When the lord of the rings tried out in Toronto...

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 12:12am

Was the cast on British Equity contracts/rules or AEA contracts/rules?

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 6:37am

I believe that the show was preformed with an all Canadian cast (if not all then at least a very high percentage.) If that's the case than they were under whatever contracts are used in Canadian productions. 

 

[spikethebunny]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 7:59am

Islander_fan said: "I believe that the show was preformed with an all Canadian cast (if not all then at least a very high percentage.) If that's the case than they were under whatever contracts are used in Canadian productions. 

 

 

"

This is correct. It was a Canadian cast, and were under the Canadian Actor's Equity contracts.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 8:01am

So when they transferred to the west end did they replace the cast with an all British cast?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 8:03am

deleted: I was distracted and before I hit "post" others answered the question.

 

You have to become members of the presiding union where you are performing.  America, West End, Canada.

Updated On: 6/21/16 at 08:03 AM

[spikethebunny]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 8:10am

Call_me_jorge said: "So when they transferred to the west end did they replace the cast with an all British cast?

 

"

Yes, though I believe a few cast members from the Canadian cast went to the West End with it. Like I know Michael Therriault (who played Gollum) also played the part in London.

That being said, a couple members of the "Canadian" cast were British (but were allowed to perform under Canadian Actor's Equity in Canada) and went back with the show (like James Loyce, who played Frodo).

[thirtythirtyninety]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 10:56am

A friend of mine played Gimli in Toronto, and he's American, so they weren't all Canadian

[Tag]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 11:43am

The Toronto cast was pretty much a who's who of Canadian theatre talent.  (including Chilina Kennedy in the ensemble!)

You can see a good cast breakdown on the Wikipedia page.  It looks like 4 Toronto cast members continued onto the West End.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 11:55am

Was the Toronto production a sit-down or was it a try-out?

[Tag]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 11:57am

Sit-down.  Although it didn't last long! 

[Jallenc32]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 1:25pm

Tag said: "Sit-down.  Although it didn't last long! 

 

"

It seemed to last forever while I was sitting in the theater though.  To quote the Lady of the Lake, "it seems to me they've really lost the plot!"

[spikethebunny]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 1:29pm

Jallenc32 said: "Tag said: "Sit-down.  Although it didn't last long! 

 

"

It seemed to last forever while I was sitting in the theater though.  To quote the Lady of the Lake, "it seems to me they've really lost the plot!"

 

"

I made the mistake of seeing the very first preview, and all the tech kept acting up. I do believe we were there over 5 hours. But they did give us free drinks...

[Jallenc32]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 1:35pm

I saw it a couple weeks into previews and it was still a little over 4 hours.  I'm glad I saw it, but I could never recommend it.