The Lord of the Rings to Open at London's Drury Lane on June 19, 2007

The musical version of The Lord of the Rings, which debuted in Toronto on March 23, 2006, has confirmed its London engagement. The mammoth musical will begin performances at Theatre Royal Drury Lane on May 9, 2007and officially open on June 19, 2007.

The Lord of the Rings, which is based on the popular books by J.R.R. Tolkien, features music by composer A.R. Rahman Bombay Dreams and Finland's contemporary folk group Värttinä with Christopher Nightingale and book and lyrics by Shaun McKenna and Matthew Warchus who also serves as director. Set and costume designer Rob Howell and choreographer Peter Darling are also on board. The production follows the 70th anniversary of Tolkien starting to write the trilogy and the 50th anniversary of the publication of the complete trilogy, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King.

"We have not attempted to pull the novel towards the standard conventions of musical theatre, but rather to expand those conventions so that they will accommodate Tolkien's material," Warchus said in a statement. "As a result, 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; only in the theatre are we actually plunged into the events as they happen. The environment surrounds us. We participate. We are in Middle Earth."

The musical made its world premiere at Toronto's Princess of Wales Theatre, where it was reviewed by critics from across the globe with mixed results. It was originally expected to make its London debut at the Dominion Theatre after current Dominion tenant, We Will Rock You, posted a closing notice, but the Queen musical stayed alive forcing The Lord of the Rings to consider other venues. The Theatre Royal Drury Lane is currently home to The Producers, which as we previously reported will close on January 6, 2007.

The Lord of the Rings, which features a 50-strong cast and costly technical wizardry, will reportedly cost £12.5 million over $23 million, making it the most expensive venture ever produced in the West End.