Underdog Zhivago names sparkling cast

Master producer John Frost is hoping the star power of Anthony Warlow and a strong theatre cast helps his new musical Doctor Zhivago become a success during its Sydney and Melbourne seasons.

Master producer John Frost is hoping the star power of Anthony Warlow and a strong theatre cast helps his new musical Doctor Zhivago become a success during its Sydney and Melbourne seasons.

Anthony Warlow had been previously announced as the show’s main star, but last Friday Frost confirmed additional cast members, including Lucy Maunder as the alluring Lara, and Taneel Van Zyl in the role of Tonia. 

Martin Crewes plays political radical Pasha Antipov, Bartholomew John plays corrupt attorney Viktor Komarovsky and in the roles of Alexander and Anna are Australian theatre legends Peter Carroll and Trisha Noble.

For Maunder, a graduate of WAAPA, the show is a major career break. She most recently starred in Opera Australia’s A Little Night Music, and has been touring internationally with The Rocky Horror Show.

Frost said he was thrilled with the principal cast that he has assembled.

“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,” he said.

“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 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 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.”

The show premieres in Sydney early next year at the Lyric Theatre and then transfers to the Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne.

Whilst the show does not have all that much public knowledge, a strong marketing campaign and Warlow’s name is tipped to play a big part in making the show a success.

Minister for Tourism, Jodi McKay, is excited that the show will play in Sydney first.

“I am very pleased that Australia’s leading theatre producer, John Frost, has chosen Sydney as the location for this exclusive eight week run of Doctor Zhivago,” Ms McKay said.

“From February next year Sydney will host the very first stage adaptation of the world’s eighth highest grossing film.

“People will have the amazing opportunity to see Anthony Warlow, one of the world’s best performers, in a World Premiere in Australia’s only Global City.”

Ms McKay said the NSW Government, through Events NSW and Tourism NSW, will help promote the musical to regional, interstate and international markets.

“In the months leading up to the show’s opening night next year the NSW Government will promote the World Premiere in NSW, Australia and around the world,” Ms McKay said.

“Musical productions bring substantial economic benefits to the State’s tourism industry and more than 100,000 people are expected to see the show in Sydney, injecting more than $8 million into the State’s economy.