Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett on Broadway in 'The Present'

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NEWS) - Anton Chekhov's first play "Platanov" has been reimagined by the cast and creative team of Australia's Sydney Theatre Company where the show originated before moving to the Great White Way.

Although Cate Blanchett has appeared on stage in four acclaimed New York productions, she officially becomes a Broadway actress in "The Present," a loose adaptation of "Platanov" penned by her husband Andrew Upton.

"The Present" is an explosive family drama set in 1990s Russia that mixes comedy and tragedy with plenty of vodka.

Richard Roxburgh also makes his Broadway debut after previously sharing a New York stage with Blanchett in "Uncle Vanya."

It is a significant moment for the cast and their country. "The Present" is the first Australian production to make its way to Broadway.

"The Present" begins previews December 17, 2016, and officially opens January 8, 2017, at the Barrymore Theatre.