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Lord of the Rings (musical)

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This article is about the theatre production. For other uses, see The Lord of the Rings (disambiguation).

The Lord of the Rings
Music
Lyrics
Book
  • Shaun McKenna
  • Matthew Warchus
SettingMiddle-earth
BasisThe Lord of the Rings
by J. R. R. Tolkien
PremiereMarch 23, 2006 (2006-03-23): Princess of Wales Theatre, Toronto
Productions

The Lord of the Rings is a stage musical with music by A. R. Rahman, Värttinä, and Christopher Nightingale, and lyrics and book by Shaun McKenna and Matthew Warchus, based on the novel of the same name by J. R. R. Tolkien. It is the most prominent of several theatre adaptations of the novel. Set in the world of Middle-earth, the musical tells the tale of a humble hobbit who is asked to play the hero and undertake a treacherous mission to destroy an evil, magic ring without being seduced by its power.

The musical has been performed in four professional productions. It was first performed in 2006 at The Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto. The second production opened at The Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London's West End in June 2007 where it played until July 2008. The musical was revived in 2023 at the Watermill Theatre in Berkshire (UK), winning Best Regional Production in TheWhatsOnStage Awards 2024.[1] This production opened in summer 2024 at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater,[2] and will play at The Civic Theatre in Auckland, New Zealand in November of that same year.[3] A season starting on 5 January 2025 has also been announced at the State Theatre in Sydney,[4] with additional runs at the Crown Theatre in Perth, and the Comedy Theatre in Melbourne.[5] The production will return to the UK for a run at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth in October 2025, before embarking on a European tour.[6]

Productions

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Toronto

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The London-based theatre producer Kevin Wallace and his partner, Saul Zaentz, who held the stage and film rights, in association with Toronto theatre owner David Mirvish and concert promoter Michael Cohl, produced a stage musical adaptation. The book and lyrics were written by Shaun McKenna and Matthew Warchus. The music was by A. R. Rahman and Värttinä, collaborating with Christopher Nightingale. The three-and-a-half-hour-long three-act production, with a cast of 65 actors, was mounted in Toronto, Canada, at the Princess of Wales Theatre, at a cost of approximately C$30 million. It was promoted as a spectacle of unusual scale. It starred Brent Carver as Gandalf and Michael Therriault as Gollum, and was directed by Matthew Warchus and choreographed by Peter Darling, with set and costume design by Rob Howell. The production began performances on 4 February 2006, had its opening on 23 March 2006, and its final performance on 3 September 2006. The show played to almost 400,000 people in Toronto. It was nominated for 15 Dora Awards, winning 7, including Outstanding New Musical and awards for direction, design and choreography. It received largely hostile reviews from the press.[7][8][9][10] Richard Corliss of Time Magazine described it as "ingenious"[11] and a "definitive megamusical".[12] Ben Brantley of the New York Times said it was "largely incomprehensible", explaining that "Everyone and everything winds up lost," ... "includ(ing) plot, character and the patience of most ordinary theatergoers."[13]

London

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The significantly re-written show, shortened to three hours, began previews at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on 9 May 2007, with its official premiere on 19 June 2007. The same creative team as the Toronto production was involved in the London production, with only four cast members reprising their roles from Toronto—James Loye (Frodo), Owen Sharpe (Pippin), Peter Howe (Sam) and Michael Therriault (Gollum). The production featured a cast of 50 actors and reportedly cost £12 million (approximately US$25 million),[14] making it one of the most expensive musicals ever produced in the West End. It was nominated for 7 Whatsonstage Theatregoer's Choice Awards in 2007 and 5 Olivier Awards in 2008, including book and lyrics, lighting (Paul Pyant), sets and costumes (both Rob Howell) and sound.[15][16] The production took its final bow on 20 July 2008,[17] after 492 performances over a 13-month run.[18]

The Times called it "a brave, stirring, epic piece of popular theatre"[19] and The Guardian gave the show a four star rating, calling it "a hugely impressive production".[20] In The Stage, Mark Shenton wrote the production “both looks and behaves as a spectacular piece of music theatre, and there isn’t a single production element that doesn’t impress and frequently thrill.[21] The production received many negative reviews from critics; Amol Rajan in The Independent wrote that it had "received a critical mauling throughout most of its run", leading to its closure.[22] It was remarked upon at the time for its lack of commerical success.[23] In Canada, Variety labelled it "a saga of short people burdened by power jewellery".[22] The Toronto Star dubbed it "Bored of the Rings".[22] Susannah Clapp in The Observer called the stage design "gargantuan" with "a terrific, house-size spider", "black-leather Orcs ... like scarab Richard IIIs" and "long-winded ents ... on stilts". The trouble, she wrote, was that none of these characters "moves events along with any urgency."[24]

The London original cast recording was released on February 4, 2008, and features 18 musical numbers from the show.[25]

Later productions

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In 2013, Playbill announced that the show would be revived for a world tour in 2015. The first location for the tour would have been in New Zealand[26] but dates and other locations were never announced.[27]

In 2023, the Watermill Theatre, Bagnor, Berkshire, revived a scaled-down version of the show for a 12-week run as The Lord of the Rings: A Musical Tale.[28][29][30]

In 2024, the Watermill production was announced to be making its North American premiere at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, running from 19 July to 1 September.[31] It was also confirmed that the production will go on an international tour.[32] In November 2024, the production will make its New Zealand premiere, with a limited run at the Civic Theatre, Auckland.[33] Following this, it will run in at the State Theatre in Sydney, Australia from January 7, 2025.[34]

Synopsis

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Act I

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Long ago when the world was green and Hobbits thrived, a long dormant evil began to stir. The Dark Lord Sauron began sending out spies, wraith-like agents, to find his long-lost Ring. Forged by the darkest arts, the powerful One Ring allowed its bearer to enslave all forever.

For centuries the Ring lay buried in a riverbed until two Hobbit cousins found it and changed history. The Ring corrupts even the kindest among us and cannot be destroyed by any normal means, nor can it be hidden indefinitely, as the Dark Lord’s power draws it like a magnet. When worn, the Ring allows Sauron to find the Ring-bearer. Nevertheless, magic still resides in Middle-earth and guardians watch over the vulnerable and powerless.

Our story begins at Bilbo Baggins’ eleventy-first birthday party where after much merriment, Bilbo bequeaths his home and fortune to his nephew Frodo, and magically disappears.

Seventeen years later, Gandalf arrives bearing unsettling news causing Frodo to embark on an unlikely adventure, traveling far from home with two cousins and good friend Sam. Trouble follows. Befriended by a Ranger, the Hobbits bear Frodo away to Rivendell, where the Elves, Elrond and his daughter Arwen, nurse Frodo to good health and give shelter to Merry, Pippin and Sam. A meeting is convened, the Council of Elrond, to decide how to circumvent Middle-earth’s growing evil. Frodo volunteers to bear the Ring to Mt. Doom to be destroyed forever. Together with Gimli the Dwarf, Legolas the Elf, Merry, Sam, Pippin, Strider, Gandalf and Boromir, the nine members of the Fellowship set out.

Conflict arises amongst the Fellowship, between those who seek to destroy the One Ring and end its ominous power; and those who seek to use its power for good, to secure peace and prosperity. As the Fellowship journey on, they must travel under a mountain through the abandoned Dwarven Mines of Moria, when they run into uncommon foul weather, conjured by Saruman the White, who seeks the One Ring for his own purpose. Making slow progress they awake a sleeping, demon and lose Gandalf the Grey. Emerging from the Mines bereft, believing Gandalf has perished, they are ushered into safe haven by the Elves of Lothlorien, where the great Lady of the Golden Wood, Galadriel, gifts them a phial of light and wise comfort. Soon afterward, the Fellowship is torn asunder by greed and malfeasance. Orcs attack and Boromir falls.

Act II

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The Fellowship minus Boromir and Gandalf, carry on. Separated from the others, Sam and Frodo follow Gollum to Mt. Doom. The remaining Fellowship are tormented by dread; abandoning their search for Frodo and Sam, in choosing to repay a moral debt to honor Boromir they’ve set out hoping to distract Sauron’s attention with war, thus giving Frodo a chance to succeed. Together, Treebeard and the Ents, Gimli, Legolas, Merry, Pippin, Strider and Gandalf the White win a decisive battle against Saruman at Isengard, as Galadriel weaves spells of protection. Strider takes up his reforged ancestral sword, claiming his rightful inheritance as Aragorn, King of Gondor, with the Lady Arwen by his side. The One Ring’s destruction ushers in the Age of Men, and magic departs Middle-earth.

The Hobbits return home to find their beloved Shire ransacked beyond recognition. Still Samwise Gamgee is reunited with his beloved Rosie Cotton, settling down to restore home and family, and re-planting The Shire bit by bit. Frodo, Gandalf, Elrond and Galadriel sail West from the Grey Havens to the Undying Lands, to find respite and everlasting peace.

And thus ends, our Musical Tale.

Production changes

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During the scene at the Ford, Elrond was originally present in Toronto. In London however, Elrond is replaced by Alma Ferovic's character. Toronto also featured a scene in which Galadriel, Arwen, and Elrond, even though they are not physically present, view the action through magic. When the show moved to London, the prologue scene, which was shown as a shadow play, was completely absent. In addition, "Galadriel's Song" was transferred from the Lothlórien scene in Act Two to Act Three. The whole Lothlórien scene was also redesigned, and the script tightened, with many characters from Toronto being completely cut.[35][page needed]

In the 2023 Watermill Theatre production, the show was changed from having three acts to only having two. In this revision, the act break happens following the death of Boromir and the departure of Sam and Frodo. Act Two begins with the introduction of Gollum into the story.

Casts

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Character Toronto Cast[36] Original London Cast[37][38] Final London Cast[39] Berkshire Revival Cast[40] Final Berkshire Cast[41] Chicago Shakespeare Cast[42]
Bilbo Baggins Cliff Saunders Terence Frisch John O'Mahony Rick Hall
Samwise "Sam" Gamgee Peter Howe Nuwan Hugh Perera Michael Kurowski
Rose "Rosie" Cotton Kristin Galer Kirsty Malpass Charlotte Grayson Suzanne Hannau
Frodo Baggins James Loye James Byng Louis Maskell Spencer Davis Milford
Gandalf the Grey / Gandalf the White Brent Carver Malcolm Storry Andrew Jarvis Peter Marinker Patrick Bridgman Tom Amandes
Peregrin "Pippin" Took Owen Sharpe Stuart Neal Amelia Gabriel Ben Mathew
Meriadoc "Merry" Brandybuck Dylan Roberts Richard Henders Ben Evans Geraint Downing Eileen Doan
Elránien Monique Lund Alexandra Bonnet Sioned Saunders Bernadette Santos Schwegel
Saruman the White Richard McMillan Brian Protheroe Tim Morgan Tom Giles Jeff Parker
Barliman Butterbur Shawn Wright Tim Parker Bridget Lappin Joey Faggion
Bill Ferny Patrick McManus Michael Hobbs Reece Causton Adam Qutaishat
Aragorn (Strider) Evan Buliung Jérôme Pradon Robbie Scotcher Aaron Sidwell Will James Jr.
Glorfindel — Alma Ferovic — —
Arwen Undómiel Carly Street Rosalie Craig Aoife O'Dea Alina Taber
Lord Elrond Victor A. Young Andrew Jarvis Michael Hobbs Tom Giles Jeff Parker
Boromir Dion Johnstone Steven Miller Peter Dukes Matthew C. Yee
Gimli Ross Williams Sévan Stephan Folarin Akinmade Ian Maryfield
Legolas Greenleaf Gabriel Burrafato Michael Rouse Yazdan Qafouri Justin Albinder
Gollum / Sméagol Michael Therriault Matthew Bugg Tony Bozzuto
Haldir Fraser Walters Wayne Fitzsimmons Elliot McKenzie Arik Vega
Lady Galadriel Rebecca Jackson Mendoza Laura Michelle Kelly Abbie Osmon Georgia Louise Sioned Saunders Lauren Zakrin
Treebeard Shawn Wright Michael Hobbs Peter Dukes John Lithgow
Steward of the Lands of Men — Tim Morgan Tim Parker John O'Mahony Rick Hall
Éowyn[43] Aryin Mackie — —
King Théoden[43] Kerry Dorey — —
Witch King of Angmar[43] Don Gough — —
Gaffer Gamgee[43] Sanders Whiting — —
Déagol[44] Joel Benson David Grant — —
Ensemble Reece Causton,
Kelly Coughlin,
Bridget Lappin,
Elliot Mackenzie,
Sioned Saunders,
Zara Naeem 		Joey Faggion,
Mia Hilt,
James Mueller,
Jarais Musgrove,
Hannah Novak,
Adam Qutaishat,
Laura Savage,
Bernadette Santos Schwegel,
Arik Vega

Musical numbers

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Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominee Result
2008 Laurence Olivier Award Best New Musical Nominated[45][46]
Best Set Design Rob Howell Nominated[45][46]
Best Costume Design Nominated[45][46]
Best Lighting Design Paul Pyant Nominated[45][46]
Best Sound Design Simon Baker Nominated[45][46]

2024 The Lord of the Rings was nominated for 15 Dora Awards in Canada, winning 7 including Outstanding New Musical "Playbill".

References

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  1. ^ "The 24th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards: Full list of winners". 11 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Chicago Shakespeare Theater: The Lord of the Rings".
  3. ^ "KevinWallace.co.uk: News".
  4. ^ "Sydney State Theater: The Lord of the Rings".
  5. ^ "Australian production of The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale bound for Crown Theatre Perth in 2025".
  6. ^ "The Lord of the Rings musical to return to UK shores ahead of European tour".
  7. ^ Swain, Marianka. "Inside the disastrous Lord of the Rings musical that crippled its cast". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 August 2023. What could go wrong? Well, everything. The show... closed after less than six months – a failure both commercially (not recouping its budget) and critically. A coolly devastating Variety review branded it "a saga of short people burdened by power jewelry", while the Toronto Star's Richard Ouzounian said he was "bored of the Rings", and the Telegraph's Charles Spencer cried: "It should come with an elf warning!
  8. ^ "Mixed reviews for 'Lord of the Rings' musical". CBC. 25 March 2006. Archived from the original on 6 June 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  9. ^ "No screaming pop-opera here". Financial Post. 1 April 2006. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  10. ^ Nestruck, J. Kelly (24 March 2006). "Middle-earth takes center stage: A 'Lord of the Rings' musical actually works. Who knew?". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  11. ^ Corliss, Richard (20 March 2006). "The Ring Sings (p. 1)". Time Magazine. Archived from the original on 3 September 2010. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  12. ^ Corliss, Richard (20 March 2006). "The Ring Sings (p. 4)". Time Magazine. Archived from the original on 19 June 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  13. ^ Brantley, Ben (24 March 2006). "Tolkien's 'Lord of the Rings,' Staged by Matthew Warchus in Toronto". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  14. ^ Different sources have put the cost of the production as anywhere between £7 million and £25 million. The confusion seems to come from conversions to and from US dollars.
  15. ^ "Olivier awards 2008: nominations in full". The Guardian. 7 February 2008. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  16. ^ "Shortslists Announced in the Eighth Annual WhatsOnStage.com Theatregoers' Choice Awards". whatsonstage.com. Bandwidth Communications Ltd. 7 December 2007. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  17. ^ "£12m Lord of the Rings Sets Closing Date, 19 Jul". whatsonstage.com. Whats on Stage. 14 March 2008. Archived from the original on 9 February 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  18. ^ "Lord of the Rings musical to close". metro.co.uk. Metro. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  19. ^ The Times review, "The Lord of the Rings", 20 June 2007[dead link]
  20. ^ Billington, Michael (19 June 2007). "Guardian review, "The Lord of the Rings"". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  21. ^ https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/the-lord-of-the-rings-review-at-theatre-royal-drury-lane-london
  22. ^ a b c Rajan, Amol (15 March 2008). "Lord of the Rings musical to close after bad reviews". The Independent.
  23. ^ "The fastest West End Flops – in pictures". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  24. ^ Clapp, Susannah (23 June 2007). "A hobbit that's easy to kick". The Observer. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  25. ^ Rahman, A. R. (2008). The Lord of the Rings Original London Production. Kevin Wallace Music. LOTR 1001.
  26. ^ Hetrick, Adam (11 November 2013). "Lord of the Rings Musical Will Embark On 2015 World Tour". Playbill.
  27. ^ "The Lord of the Rings - An Epic Stage Adventure - World Tour Premiere 2015". www.lotr.com. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  28. ^ "The Lord of the Rings musical to be revived in 'semi-immersive' production this summer". Whatsonstage. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  29. ^ Wild, Stephi. "Immersive THE LORD OF THE RINGS Musical Will Open in the UK This Summer". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  30. ^ "'Lord Of The Rings' Musical Co-Created By 'Matilda' Director Matthew Warchus Headed For Immersive Open-Air Performance In UK". Deadline. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  31. ^ "Watermill Theatre's The Lord of the Rings to stage American premiere". Whatsonstage. 9 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  32. ^ "'The Lord Of The Rings' UK Musical Sets Chicago U.S. Premiere". Deadline. 9 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  33. ^ "The Lord of the Rings musical to open in New Zealand". Whatsonstage. 9 July 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  34. ^ "Sydney Season January 2025". kevinwallace.com. 14 August 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  35. ^ Russel, Gary (2007). The Lord of the Rings: The Official Stage Companion. HarperCollins.
  36. ^ "Precious News! Tony Award Winner Will Play Gandalf in Lord of the Rings Musical; Cast Announced". playbill.com. Playbill. 25 July 2005. Archived from the original on 31 January 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  37. ^ "Malcolm Storry Headlines London's The Lord of the Rings; Full Cast Announced". broadway.com. Broadway World. 16 January 2007. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  38. ^ "The Lord of the Rings cast announced". londontheatredirect.com. London Theatre Direct. 15 January 2007. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  39. ^ "Cast – for the final performances at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane". lotr.com. Lord of the Rings (musical). Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  40. ^ "THE LORD OF THE RINGS". www.watermill.org.uk. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  41. ^ "THE LORD OF THE RINGS". Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  42. ^ "The Lord of the Rings". Chicago Shakespeare Theater. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  43. ^ a b c d Russel, Gary (2007). The Lord of the Rings: The Official Stage Companion. HarperColinsPublishers. p. 157.
  44. ^ Russel, Gary (2007). The Lord of the Rings: The Official Stage Companion. HarperColinsPublishers. pp. 157–158.
  45. ^ a b c d e "Olivier awards 2008: nominations in full". guardian.co.uk. The Guardian. 7 February 2008. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  46. ^ a b c d e "Olivier Awards 2008". olivierawards.com. Laurence Olivier Award. Archived from the original on 20 November 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
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