Via Variety NOVEMBER 30, 2014 | 09:01PM PT by: Gordon Cox Legit Editor@GCoxVariety
Tam Mutu, the London stage actor who’s never before appeared on Broadway, will play the title role in “Doctor Zhivago,” the musical that opens in the spring at the Broadway Theater.
Mutu, whose U.K. credits include “Love Never Dies” and the Donmar Warehouse’s upcoming revival of “City of Angels,” will play Yurii Zhivago in the epic Russian romance. Kelli Barrett (“Wicked,” “Rock of Ages”) is on board as Zhivago’s paramour Lara Guishar, with Tom Hewitt (“Jesus Christ Superstar,” “The Rocky Horror Show”) set to play aristocrat Viktor Komarovsky and Paul Nolan (currently in Broadway’s “Once”) portraying the revolutionary Pasha Antipov.
Further casting has yet to be set for the musical, with book by Michael Weller, music by Lucy Simon (“The Secret Garden”) and lyrics by Michael Korie (“Grey Gardens”) and Amy Powers. Des McAnuff(“Jersey Boys”) directs, while Kelly Devine (“Rocky”) choreographs.
The musical initially bowed at the La Jolla Playhouse in 2006 before a retooled version played Sydney in 2011. The Broadway incarnation of “Zhivago” is produced by Anita Waxman, Tom Dokton, Latitude Link, Ted Hartley/RKO Stage and Chunsoo Shin, with Margo and Roger Coleman, Joe Corcoran, J. Todd Harris, Stage Entertainment USA, Broadway Across America, Grove Entertainment, The Pelican Group and John Frost. Junkyard Dog (“Memphis”) is on board as exec producer.