LOTR Musical to Premiere in Broadway North

Richard K Niner · Postby **Richard K Niner** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 10:04 pm

(<a href='http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ ... rtainment/' target='_blank'>Source</a>)  <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'>Quote: </td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> Lord of the Rings musical to premiere in Toronto By JEFF GRAY Wednesday, March 16, 2005 Updated at 1:55 AM EST From Wednesday's Globe and Mail The much-anticipated $30-million British musical theatre production of The Lord of the Rings will make its world premiere in Toronto instead of in London's West End. Toronto theatre impresario David Mirvish will make the news official at a press conference this morning, announcing that the production the most expensive musical in stage history will begin an indefinite run at the Princess of Wales Theatre next March. Auditions for the largely Canadian cast of orcs, elves and hobbits that will populate this musical vision of J. R. R. Tolkien's mythical Middle Earth are said to be starting in Toronto as early as Thursday. Up to five British actors will reportedly be allowed in the show, under a deal with the Canadian Actors' Equity union. British producer Kevin Wallace in Toronto yesterday for meetings to hammer out the deal said Toronto beat out London because all that city's theatres big enough to handle the production's elaborate sets and battle scenes were booked. "Toronto really wanted this premiere. The Tolkien books and films are hugely popular in Canada," Mr. Wallace was quoted as saying on the BBC website. The show is expected to open in London later. While a musical version of the epic fantasy might conjure up slightly farcical visions for some a tap-dancing Gollum, a chorus line of orcs the producers of the show say it will instead be a sweeping, operatic spectacle. "There will be no singing and dancing hobbits. The music will be in a very traditional mould and will draw on ethnic traditions," Mr. Wallace said. With a cast of 50 and complex hydraulically operated sets, the stage version of The Lord of the Rings retells the story of the sword-and-sorcery trilogy in a three-act, 31/2-hour show. It is co-produced by Saul Zaentz, whose film credits include The English Patient and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Developed over two years and directed by respected Briton Matthew Warchus, the production features music by Indian composer A.R. Rahman, who wrote the score for the stage show Bombay Dreams. For The Lord of the Rings, Mr. Rahman also collaborated with a Finnish folk ensemble called Varttina. Toronto Mayor David Miller, Ontario government officials and tourism industry representatives were all expected to attend this morning's press conference. Industry figures said the blockbuster production would reinvigorate Toronto's tourism business. Rod Seiling, president of the Greater Toronto Hotel Association, predicted a major Rings-driven boom in visitors to Toronto, thanks to the proven drawing power of the fantasy franchise. "It's huge. And it has its own cult following, like Star Wars. . . . It has a life of its own," he said, adding that the show would attract not only Canadian and American audiences but theatregoers from around the world. "They have to eat here, they have to shop here, they have to sleep here. . . .The spinoff goes right across the whole tourism industry." Toronto's tourism business took a massive hit in 2003 when international headlines labelled the city a health risk over the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). While the business has rebounded since then, many in the industry have complained that Toronto lacks a major new attraction, and needs to market itself better.</td></tr></table>  Sweet! (Cross posted to <a href='http://ireadthis.abort-retry-ignore.net ... .php?t=196' target='_blank'>I Read This</a>)

Zaaphod · Postby **Zaaphod** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 2:15 am

Hmm, interesting.

Henohenomoheji · Postby **Henohenomoheji** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 4:11 am

awww... I wanted tap-dancing orcs...

Trance · Postby **Trance** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 9:40 am

simon · Postby **simon** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 10:25 am

Dr. Gandalf Dr. Gandalf! Dr. Gandalf Dr. Gandalf! Dr. Gandalf Dr. Gandalf! Ooooohh Dr. Gandalf! (Dr. Gandalf Dr. Gandalf!)

Holyman83 · Postby **Holyman83** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 2:57 pm

Can you help? I have this weird ring! It makes me vanish vanish ,vanish, VANISH!

Henohenomoheji · Postby **Henohenomoheji** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 9:51 pm

Ring goes on, Ring goes off. Ring goes on, Ring goes off. Ring goes on, Ring goes off. Ring goes on, Ring goes off. Ring goes on, Ring goes off. Ring goes on, Ring goes off. Ring goes on, Ring goes off. Ring goes on, Ring goes off. Ring goes on, Ring goes off. Ring goes on, Ring goes off. Ring goes on, Ring goes off. Ring goes on, Ring goes off. Ring goes on, Ring goes off. Ring goes on,

Holyman83 · Postby **Holyman83** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 11:19 pm

....I think we have a new <img src='http://definecynical.mancubus.net/forum ... s/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif' /> tread <img src='http://definecynical.mancubus.net/forum ... s/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif' /> <img src='http://definecynical.mancubus.net/forum ... /smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /> <img src='http://definecynical.mancubus.net/forum ... iggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' />

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LOTR Musical to Premiere in Broadway North

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