Sydney will host the World Premiere of a spanking new musical, DOCTOR ZHIVAGO.

The production will star musical theatre luminary Anthony Warlow.

Based upon the novel and feature film-reviews of the same name, Doctor Zhivago is composed by Lucy Simon (of Secret Garden fame) and will will be directed by Broadway’s Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys, Tommy), Producer John Frost, (Wicked) announced that the musical will play an exclusive eight week engagement at the Lyric Theatre, Star City from February 11, 2011.

Boris Pasternak’s acclaimed novel  hit the big screen in 1965 as an epic, drama romance by David Lean and created a star of Omar Sharif in the title role. The film-reviews remained popular for decades, and as of 2010 was the eighth highest grossing film-reviews of all time. Now this grand romance comes to the stage as a powerful and moving musical with Warlow in the title role.

“I’m honoured to bring this timeless story to the stage, and especially thrilled that the World Premiere will be held in Sydney, with the assistance of Events NSW and Tourism NSW. It is wonderful to be working again with composer Lucy Simon – our production of her musical The Secret Garden is still much remembered – and for the first time with legendary Broadway director Des McAnuff. And it’s also thrilling to work again with Anthony Warlow, one of the preeminent musical theatre performers in the world,” John Frost said.