Doctor Zhivago (musical)

Doctor Zhivago – A New Musical
Music Lucy Simon
Lyrics Michael Korie and Amy Powers
Basis Based on the novel by Boris Pasternak of the same name
Productions

2011 Lyric Theatre, Sydney

2015 Broadway

Doctor Zhivago – A New Musical is a 2011 musical composed by Lucy Simon, lyrics by Michael Korie and Amy Powers, book by Michael Weller; it is based on Boris Pasternak's 1957 novel Doctor Zhivago.

Production

The show originally premiered as Zhivago in 2006 at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, California, with Ivan Hernandez in the title role as Yurii Zhivago.[1]

A 2011 Australian touring production directed by Des McAnuff premiered as Doctor Zhivago – A New Musical at the Lyric Theatre, Sydney, in 2011. The Sydney cast included Anthony Warlow as Yurii Zhivago, Lucy Maunder as Lara, Taneel Van Zyl as Tonia and Martin Crewes as Pasha. The show received glowing reviews.[2][3] The production ran from February 19 through April 3, 2011,[4] before travelling to Melbourne where it ran there from April through May 29, 2011.[5] Following Melbourne, a limited run was originally set at Brisbane from July 6 through July 31, but was extended a further two weeks, through August 14, 2011.[6]

A 2015 Broadway production, with Des McAnuff once again directing,[7] stars Tam Mutu as Yurii Zhivago and Kelli Barrett as Lara Guisher.[8] The musical began previews March 27, 2015 with an opening date of April 21, 2015 at the Broadway Theatre.[9]

Roles and original cast

The cast for the Australian premiere of Doctor Zhivago – A New Musical at the Lyric Theatre in Sydney:[10]

  • Anthony Warlow (Yurii Zhivago)
  • Lucy Maunder (Lara Guisher/Antipova)
  • Taneel Van Zyl (Tonia Gromenko)
  • Peter Carroll (Alex Gromenko)
  • Trisha Noble (Anna Gromenko)
  • Martin Crewes (Pasha Antipov/Strelnikov)
  • Bartholomew John (Viktor Komarovsky)
  • Johanna Allen (Tusia's Fiancée) (Tonia Understudy)
  • Anton Berezin (Gints) (Yurii/Pasha/Strelnikov Understudy)
  • Caitlin Berry (Mrs Guisher) (Tonia Understudy)
  • Tony Cogin (Priest) (Alex/Komarovsky Understudy)
  • Mischana Delorra Cornish (Young Tonia/Sasha)
  • Tony Farrell (Bloodied Soldier) (Yurii Understudy)
  • Natalie Gamsu (Kubarika) (Anna Understudy)
  • Todd Goddard (Station Master) (Alex Understudy)
  • Frank Hansen (Tusia) (Pasha/Strelnikov Understudy)
  • Glenn Hill (Tolya) (Dance Captain)
  • Luke Joslin (Liberius)
  • Todd Keys (Kornakov) (Komarovsky Understudy)
  • Kathleen Moore (Yelenka) (Lara Understudy)
  • Shaun Murphy (Markel)
  • Stephanie Silcock (Young Lara/Katarina)
  • Annie Stanford (Gulyobova) (Anna Understudy)
  • Jamie Ward (Young Yurii/Yanko)
  • Jamie Way (Shulygin)
  • Belinda Wollaston (Nadia) (Lara Understudy)
  • Elise McCann (Swing)
  • Chris Scalzo (Swing/Young Yurii/Yanko)
  • Gavin D Andrew (Swing)
  • Emma Hawthorne (Swing)

Musical numbers

Act I

  • "Two Words" – Ensemble
  • "Komarovsky's Toast – Komarovosky, Alex, Anna and Ensemble
  • "Who is She?" – Yurii
  • "Wedding Vows" – Priest, Pasha, Lara and Ensemble
  • "Its a Godsend" – Pasha, Tolya, Tusia, Tusia's Fiancée and Students
  • "When the Music Played" – Lara
  • "Watch the Moon" – Yurii and Tonia
  • "Forward March for the Czar" – Gints and Soldiers
  • "Something in the Air" – Lara, Yurii, Tonia and Nurses
  • "Now" – Lara and Yurii
  • "Blood on the Snow" – Soldier and Ensemble
  • "The Perfect World" – Gulyobova, Shulygin, and Ensemble
  • "Komarovsky's Toast" (Reprise) – Komarovosky
  • "A Man Who Lives up to His Name" – Yurii
  • "In This House" – Sasha, Alex, Yurii, Tonia and Ensemble

Act II

  • "Women And Little Children/He's There" – Ensemble and Lara
  • "No Mercy at All" – Strelinikov
  • "In This House" (Reprise) – Alex
  • "Love Finds You" – Yurii, Lara, Komarovsky, Strelnikov and Tonia
  • "Nowhere to Run" – Liberius and Partisans
  • "It Comes as no Surprise" – Tonia and Lara
  • "Ashes and Tears" – Yurii and Partisans
  • "Watch the Moon" (Reprise) – Tonia
  • "On the Edge of Time" – Lara and Yurii
  • "Now" (Reprise) – Lara and Yurii
  • "Blood on the Snow" (Reprise) – Red Army
  • "On the Edge of Time" (Reprise) – Katarina, Lara, Yurii and Ensemble

Recordings

An Australian cast album was planned but not released in 2011, however two songs by Maunder and Warlow eventuated and are now able to be viewed on YouTube:[11]

Awards and nominations

Original Australian production

Year Award Category Nominee Result
2011 Helpmann Awards[12][13] Best Musical John Frost, Anita Waxman/Tom Dokton, Latitude Link, Power Arts, Chun-Soo Shin, Corcoran Productions Nominated
Best Direction of a Musical Des McAnuff Nominated
Best Choreography in a Musical Kelly Divine Nominated
Best Male Actor in a Musical Anthony Warlow Nominated
Best Female Actor in a Musical Lucy Maunder Nominated
Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical Martin Crewes Nominated
Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical Taneel Van Zyl Nominated
Green Room Awards[14] Design Nick Eltis (Technical Director) Nominated
Michael Scott-Mitchell (Set) Nominated
Sydney Theatre Awards[15] Judith Johnson Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical Lucy Maunder Nominated
Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical Martin Crewes Won

Original Broadway production

Year Award Category Nominee Result
2015 Outer Critics Circle Awards[16] Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Paul Alexander Nolan Pending

References

  1. ↑ "La Jolla Playhouse premieres stirring, haunting Zhivago" by Charlene Baldridge, San Diego Community Newspaper
  2. ↑ "Dr Zhivago" by Jason Blake, The Sydney Morning Herald (21 February 2011)
  3. ↑ "Review of Dr Zhivago – a new musical at Sydney's Lric Theatre" by Alex Lalak, The Daily Telegraph (22 February 2011)
  4. ↑ David Kary (22 February 2011). "Dr Zhivago A New Musical". Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  5. ↑ Jo Litson (2 May 2011). "Dr Zhivago: the great Australian musical". Limelight. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  6. ↑ "Musical Doctor Zhivago opens in Brisbane". The Courier-Mail. 5 July 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  7. ↑ Hetrick, Adam. "Dr. Zhivago Musical Prepares for April Broadway Opening" Playbill.com, September 25, 2014
  8. ↑ Hetrick, Adam. "U.K. Musical Star Will Make Broadway Debut as Dr. Zhivago" Playbill.com, December 1, 2014
  9. ↑ Hetrick, Adam. " 'Doctor Zhivago'Brings Russian Romance to Broadway Tonight" playbill.com, March 27, 2015
  10. ↑ "Doctor Zhivago cast announced". Australian Stage. 30 October 2010. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  11. ↑ Simon Parris (7 June 2011). "No Recording for Zhivago". Theatre People. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  12. ↑ "Helpmann Award Nominees 2011". Helpmann Awards. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
  13. ↑ "Helpmann Awards (2011)". Live Performance Australia. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  14. ↑ "2011 Green Room Award Nominations". Australian Stage. 20 February 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
  15. ↑ "2011 Sydney Theatre Awards nominations announced". Australian Stage. 19 December 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
  16. ↑ "Something Rotten! & On the Twentieth Century Top List of 2015 Outer Critics Circle Nominations". Broadway.com. Retrieved 22 April 2015.