Doctor Zhivago's Broadway Future Is Almost Certain

An equity casting notice for the long-in-development musical adaptation of Doctor Zhivago by Michael Weller, Lucy Simon, Michael Korie, and Amy Powers confirms TheaterMania's previous report about the project's plans for a 2015 Broadway run.

According to the casting notice, the musical's first rehearsal is scheduled for February 2, 2015, with plans for an April 2015 opening.

Inspired by Boris Pasternak's novel of the same title, the musical adaptation features a book by Weller, music by Simon, and lyrics by Korie and Amy Powers. Set against the backdrop of the Russian Revolution, the piece follows the love affair between Yuri Andreyevich Zhivago and Lara Antipov. A 1965 film version, directed by David Lean, starred Omar Sharif and Julie Christie.

Doctor Zhivago ran at the La Jolla Playhouse in 2006 under the title Zhivago. Des McAnuff directed the production. The principal company included Ivan Hernandez, Tom Hewitt, Jason Danieley, and Jessica Burrows. It was revised and premiered as Doctor Zhivago — A New Musical at the Lyric Theatre in Sydney, Australia in 2011. That production, also directed by McAnuff, starred Anthony Warlow, Lucy Maunder, Taneel Van Zyl, and Martin Crewes.