Matt Bogart Replaces Jason Danieley in La Jolla's Zhivago

Matt Bogart has replaced Jason Daniely as Pasha/Strelnikov in Zhivago, the new musical based on the epic Boris Pasternak novel, which will run from May 9th through June 24th at the La Jolla Playhouse's Mandell Weiss Theatre in San Diego. The musical will open on May 25th.

Directed by Tony Award-winner Des MacAnuff (Jersey Boys), the show will also feature Ivan Hernandez (NYCO's The Most Happy Fella) in the title role, Jessica Burrows (Dr. Zhivago workshop at La Jolla) as Lara, Tom Hewitt (Dracula, The Rocky Horror Show) as Viktor.

Dominic Bogart, Sandy Campbell, Ryan Drummond, Mark Emerson, David C. Foster, Jason Heil, Melissa Hoff, Mackenzie Holmes, Christopher Kale Jones, Rebecca Kaasa, Melina Kalomas, Dennis Kelly, David McDonald, Spencer Moses, Eduardo Placer, Graham Rowat, Maureen Silliman, Tina Stafford, Rena Strober, Nick Ullett, Bibi Valderrama, and Melissa Van Der Schyff will also be featured in the production.

Based on Pasternak's 1958 Nobel Prize-winning novel Doctor Zhivago, the musical tells the tale of a surgeon/poet's love for the beautiful Laura as the two experience the turmoil of the Russian Revolution. With a book by Michael Weller (Moonchildren), music by Lucy Simon (The Secret Garden) and lyrics by Michael Korie (Grey Gardens), the show was also developed at La Jolla last season.

Doctor Zhivago also inspired a 1965 film directed by David Lean. Starring Omar Sharif and Julie Christie, it won five Oscars.

Bogart has appeared on Broadway in Miss Saigon (his Broadway debut), Smokey Joe's Cafe, The Civil War and Aida. Regionally, he has performed in Camille Claudel (at Goodspeed), Company (at the Kennedy Center), Camelot (at Paper Mill Playhouse and Arena Stage), as well as in Carousel, Side Show, Himself and Nora, Phantom and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; "Simple Songs" is his solo CD on Jay Records.

The La Jolla will also present an updated Broadway-bound revival of The Wiz, as well as Aaron Sorkin's The Farnsworth Invention, a new production of Mother Courage, Geoff Sobelle and Trey Lyford's all wear bowlers and the world premiere of Zorro in Hell during its 2006-2007 season.

For more information, visit www.lajollaplayhouse.com.