Lucy Maunder to star in Doctor Zhivago

The principal cast of the explosive new musical romance Doctor Zhivago was announced by producer John Frost today.

The principal cast of the explosive new musical romance Doctor Zhivago was announced by producer John Frost today.

Acclaimed musical star Anthony Warlow who plays the ardent young Doctor Yurii Zhivago will be joined by Lucy Maunder as the alluring Lara, and Taneel Van Zyl in the role of his wife Tonia. Martin Crewes plays political radical Pasha Antipov, Bartholomew John plays corrupt attorney Viktor Komarovsky and in the roles of Alexander and Anna are Peter Carroll and Trisha Noble.

“This country is rich in musical talent and we have assembled an impressive cast of both rising young stars and theatre greats to bring Doctor Zhivago to the stage,” said producer John Frost.

“Based on the famous novel by Boris Pasternak, it is one of the most breathtaking love stories ever told. And with the huge talent of Anthony Warlow in the title role, and the combined creative genius of Broadway director Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys, Tommy), composer Lucy Simon, (The Secret Garden), lyrics by Michael Korie and Amy Powers, and book by Michael Weller, we can look forward to a piece of landmark theatre for 2011. Australian audiences are in for an emotional journey.”

Composer Lucy Simon is in awe of Anthony Warlow’s talents. In the early 90’s she was in Australia for her hit musical The Secret Garden. As she watched Anthony engagingly portray the tortured Archie, she said to producer John Frost, “There is my Zhivago.”

Director Des McAnuff promises a “visually astonishing production; I think it will be quite magical. One of the most important things in staging this novel is to protect the intimacy of the love story and the love triangle between Zhivago and Tonia and Lara and we have done that.”

John Frost also announced a Melbourne season of Doctor Zhivago from April 9, 2011 at Her Majesty’s Theatre, following the Sydney Premiere season at the Lyric Theatre, Star City.