Broadway’s ‘Doctor Zhivago’ to Close After Tony Shutout
Broadway musical “Doctor Zhivago” will close at the end of the week, following the show’s shutout from the 2015 Tony nominations.
“Zhivago,” which earned mixed to negative reviews, had struggled to attract sales and attention since it began previews March 27. An epic historical romance aiming to tap the same vein of popularity that powers “Les Miserables,” “Zhivago” has seen weekly box office hover, at best, in the range of $500,000 and play to houses filled to between 75% and 80% capacity.
“Zhivago” follows in the quick-exit footsteps of “Living on Love,” the Broadway play that closed Sunday after that show also walked away from the Tony nominations empty-handed. One play that did earn a Tony nom, Elisabeth Moss starrer “The Heidi Chronicles,” also closed Sunday after lackluster sales.
Said to be capitalized at some $12 million, “Zhivago” will likely prove a complete loss for investors and its producing team, led by Anita Waxman. The show took a long road to Broadway, after bowing at the La Jolla Playhouse a decade ago and subsequently playing Australia in 2011.
Based on the Boris Pasternak novel, “Doctor Zhivago” comes from a creative team that includes book writer Michael Weller, composer Lucy Simon and lyricist Michael Korie. Des McAnuff directs.
“Doctor Zhivago” closes May 10, freeing up the Broadway Theater for a new tenant in the coming season.
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