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Lucas Steele

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Lucas Steele
Born (1979-06-29) June 29, 1979 (age 45)
Wyalusing, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of the Arts (BFA)[1]
Occupation(s)Actor, musician
Years active2006–present
Known forNatasha, Pierre, & The Great Comet of 1812
AwardsLucille Lortel Award

Lucas Steele is an American stage actor, violinist and singer best known for his role as Anatole Kuragin in Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812.[2]

Early life

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Steele was raised in Wyalusing, Pennsylvania. He began learning piano by ear at age 3, and violin at age 11.[3][4] He graduated from the University of the Arts with a BFA in Musical Theater.

Career

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Steele made his Broadway debut in the 2006 revival of The Threepenny Opera, playing the ensemble roles of Harry and Velma while understudying the role of Lucy Brown.[5]

In the fall of 2006, Steele was signed to a four-year development deal for a commercial music project. For the next four years he focused on writing, producing, conceiving and developing a conceptualized electro/rock/pop album while traveling throughout Europe.[6] While working on the album, Steele originated roles in the world premieres of Neil Bartlett's adaptation of Oliver Twist (presented by Theatre for a New Audience Off-Broadway in 2007)[7] and It's Only Life (premiering at the Rubicon Theatre Company in Ventura in 2008).[8][9]

In 2009, he returned to the West Coast, cast in Theatre For A New Audience's critically acclaimed production of Othello at the Intiman Theater in Seattle, WA.[10]

In 2010, after participating in two years of developmental readings, Steele originated the role of Terry in The New Group production of The Kid, based on the best selling novel by writer/author/activist Dan Savage. After completing its run, Steele returned to Europe, entering the last chapter of the fated music project, ultimately leaving the deal in February 2011. Steele took the next year off to develop several screenplays as a writer.

In February 2012, Steele originated the role of "the Son'" in the critically acclaimed production of Myths and Hymns, presented off-Broadway by the Prospect Theater Company.

In summer 2012, Steele was cast as Anatole in the Ars Nova developmental reading/workshop of Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, a sung-through musical based on a portion of Leo Tolstoy's magnum opus, War and Peace.[11] He further developed the role in the show's premiere, and stayed with the production through its venues at Kazino, both downtown in the Meatpacking District and its transfer to midtown on 45th street. In 2015, Steele reprised the role of Anatole for the American Repertory Theatre production of The Great Comet, securing an IRNE Awards nomination for Supporting Actor and an Elliot Norton Awards nomination for Outstanding Musical Performance by an Actor.[2] He continued with The Great Comet during its Broadway run at the Imperial Theatre, starting in November 2016.[12] He is one of only two actors who have stayed with the production since its debut at Ars Nova in 2012.

In spring 2014, Steele booked the role of Luca Bavarra in the ABC pilot Dangerous Liaisons. Later that year, he shot the short film Photo.

At the time of the 2020 New York City theater shutdown amidst the COViD-19 pandemic, Steele was appearing as Skull, the primary antagonist in the musical Emojiland.  The show which opened on Off-Broadway at the Duke Theater on January 19, 2020, had its imminent closing expedited by the coronavirus outbreak. Steele's portrayal of Skull was described by Laura Collins-Hughes in the New York Times as "deathly pale in black leather and mesh, and oozing an almost Victorian dark charisma."[13][14]

In 2023, Steele starred in the premiere of "The Romance of the Rose" by American composer Kate Soper at Long Beach Opera, where he "lent his nimble voice and sly charm to The Dreamer," according to the New Yorker's Alex Ross.[15] He reprised the role for the opera's studio album, which was released on New Focus in November 2024.[16]

Stage credits

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Theatre credits

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Year Production Role Location Category
2001-2002 My Fair Lady Busker / Embassy Footman Walnut Street Theatre Regional
2005 Corpus Christi Joshua Bouwerie Lane Theater Regional
2006 The Threepenny Opera Ensemble / Harry / Velma

u/s Lucy

Studio 54 Broadway
2007 Neil Bartlett's Oliver Twist Toby Crackit American Repertory Theatre Regional
2008 John Bucchino's It's Only Life Performer Rubicon Theater in California Regional
2009 Othello Senator/Gentleman/Musician Intiman Theatre Regional
2010 The Kid Terry Acorn Theatre Off-Broadway
2012 Myths and Hymns Son/Performer West End Theatre Off-Broadway
Natasha, Pierre, & The Great Comet of 1812 Anatole Kuragin Ars Nova Off-Off-Broadway
2013-2014 Kazino Off-Broadway
2015-2016 American Repertory Theatre Regional
2016–2017 Imperial Theatre Broadway
2020 Emojiland Skull The Duke Theater Off-Broadway
2023 The Romance of the Rose The Dreamer Long Beach Opera Regional

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result
2014 Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Natasha, Pierre, & The Great Comet of 1812 Won [17]
2016 Elliot Norton Award Outstanding Performance by an Actor Nominated
2016 IRNE Award Best Supporting Actor Nominated
2017 Tony Award Best Featured Actor in a Musical Nominated

References

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  1. ^ https://www.uarts.edu/academics/undergraduate/musical-theater-bfa [bare URL]
  2. ^ a b "Lucas Steele Theatre Credits". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
  3. ^ Schwartz, Dana (April 12, 2017). "'The Great Comet of 1812' Star Lucas Steele Is Charming, But No Prince". Observer. Observer. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  4. ^ Call Me Adam. "New York Theatre - Entertainment - Interviews - Actors - Actresses - Reviews - Interviews - Lucas Steele". www.callmeadam.com. Call Me Adam. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  5. ^ "THE LEADING MEN: Lucas Steele Proves His Mettle in Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 | Playbill". Playbill. August 2013. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
  6. ^ Ferri, Josh (November 9, 2016). "Five Burning Questions with The Great Comet Star Lucas Steele". BroadwayBox.com. Broadway Box, Inc. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  7. ^ Hernandez, Ernio (March 29, 2009). "Actor-Musician Twist on Oliver Reaches New York March 29 | Playbill". Playbill. Playbill Inc. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  8. ^ Verini, Bob (June 24, 2008). "Review: 'It's Only Life'". Variety. Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  9. ^ Obiekwe, Ojinika (March 1, 2017). "The Great Comet's Lucas Steele talks being more than skin deep". New York's PIX11 / WPIX-TV. Tribune Broadcasting Station. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  10. ^ Hodges, Ben; Denny, Scott (2011). Theatre World 2009-2010. Applause Theatre & Cinema. p. 374. ISBN 9781423492719. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  11. ^ Brunner, Jeryl (April 4, 2017). "Actor Spotlight: Lucas Steele of 'The Great Comet'". New York Shows. Showtickets.com. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  12. ^ "Anatole is Hot (And So Is Lucas Steele)". EdgeMediaNetwork.com. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  13. ^ Collins-Hughes, Laura (January 20, 2020). "'Emojiland' Review: There's a Rom-Com in Your Phone. With Music". The New York Times.
  14. ^ "The Great Comet's Lucas Steele Joins Cast of Off-Broadway Musical Emojiland". November 18, 2019.
  15. ^ "Medieval Romances by Kate Soper and Richard Wagner". March 6, 2023.
  16. ^ "Kate Soper to Release Recording of Opera THE ROMANCE OF THE ROSE". September 20, 2024.
  17. ^ Broski, Jennifer (May 5, 2014). "2014 Lortel Award Winners - HERE LIES LOVE Wins Big, THE OPEN HOUSE Wins Best Play, and FUN HOME Wins Best Musical!". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
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