Lord of the Rings Musical Coming Spring 2005

"The Lord of the Rings", the first major stage musical adaptation of JRR Tolkien's classic trilogy, will receive its World Premiere when it opens in London in Spring 2005. This coincides with the 50th anniversary of the publication of the complete trilogy, "The Fellowship of the Ring", "The Two Towers" and "The Return of the King".

The Ģ8 million production has book and lyrics by Shaun McKenna and music by Stephen Keeling and Bernd Stromberger. McKenna & Keeling were the team responsible for the critically acclaimed West End musical "Maddie".

Award-winning Matthew Warchus will direct. His recent credits include the London musicals "Tell Me On A Sunday" and "Our House", and the Yasmina Reza plays "Life x 3", "The Unexpected Man" and "Art". Award-winning Rob Howell will design. His recent West End credits include "Our House", "Simply Heavenly", "The Graduate", "The Caretaker" and "Sophie's Choice" at The Royal Opera House.

The Musical Supervisor is Christopher Nightingale. Chris provided additional arrangements for "Bombay Dreams" for which he is also Musical Supervisor.

"The Lord of the Rings" will be produced by Kevin Wallace and Saul Zaentz. Kevin Wallace was in-house producer at The Really Useful Theatre Company from 1997-2001 when it produced the Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals "Whistle Down the Wind", "The Beautiful Game", "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Sunset Boulevard". In 2001 he received an International EMMY Award as executive producer of the film version of "Jesus Christ Superstar". His other London productions include the critically acclaimed "Gagarin Way" and "Eden". The legendary Saul Zaentz, whose film productions include the award-winning "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", "Amadeus", "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" and "The English Patient", was this year awarded the BAFTA 'Academy Fellowship'.

Run my fellows!
To Khazad-Dum!
(I think my death
Is coming soon)

Seriously, can you imagine the amount of narrative detail that will have to crammed into the lyrics of these things?

I propose the following line-up to augment to already impressive list of songs in the books (and Frodo's bath song is a must):

1. Why must the Shadow return?

For Gandalf and Frodo in Bag-End. A question/answer song about the history of the ring. With the ever hummable refrain - "there is evil in the world, that you cannot comprehend, desiring domination over all as its sole and ghastly end!"

2. Dropping the Eaves

A humourous song for Samwise, Merry and Pippen as they try to learn about Frodo's reason for leaving the Shire. The dimwitted trio snoop around Frodo's belongings and listen in on conversations with Gandalf, only to be frustrated by the wizened Gandalf.

The bridge for the final chorus, as Gandalf discovers Merry and Pippen:
"Peregrin Took and Meriadoc Brandybuck,
I might have known!"
"Known what? And how? And when dear sir? And what is this shadow you say has grown?"
"Ah, so you have been listening in?"
(Sam jumps out of hiding with his hedge-clippers, and he and Pippen and Merry sing the chorus)
"We ain't been eavesdropping, Gandalf sir,
We just been dropping the eaves,
It's a three man job, but it gets a bob,
We beg your pardon please!"

3. The Ring Could be Mine

A song for Saruman as he awaits the arrival of Gandalf. He realises that the Ring could indeed be his after crossing wills with Sauron in the Palantir. It is a tragic account of the falling of a great mind to evil, never to be recovered:

"A palantir is a dangerous tool,
the old grey stormcrow says,
but what does he know of the lore of kings,
of the finding and keeping of precious rings
And the will to grapple with Sauron?

Not a wit, I say, not a wit,
Why should I fear to use it?
..."

And many more, including:

4. Alive without Breath (Nazgul song)
5. As Cold as Death (with the refrain: "Frodo's been stabbed")
6. The Heirs of Isilduir/ I need no King
7. I'm really short, and you're really not! (Legolas meets Gimli)
8. The Ring Should be Mine (Saruman)
9. The Ring Must be Destroyed (Coucil of Elrond)
10. The Road Song (to break the tension)
11. The Ring Would be Mine (Saruman)

Very nice, Camillu. But surely the Balrog would need his own voice?

Legolas:
Ai! ai!
A Balrog!
A Balrog is come!

Balrog:
(roars)

Gandalf:
What an evil fortune!
And I am already weary.

Balrog:
(roars)

Gandalf:
Fly!
This is a foe
beyond any of you!
Fly!

Balrog:
For centuries I've been awake
until the dwarves awoke me.

Gandalf:
I am a servant of the Secret Fire,
wielder of the flame of Anor.
You cannot pass.

Balrog:
I'm all shadow and flame,
I'm Durin's Bane.

Gandalf:
The dark fire will not avail you,
flame of Udûn.
You cannot pass.

Balrog:
You will not escape
My fiery blade.

Gandalf:
Go back to the Shadow!
You cannot pass.

Balrog:
(steps on the bridge)

Aragorn:
He cannot stand alone!
Elendil!
I am with you, Gandalf!

Boromir:
Gondor!

Gandalf:
(cries and breaks the bridge with his staff)

Balrog:
Oh no,
I didn't see that coming.
I'm falling
And you with me!
(Swings his whip)

Gandalf:
(drops into the chasm)
Fly, you fools!

1. The Elf song

"Frodo of the nine fingers,
And the Ring of Doom,
Why does he have nine fingers,
Where is the Ring of Doom?"

2. The Orc Marching Song

"Where there's a whip,
There is a way,
Where there's a whip,
There is a way,
Where there's a whip,
We don't want to go to war today,
But the lord of the lash ....,
We're gonna march all day all day all day,
Oh, where there's a whip there's a way..."

3. The Song of Mordor

"Win the battle, lose the war,
Choice of evil lies before your feet,
Defeat! Defeat! Defeat!
You are standing in the eye of the storm,
Move an inch, and you'll be dead!
You are standing underneath,
The towers of the Teeth,
And the eye of despair!"

4. Frodo's Song

"It's so easy not to try,
Let the world go drifting by,
If you never say hello,
You won't have to say goodbye."

5. Hail the Ringbearer

I can't remember how this one goes.

quote:

---

Originally posted by jonathan_little:
Darn, I was hoping this thread would contain a link to more MP3s from Jon and Al Kaplan.

---

LMAO, jonathan...I was thinking the same thing! If anyone could do this "justice," it would surely be the Kaplan brothers!
CAT

My name is Sam
I'm somewhat fat.
I'm brave and loyal
And all that.

My favourite food
Is chopped-up coneys,
And in the book,
I'm fond of ponies.

For garden weeding,
I'm the best.
But Gandalf sent me
On this 'quest'.

***

That Gollum is
One freaky dude
He crawls around
Completely nude!

He's thin and green
His hair is wrong
And he throws tantrums
All day long.

But when he's yelling
I don't panic
Cos I suspect
He's schizophrenic!

_____________