Exclusive: DOCTOR ZHIVAGO Planned for Broadway in 2015

BroadwayWorld.com has exclusively learned that Doctor Zhivago is headed to Broadway in early 2015. The show will likely replace RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA at the Broadway Theatre after that production closes on January 3, 2015.

No official confirmation, or timetable has been revealed for Doctor Zhivago, but an early 2015 start is expected.

The show, which premiered at La Jolla Playhouse in 2006, features music by Lucy Simon, lyrics by Michael Korie and Amy Powers and a book by Michael Weller.

Following the La Jolla run, Doctor Zhivago played limited runs last year in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney with Anthony Warlow in the title role under the direction of Des McAnuff with choreography by Kelly Devine.

A third production opened late last year in Korea, though producers previously said that it would (continue) to undergo significant changes before opening on Broadway.

The show is based on the 1957 novel; in 1965 the story hit the big screen as a drama romance by David Lean and created a star of Omar Sharif in the title role. The film remained popular for decades, and as of 2010 was the eighth highest grossing film of all time.

"After the famous film version what remains exciting about this iconic novel is its personal story of love, loss and dreams," Frost said last year. "The stage intensifies the personality of this story with the musical focusing on the people at its centre."

Photo: Anthony Warlow and Lucy Maunder