Based on the famous 1958 Nobel Prize-winning novel by Russian author Boris Pasternak, Zhivago is set against the backdrop of the snowy country before and after the Russian Revolution. The work follows the story of a surgeon-poet and his muse Lara.
Company member and professional photographer Gavin D. Andrew documented a recent day at the theatre for Playbill.com.
Andrew takes us with him on his scenic stroll to and from work, introduces his many castmates and offers an extensive in-depth look backstage at the theatre.
It's another beautiful day in Sydney, Australia, as I leave my hotel at 12:15 PM to photograph my way to the theatre.
Gavin D. Andrew
It's an easy walk, with plenty of interesting scenery. This is the University of Technology Sydney building. They have cleverly kept the old facade and built a modern building behind it. There is also plenty of shade from the warming sun.
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I can catch the monorail from the end of my street to the the end of Darling Harbour. Option B is to take the "Light Rail" which is really a tram with no overhead wires. Or Option C: walk. I choose to walk.
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The radiant Annie Stanford (Gulyobova/female ensemble) catches up to me and poses for a photo as she does her bit for the environment. Since starting the show we all drink vodka instead of water. Not sure if it's better for us...
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Kathleen Moore (Yalenka/female ensemble) catches up to Annie and me. It's a little slow going when you stop regularly to take photos :)
Gavin D. Andrew
Here is a shot of Cockle Bay (part of Darling Harbour). Looks lovely during the day... looks even better at night!
Gavin D. Andrew
This is the other side of Darling Harbour. The tall gold building slightly left of centre is "Centrepoint," another Sydney icon, and the other end of the "Ye Olde" Monorail.
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Can you find stage door in this photo? The Crown Casino has cleverly disguised Stage Door as a construction zone... complete with authentic looking construction workers and signs.
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If you look to the left of the man with the "Slow" sign, this is what you see!
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The unstoppable Tony Cogin (Priest/Quartermaster/Male Ensemble) arrives at work on his "environmentally friendly transportation device" - also known as a bike!
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The new advanced system for opening stage doors: a big stick and a comfortable chair. Here's hoping this idea goes viral.
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Finally, we reach the theatre and begin official proceedings with a company vocal warm up in the rehearsal room.
Gavin D. Andrew
Martin Crewes (Pasha/Strelnikov) spends a good 20 minutes after most people leave, stretching and warming up for his "Russian Dance" show down that will happen early in act.
Gavin D. Andrew
Mischana Dellora-Cornish (Young Tonia/Sasha) gets her hair ready for the application of... well, more hair.
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This is where most of the male ensemble keep their hair during the show.
Gavin D. Andrew
Annie Stanford kills some time by attending to her dressing room's "mystery puzzle."
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Todd Keys after 4 hours in make up! Todd told me to say that :-)
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The puzzle in this dressing room is progressing very well. Maybe it has something to do with Super Swing Elise McCann?
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Kathleen Moore and Elise McCann pose for a photo in their dressing room.
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Todd Goddard (male ensemble) makes a last minute adjustment before heading off to start the show.
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Natalie Gamsu waits patiently for the show to begin.
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The make up area. On the left are the swings' costumes. Oh Yeah!
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Jamie Ward (Young Yurii Zhivago/ Yanko/male ensemble) dresses as a vampire in an attempt to broaden the show's appeal to a generation of pale, sun starved teenagers...
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Meet our beautiful female swings Elise McCann (left) and Emma Hawthorne (right) as they go over their notes during the show.
Gavin D. Andrew
We catch Chris Scalzo and Emma Hawthorne rehearsing the tavern scene. There are usually one of three places that you can find the swings during a performance: the rehearsal room, the green room or side stage, singing and marking through roles.
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The make up and wigs area. Normally this is a hive of action.
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Tony Farrell (front left), Tony Cogin (rear left) and Jamie Way (front right) take it easy between scenes in the male dressing area.
Gavin D. Andrew
Jamie Ward - gets bloodied up before returning to the stage. Looks like a pretty nasty wound, but will it be enough to kill him?
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Sharon Case, head of wigs and make up, demonstrates her technique for wounding young Russian soldiers.
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If you think that Kathleen Moore looks like she's just hanging around, wait until you see her in about 7 minutes!!
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Super Swings Emma Hawthorne (far left), Chris Scalzo (middle) and Elise McCann (right) rehearse "A Perfect World" in the upstairs rehearsal room during the show.
Gavin D. Andrew
The show ends and I make my way to Darling Harbour to find something to eat.
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Too many places to choose from.
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Ah yes, shall we dine in style tonight?
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Nah! Oscars is the go... something about that name.
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The Lyric Theatre
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This is the "Crossover" just behind the stage. Most of the cast come down here between the half-hour call and beginners call and don't leave until after bows.
Gavin D. Andrew
A quick trip up to the Green Room finds some of the cast and crew relaxing and watching some RUGBY. If you don't know what that is - it's kind of like gridiron but with no helmets or padding.
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I head back out to the auditorium where the male ensemble gathers for a quick technical rehearsal before the second performance.
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With the second show looming I head into principal territory and find this on Mr. Anthony Warlow's door.
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And find two beautiful girls: Taneel Van Zyl (Tonia, Zhivago's wife) and Lucy Maunder (Lara, Zhivago's muse).
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This time I catch Martin Crewes (Pasha, Lara's husband) applying finishing touches to his make up.
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I snuck this shot in by climbing on some road cases and shooting over the top of the men's crossover. I found Shaun Murphy (Markel/male ensemble/Resident Director) as he undertakes one of his many costume changes.
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Here are some shots taken during the show, starting with Luke Joslin (Liberius/Male Ensemble).
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Caitlin Berry (female ensemble)
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Mischana Dellora-Cornish is almost unrecognizable as the young boy Sasha Zhivago.
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Glenn Hill (Tolya/male Ensemble/Dance Captain) strikes a very debonair figure as he prepares for the ballroom scene in Act 1.
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From L-R: Tony Farrell, Tony Cogin, Phil (their dresser) and Shaun Murphy relax between scenes. This time they are dressed as part of the Partisan army as denoted by the red bands on their arms.
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Natalie Gamsu transforms into the hauntingly desperate prisoner, Kubarika.
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Annie Stanford (left) and Johanna Allen (right) share a smile for the camera.
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Todd Keys cuts a pretty scary figure as one of Strelnikov's nasty pasty partisans.
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Evidence that Ned Kelly (Australia's most famous bushranger) didn't die at the old Melbourne Gaol. Or old bushrangers never die... they just go to Russia to fight in civil wars.
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Stephanie Silcock (Young Lara/Katarina) and "Sweeney" Todd Keys (Kornakov/Male Ensemble).
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Frank Hansen (Tusia/male ensemble) gets ready for battle.
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Just chilling before the end of the show.
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Anthony Warlow tests his fast beard removal technique.
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Tada no beard! And just enough time for some finishing touches before the finale.
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Luke Joslin as the cold-hearted partisan, Captain Liberius.
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Bart John (Komarovsky) and Peter Carroll (Alex Gromeko) spare a second for a quick photo. The strange growths on their foreheads are microphones that will soon be attached to their hats.
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Shane from wigs puts some final touches to Belinda Wollaston's hair.
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A monitor in the "Crossover" lets the cast and crew see what's happening on stage.
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Chris Scalzo (Swing) continues to advance the mystery puzzle in Dressing Room 16.
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Emma Hawthorne (female swing) rehearses the role of Sasha upstairs in the rehearsal room as the show continues.
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Peter Carroll (Alex Gromeko) getting some hair love from Sharon Case.
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Taneel Van Zyl (Tonia Zhivago).
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Stephanie Silcock and Johanna Allen remove dirt after their visit to the Yural mountains.
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Anton Berezin (Gints/male ensemble) transforms into an old man.
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There are monitors on both sides of stage to help us keep in time no matter where we are. Pictured here is our wonderful conductor and musical director, Ms. Kellie Dickerson.
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Caitlin Berry, preparing to become Russian aristocracy.
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A not very well known musical theatre fact: after Tevye left the village of Anatevka, he went to Yuriatin to join a rough and tumble partisan army!
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Todd Goddard wipes blood from his mouth and hands. It's just pretend blood - no one panic!
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Lucy Maunder shares a laugh with a cast member before she returns to the stage for the finale.
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The end of the day in Dressing Room 16. Frank Hansen in the foreground, Luke Joslin in the centre and Todd Keys at the back consuming imaginary drops of vodka. 10:55 PM and time to make my way home.
Gavin D. Andrew
It is a balmy evening outside... around 21 degrees and only a two minute walk from the theatre to Cockle Bay and the start of my walk through Darling Harbour.
Gavin D. Andrew
Even without a shot of the "Harbour Bridge" or the Opera House, Sydney is still spectacular!
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If you haven't already guessed, this is the "Harbourside Mall" at Cockle Bay in Darling Harbour.
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About halfway home now. So close now I can almost hear the Tim Tams (chocolate biscuits) calling out from my hotel room.
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And we are finally back to where we started. Normally it takes me around 20 minutes to get home, but tonight it has taken me over an hour! Hope you have enjoyed this little insight into a day in the Australian production of Doctor Zhivago!
Gavin D. Andrew
The cast features Warlow in the title role; Lucy Maunder as Lara; Taneel Van Zyl as Zhivago's wife Tonia; Martin Crewes as political radical Pasha Antipov; Bartholomew John as corrupt attorney Viktor Komarovsky; and Peter Carroll and Trisha Noble in the roles of Alexander and Anna, Tonia's parents.
The creative team includes director Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys, Tommy), choreographer Kelly Devine (Rock of Ages), composer Lucy Simon (The Secret Garden), lyricist Michael Korie (Grey Gardens) and Amy Powers (Lizzie Borden) and librettist Michael Weller (Moonchildren, Loose Ends). The work was seen in 2006 at La Jolla Playhouse in California.
Performances began Feb. 11 at the Lyric Theatre, Star City, in Sydney. The production will then begin a Melbourne run April 9 at Her Majesty's Theatre and move on to Brisbane in July.
A production spokesperson has stated that producers are eyeing a future life for the production, including the possibility of eventual London and Broadway bows. Current advertising materials bill Dr. Zhivago as "Broadway-bound."
For more information, visit drzhivago.com.au.
