On March 16, 2005, Toronto Empressario DAVID MIRVISH announced that the world premiere of the stage adaptation of THE LORD OF THE RINGS would begin at the PRINCESS OF WALES Theatre in Toronto on Feb. 2, 2006.

An acclaimed international creative team has combined all the books of the trilogy into one unmissable theatrical event. With a thrilling score, a spectacular design and an ensemble of over 65 actors, singers, and musicians, the stage adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s THE LORD OF THE RINGS is the biggest and most ambitious theatrical production ever staged…and Toronto sees it first!

The cost is $27,000,000.00!

THE LORD OF THE RINGS is directed by Matthew Warchus, with books and lyrics by Shaun McKenna and Matthew Warchus. Music for the production is composed by A.R. Rahman and the contemporary Finnish group Vartinna, collaborating with Christopher Nightingale (musical supervisor), Peter Darliong (choreographer), Simon Baker (sound designer), and Paul Kieve (illusions director).

“What we have is a beautiful and spectacular adaptation to Tolkien’s epic that in word, music, design and performance honours the original trilogy in its imagination, scale and insight. THE LORD OF THE RINGS is one of the great stories of the last century, and not surprisingly it will take is three hours of stage time to perform our version of all three books – three unforgettable, extraordinary hours in Middle-Earth for audiences of all ages”, says producer Kevin Wallace. “We will be presenting a hybrid of Text, Physical Theatre, Music and Spectacle never previously seen on this scale.” “To read the novel is to experience the events of Middle-Earth in the mind’s eye; to watch the films is to view Middle-Earth as though through a giant window. Only in Theatre are we actually plunged into the events as they happen, the environment surrounds us – we participate, we are in Middle-Earth.”

THE LORD OF THE RINGS will be the cornerstone show of the Mirvish Theatre 2005-2006 Subscription Season and the Mirvish season subscribers will have exclusive access to tickets until May 15. Single tickets go on sale via www.lotr.com. Phone sales and in person sales at the theatre box office will also begin on May 15. The official website – www.lotr.com – will broadcast all casting and ticketing news about the new production. Casting will start immediately and auditions will be held in major cities across Canada.

No expense was spared by the promoters at a lavish $300, 000 media conference to reveal the news - $90,000 went to fly in 30 people for the event.

Even before the news was out, governments were lining up to defray the show’s $27 million cost. Together, the city, Provincial and Federal governments are expected to contribute upward of $9 million. The city will kick in $3 million. Money generated by a tax tourists pay on city hotel rooms – to help market the show. The province has pledged a $3 million loan and the federal government will ante up to $3 million more.

Meanwhile, the technicians union has agreed to concessions on overtime, while actors union will allow five roles to be performed by non-Canadians.

The debate on whether tax payer money should be used to prop up LORD OF THE RINGS stage show has elicited a wave of e-mails.

Toronto has been handed a guaranteed-winner instant lottery ticket. It’s the no-money down, $400 million- cash- injection-into-the-economy deal. It’s jobs, jobs and more hobs- 65 on stage, 370 in the rest of the theatre. It’s spillovers to hotels, restaurants and stores. It’s the first ever premiere of a major theatrical show in Canada, and it’s an almost guaranteed blockbuster.

It’s Toronto in the spotlight for all the right reasons.

Already the announcement of the stage adaptation has made its way into 160 publications worldwide, from USA Today, to Britain’s Guardian, from the Buenos Aires Herald to The Australian. For the first time since SARS, Toronto’s star shone on CNN. You can’t buy that publicity. The city’s no-cash investment is already paying off.

Toronto is set to become Middle-Earth to LORD OF THE RINGS fanatics and groupies who want to attach their cart to the next big thing. For the first nine months, Toronto will be the only place in the world where you can see this show. For the first 18 months, we have North American exclusivity for it.

Theatre goers will fly to Toronto for the show from all over the world!

THE LORD OF THE RINGS is gold for this city.