PHOTO CALL: Lord of the Rings Takes Over Toronto

By Morgan Allen
March 18, 2006

The ambitious stage version of J.R.R. Tolkien’s fictional series “The Lord of the Rings” – starring Tony winner Brent Carver (Kiss of the Spider Woman) - is currently running in Toronto, with an eye toward productions in London and the United States.

Deemed by producers to be neither a musical or a play, but a theatrical spectacle, estimates make the piece the most expensive production ever conceived for the stage. Mattew Warchus (Art, True West) directs a large cast that perform music by A.R. Rahman (Bombay Dreams) and Vartinna, with a book and lyrics by Shaun McKenna and Warchus.

At left, Peter Howe (Sam) and James Loye (Frodo), as well as Carver (Gandalf) are seen in shots from the Toronto production. Below, one of the show’s Black Riders is seen above a photo from one of the scenes that take place in the well-known Helm’s Deep location from the novels.

Photos by Manuel Harlan