Theater News

Hernandez, Hewitt, Danieley, Burrows, et al. Set for La Jolla’s Zhivago.

Jessica Burrows and Ivan Hernandez  in Zhivago
(Photo © JT Macmillan)
Jessica Burrows and Ivan Hernandez
in Zhivago
(Photo © JT Macmillan)

Ivan Hernandez, Tom Hewitt, Jason Danieley, and Jessica Burrows, will headline the La Jolla Playhouse production of the new musical Zhivago, based on Boris Pasternak’s classic novel Dr. Zhivago, May 9-June 24. Directed by Des McAnuff, the production will run May 9-June 24 and will open officially on May 25.

Zhivago has a book by Michael Weller, music by Lucy Simon, and lyrics by Michael Korie and Amy Powers. Set on the eve of the Russian revolution, it tells of the tempestuous love affair between Zhivago and the beautiful Lara. The 1965 film based on the novel, directed by David Lean and starring Omar Sharif, Julie Christie, Rod Steiger, and Tom Courtenay, won five Academy Awards.

The cast of Zhivago also includes Dominic Bogart, Sandy Campbell, Ryan Drummond, Mark Emerson, David C. Foster, Jason Heil, Melissa Hoff, Mackenzie Holmes, Christopher Kale Jones, Rebecca Kaasa, Melina Kalomas, Dennis Kelly, David McDonald, Spencer Moses, Eduardo Placer, Graham Rowat, Maureen Silliman, Tina Stafford, Rena Strober, Nick Ullett, Bibi Valderrama, and Melissa Van Der Schyff.

Hernandez, who will play the title role, recently appeared as Joe in the New York City Opera production of The Most Happy Fella. Hewitt, who will play Viktor, has starred on Broadway in Dracula and The Rocky Horror Show. Danieley, who will play Pasha, has appeared on Broadway in the title role of Candide and in The Full Monty. Burrows, who will play Lara, performed the role in La Jolla’s workshop production of Zhivago last year.

McAnuff, artistic director of the La Jolla Playhouse, won Tony Awards for his direction of Big River and The Who’s Tommy. He is currently represented on Broadway by Jersey Boys, which originated at La Jolla.

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Zhivago

Closed: July 9, 2006