"Lord of the Rings" Musical makes $3 million in advance sales

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 4:10pm

From BWW News Desk:

"With over $3.15 million in ticket sales, Toronto's Lord of the Rings musical is shaping into the box office behemoth it was expected to be.

Yesterday, The Lord of the Rings added almost $800,000 in internet ticket sales to $2.37 million in advance group sales. Before the box office officially opened this morning at 9 AM, the number of tickets sold had reached the 40,000 mark, according to The Toronto Star. With 9 months until the show's opening date, it is anyone's guess as to just how many millions the megamusical will pull in.

The $21.3 million, 3-and-a half-hour musical condensation of Tolkien's hobbits-and-elves trilogy is directed by Matthew Warchus. The Lord of the Rings also features music by A.R. Rahman (along with the Finnish group Varrtina), and the book and lyrics are by Shaun McKenna. Rob Howell’s elaborate sets will feature 'three interconnected turntables containing 16 elevators;' he will also design the costumes. The creative team spent 4 years developing the show. Simon Baker (sound), The Gray Circle (moving image design), Paul Kieve (illusions direction), Laurie Battle (Tolkien creative consultation), and Christopher Nightingale (musical supervision) comprise the rest of the production staff."

WOW. That's just Toronto. I can't imagine how fierce advance sales in NY will be.


http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=3247

[Plum]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 4:11pm

*sigh* Proving the mysterious allure of that godawful story extends to any medium.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 4:18pm

shakalaka frodo! shakalaka frodo! this is how it's really meant to be! shakalaka frodo! shakalaka frodo! come and shakalaka with me!

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 4:19pm

CATS, I think I just peed myself laughing.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 4:25pm

aww... I don't care what anyone says I loved bombay dreams. yes! I'm coming out! (again). I loved it...

[Plum]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 4:27pm

*claps*

That was great. :)

[teth]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 4:51pm

I think it'll all depend on how good the musical is itself. I bet lots of people would go in expecting elements and music from the films.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 7:50pm

when's it open in NYC? It would suck if none of the big theaters are open for it when it comes.

EDIT: or is it going to London first?
Updated On: 5/17/05 at 07:50 PM

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 8:38pm

*sigh* Proving the mysterious allure of that godawful story extends to any medium.

That's rather unfair. LORD OF THE RING's story is very much in keeping with the fine tradition of Norse myth and European romantic narrative.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 8:55pm

coincidentally, so is bombay dreams....

[Plum]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 9:58pm

BlueWizard, I honest to goodness wanted to like those stories, I did. But as I've described in agonizing detail before, I found them so unbelievably tedious I couldn't finish one Tolkien book except The Hobbit. I understand that Tolkien has importance in literary history, but how those books managed to spawn modern fantasy except in the most superficial sense sometimes really puzzles me.

Yes, he's just like those old Nordic stories- but he was a few hundred years too late. I read Beowulf in Old English and found it more interesting.

[loudasthehelliwant]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 11:12pm

Everyone's entitled to their opinion of the stories. Personally, I just can't read The Fellowship of the Ring. I immensely enjoyed The Two Towers and Return of the King- but I never actually finished the Felloship. I just... can't. I love the LOTR movies, and enjoy the books (except the fellowship!), and find the stories fascinating and interesting. That being said...

OMG! WHY? WHY A MUSICAL?!?!?! WHY?!?!?!? This isn't a story that should be put to music. It just shouldn't. I really do not expect this musical to go anywhere. Its not like, say, Spamalot which relies on a certain type of humor. Thie is LOTR, it relies on mythology (and the intricate details that really close fans are obsessed with! Omit anything- and you MUST if your going to make a musical- and people throw hissy fits). *is disgusted w/this show and the fact that anyone actually wants to see it*

And Beowulf's pretty good. Especially the Seamus Heaney edition (not old English... though it has the original text stuff on one side and the modern English on the other... the original text in like ancient English is as fascinating as elf runes!).

Updated On: 5/17/05 at 11:12 PM

[Phantom05]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 11:25pm

BREATHE........

....Geeez people, the show hasn't even opened yet! I am extremely excited about this production, I think it will be really wonderful. For those who have already begun to downtalk and criticize the show, ONE MORE TIME, wait until you see it before you open your mouth and let the criticism flow! If you would research the production that they're mounting in Canada, they are giving every consideration to detail. The design elements of the show, that I have seen, are gorgeous and they really seem to be going for a very organic and natural feel. In terms of the music, this isn't ordinary musical theatre. I encourage you to look up Varttina, as well as A.R. Rahman. The pairing of these two musical styles, especially Varttina, will definitely create a sound unlike any other! I'm seriously saying don't worry, I'm expecting great things from these creators, they are all extremely talented! I myself am looking forward to it!!!

Later!

Phantom05

[Plum]

Posted: 5/18/05 at 12:05am

Puh-lease. You think they intend to make back their enormous investment with the ticket purchases of Tolkien's fanatic cult? No way. If things work the way they're supposed to, it'll be people who read the books years ago and/or loved the movies- a much larger group- who hold up the show.

[rockfenris2005]

Posted: 5/18/05 at 6:08am

Trust me, if it's a stinker out of town
It will never rack that much on Broadway

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 5/18/05 at 11:12am

Do I smell a flop?

[mikewood]

Posted: 5/18/05 at 11:19am

Can't see myself buying a ticket to that.

Not judging it, just anticipating my reaction as a consumer.

Updated On: 5/18/05 at 11:19 AM

[bjivie2]

Posted: 5/18/05 at 12:18pm

The only way the show will sell well is if the Toronto run receives good reviews and word of mouth. If it opens to horrible reviews (which I think is a distinct possibility), then it probably won't even make it to New York.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/18/05 at 12:28pm

Good Lord people!

It's a new show, give it the support it's entitled to. No one knows much about it yet, except those working on it, and what little has been seen online.

Give it a chance.

MEOW!

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 5/18/05 at 1:16pm

Well, count me among the legions of people who thank TOlkien every day for the advent of modern fantasy. Unfortunately, most modern fantasy barely comes close to the scope of Tolkien's work (although many times people have equaled it).
That said, I loved the Ralph Bakshi animated film (originally designed to have a sequel) AND Peter Jackson's trilogy, key moments dismissed or not (I will never forgive both Bakshi and JAckson for failing to include my two favorite characters in all of Tolkien's works: Glorfindel and Tom Bombadil).
I don't expect this to be an amazing show...but will I buy a ticket if it comes to NYC? You're darn tootin', if for nothing else than to see a possible new Carrie.
But I'm hoping they manage to get it right somehow.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 5/18/05 at 1:48pm

The problem is that it ISN'T a new show.

Hardly anything these days is NEW. What happened to ORIGINAL plot-lines? Why do we need musicals based on books or movies OR BOTH, for God's sake?

3 out of 4 best musical nominees this year have unoriginal plotlines.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 5/18/05 at 3:35pm

iluvtheatretrash, most musicals that were written have been based on something. Whether they be books, movies, or other plays. It is rare that a show is built up from scratch.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/18/05 at 3:54pm

good lord. we need to make a BWW FAQ somewhere and have number one be the fact that original musicals are the exception and not the rule. most musicals are based on some kind of preexisting entertainment. whether it be a movie, novel, play, TV-show, radio, comic strip, tabloid article ... whatever... musicals like "Urinetown" that are completely original conceptions for the stage are a rarity... to consider yourself a fan of musical theatre and not be aware of this is rather unobservant...

no one was complaining in 1943 when Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical OKLAHOMA! premiered on Broadway based on the preexisting play "Green Grow The Lilacs" by Lynn Riggs. and no one complained six years later when, again, they mounted yet another musical this time based on the book "Tales of the South Pacific" by James A. Michener. and for sure no one had anything bad to say in 1956 when Lerner and Loewe's MY FAIR LADY opened on Broadway based on another preexisting play "Pygmalion" by George Bernard Shaw and contained additional material from the film version of "Pygmalion" by Gabriel Pascal...

although, had the internet been available, maybe they would have complained. just remember how much you hate unoriginal material the next time you watch another movie remake of "Man on Fire", "House of Wax" or "The Parent Trap" ... Updated On: 5/18/05 at 03:54 PM