Performances begin February 3 for Beardo, the new Russian indie rock musical by Jason Craig (Beowulf – A Thousand years of Baggage) and Dave Malloy (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812) performed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Brooklyn. Pipeline Theatre Company presents the immersive show, which makes use of the building’s high-arched ceilings, stained glass windows, and operational pipe organ.

Ellie Heyman directs the new musical, which chronicles the ascent of Rasputin, the infamous Russian mystic and the subject of much hearsay and legend. Starring in the title role is Damon Daunno.

Beardo features a book and lyrics by Craig and music by Malloy. The show received its world premiere in California in 2011, and has been revised for its Off-Broadway debut, set to officially open February 12.

The cast also features Alex Highsmith (Angels in America) as Tsarista, Liz Leimkuhler (If You Wanna See the Devil) as Shack Sister, Brian Bock (Three Sisters) as Yusapoof, Willy Appleman (Clown Bar) as Tsar, Rolls Andre (CANT) as Shack Man, Shaye Troha (Beowulf – A Thousand Years of Baggage) as Shack Woman, and Ben Langhorst (The Pirate La Dee Da) as Person of the Court.

The production features music direction by Ian Axness (Clown Bar), set design by Carolyn Mraz (The Hatmaker’s Wife), costume design by Katja Andreiev (The Caucasian Chalk Circle), lighting design by Mary Ellen Stebbins (LongYarn), sound design by Dan Moses Schreier (Broadway’s A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder) and Joshua Reid (Broadway’s American Psycho, associate sound design), props design by Jess Adams (Broadway’s Long Day's Journey Into Night), choreography by the Kuperman Brothers (The Light Princess), and production stage management by Kristy Bodall (Clown Bar).

The band for Beardo includes conductor Sam Kulik (guitar), Blake Allen (viola), Ezra Gale (bass), Sarah Haines (violin), Susan Mandel (cello), and Hajnal Pivnick (violin).

Tickets can be purchased at PipelineTheatre.org/tickets.