Mandy Patinkin withdraws from The Great Comet of 1812

After last Wednesday's announcement that Tony & Emmy Mandy Patinkin would be making his return to Broadway, assuming the role of Pierre in the hit musical Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 from August 15 to September 3, 2017 at Broadway's Imperial Theatre, he has now officially withdrawn from the limited three-week engagement.

Current cast member Okieriete "Oak" Onaodowan was originally scheduled to remain with the production through to September 4, but his run was reportedly cut short by three weeks in order for Mr. Patinkin to be able to join the production. According to the New York Times, this evoked outrage in the Broadway community, specifically that an African-American actor was being asked to make way for a caucasian actor.

Mr. Patinkin released the following statament to the New York Times:

"My understanding of the show's request that I step into the show is not as it has been portrayed and I would never accept a role knowing it would harm another actor. I hear what members of the community have said and I agree with them. I am a huge fan of Oak and I will, therefore, not be appearing in the show."

At present, Okieriete "Oak" Onaodowan is still scheduled to play his final performance as Pierre on August 13, 2017.

The principal cast of Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812 currently includes Okieriete Onaodowan (Pierre), Tony nominee Denée Benton (Natasha), Ingrid Michaelson (Sonya), Amber Gray (Helene), Grace McLean (Marya D), Tony nominee Lucas Steele (Anatole), Gelsey Bell (Princess Mary), Nicholas Belton (Bolkonsky/Andrey), Nick Choksi (Dolokhov), and Paul Pinto (Balaga).

The Broadway premiere of Dave Malloy's musical Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812, directed by Tony nominee Rachel Chavkin, began previews at Broadway's Imperial Theatre on October 18, 2016, before an official opening on November, 14. The show is currently booking through to January 7, 2018.

Synopsis: "Based on a most scandalous chapter of Leo Tolstoy's Russian masterpiece 'War and Peace,' the musical tells the story of a young girl named Natasha, who is betrothed to Andrey, though he's off at war. In his absence, Natasha strikes up a relationship with the attractive Anatole, whose rebellious nature causes Andrey's best friend Pierre to be on alert to the budding romance. Dave Malloy's adaptation of this 70-page slice of 'War and Peace' puts audiences just inches away from Tolstoy's brash young lovers, as they light up Moscow in an epic tale of romance and passion."

The creative team behind Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812 features musical direction by Or Matias, music supervision by Sonny Paladino, scenic design by Mimi Lien, costume design by Paloma Young, lighting design by Bradley King, and sound design by Nicholas Pope.

At The 71st Annual Tony Awards, the production was nominated for a total of 12 Tony Awards and took home the trophies for "Best Scenic Design of a Musical" and "Best Lighting Design of a Musical."

Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812 is produced on Broadway by Howard & Janet Kagan and Paula Marie Black.

Mandy Patinkin won a Tony Award in 1980 for originating the role of Che in 'Evita.' He also earned Tony nominations for 'The Wild Party' (2000) and 'Sunday in the Park with George' (1984). Other Broadway credits include 'Celebrating Sondheim,' 'Falsettos,' 'The Secret Garden,' 'The Shadow Box,' 'Hamlet,' and 'Trelawny of the "Wells",' as well as a handful of concerts on the Great White Way over the years, including 'An Evening with Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin' from November 2011 to January 2012. On screen, he won an Emmy Award for "Chicago Hope" in 1995. He is perhaps best known for his TV role as Saul Berenson on "Homeland," which earned him a total of three Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe nomination. Other notable screen credits include "Criminal Minds," "Dead Like Me," "The Princess Bride," "Yentl," and "Ragtime."