Stewart
Prop Shop Assistant — Delene Beauchamp, Amaya Gonzalez-Mollmann, Oliver Hawke, Mariel Richardson, Ava Scanlon
Stitchers — Zee Cowan, David Estabrooks, Madeline Henry, Amanda Jacobson, Lorence Jones-Perpich, Heidi Keithahn, Alexa Peterson-Ismail, David Schell, Ava-Sofia Settoon, Anna Ten Eyck, Nina Turovsky, Jade Wein
Laundry Assistants — Angelina Parillo
Stock Attendants — Sierra Bivins, Isabella Fortebuono, Ashleigh Jones
Crafts — Wei Zhao
Light Lab Inventory Assistant — Eli Goldberg