2016 will be a busy year for singer Josh Groban. He’ll be heading to Broadway for the first time.
His Broadway debut will be in playing the role of Pierre in the musical “Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812."
The musical is opening on December 16th at the American Repertory Theater without Groban, but the singer will join the musical on Broadway by September 2016.
Groban recently talked with the New York Times about his latest project. “For a first time doing it, I wanted it to be something that was a little less expected, and I wanted it to be a show and a character that forced me to get a little bit out of my comfort zone and do something that people haven’t seen before. To have the opportunity and freedom to take off the hat of ‘me,’ and to dive into a character, is something I think will be very freeing, and very fun," said Groban.
He saw an Off Broadway performance of “The Great Comet” back in 2013 and expressed his love with it by a Twitter post saying, “Just saw 'Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812.' One of my most favorite theatrical experiences ever. LOVED.”
According to the New York Times, when Howard Kagan, the commercial producer of the show, reached out to Groban if he could consider playing the role of Pierre in the Broadway production, he immediately said yes and then bought an accordion, because the role of Pierre plays one, and he began reading the book “War and Peace” in which the musical is based on.
Groban said that theater is something that he has always wanted to do his whole life. “As soon as I find something that I feel people recognize me for, that’s my cue to say, ‘O.K., let’s explore, let’s wander a little and see where we land',” said Groban.