NEW YORK — The upcoming Broadway musical “Doctor Zhivago” will star a Broadway newbie, two Broadway veterans who were in “Jesus Christ Superstar” together and an actress from “Wicked” who just got married.
Producers said Monday that Tam Mutu will make his Broadway debut as the passionate doctor and poet, Yurii Zhivago, played in the classic movie by Omar Sharif. Mutu’s theater credits in London include Javert in “Les Miserables” and “Love Never Dies.”
Kelli Barrett will play his paramour, Lara. She’s played Nessarose in “Wicked” and was in “The Royal Family” and “Baby It’s You!” She and Tony Award-nominee Jarrod Spector, who is starring in “Beautiful,” were recently wed in New York City.
Tony-nominee Tom Hewitt will play Viktor Komarovsky. Hewitt played Pilate in the 2012 revival of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” and Frank N Furter in “The Rocky Horror Show.” Paul Nolan, who is currently playing the Guy in “Once” on Broadway, will star as the political revolutionary, Pasha Antipov. Nolan played Jesus in the “Jesus Christ Superstar” revival.
“Doctor Zhivago,” Boris Pasternak’s tale of five intertwined lovers during final days of Czarist Russia, will be directed by two-time Tony winner Des McAnuff, with a book by Academy Award nominee Michael Weller, music by Grammy Award winner Lucy Simon, lyrics by Tony nominee Michael Korie and Emmy Award nominee Amy Powers, and choreography by Tony nominee Kelly Devine.
Previews will start March 27 with an opening on April 21 at the Broadway Theatre. Tickets go on sale Monday.
The musical first premiered in California at the La Jolla Playhouse in 2006 and a revised version opened at the Lyric Theatre in Sydney in 2011.
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