Theater News

Broadway's Doctor Zhivago Finds Its Leads

The musical makes its New York premiere at the Broadway Theatre.

Tam Mutu and Kelli Barrett will play Yurii and Lara in the new Broadway musical Doctor Zhivago.
Tam Mutu and Kelli Barrett will play Yurii and Lara in the new Broadway musical Doctor Zhivago.
(© Virtuoso Imaging; David Gordon)

London star Tam Mutu (Love Never Dies) and Broadway veteran Kelli Barrett (Wicked) will head the cast of the upcoming Broadway musical Doctor Zhivago. The show begins performances March 27 at the Broadway Theatre, with opening night to follow on April 21.

Mutu, whose stage credits also include the West End production of Les Misérables and the Donmar Warehouse's forthcoming revival of City of Angels, is set to make his Broadway debut in the title role, doctor and poet Yurii Zhivago. Barrett, whose past Broadway appearances include The Royal Family and Baby, It's You, takes on the role of Yurii's paramour Lara Guishar. They are joined by Tony nominee Tom Hewitt (Jesus Christ Superstar) as aristocrat Viktor Komarovsky and Paul Nolan (Once) as political revolutionary Pasha Antipov. Complete casting will be announced in the coming months.

Directed by Des McAnuff, Doctor Zhivago is adapted from Boris Pasternak’s beloved novel of the same title by Michael Weller (book), Lucy Simon (music), and Michael Korie and Amy Powers (lyrics). Kelly Devine serves as choreographer, with Michael Scott-Mitchell as scenic designer, Paul Tazewell as costume designer, Howell Binkley as lighting designer, Steve Canyon Kennedy as sound designer, and Sean Nieuwenhuis as projection designer. The musical team is made up of Ron Melrose (musical director and supervisor), Danny Troob (orchestrations), and Eric Stern (arrangements).

Set amid World War I and the Russian Revolution, Doctor Zhivago tells the story of a political idealist who must choose between his devoted wife and his mysterious lover, while competing for the latter's affection with revolutionaries and aristocrats to win her heart. The musical premiered at the La Jolla Playhouse in 2006 before opening in 2011 at the Lyric Theatre in Sydney, Australia.

Click here for more information and tickets.

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