Jennings Walks in McKellen’s Gandalf Shoes???
Date: 21 March 2005
The Lord of the Rings may now be premiering first in Canada, but there’s still plenty of British talent involved. London-based producer
Kevin Wallace says that he and director
Matthew Warchus (also British) are recruiting a “hybrid” company that features experienced classical actors as well as physical theatre performers and singers. The line-up for a final London workshop, starting this week, gives an indication of the kind of actors Wallace means. Multiple Olivier winner
Alex Jennings plays wizard Gandalf with his former
My Fair Lady co-star
Malcolm Sinclair as his nemesis Saruman, parts played by
Ian McKellen and Christopher Lee in Peter Jackson’s award-winning screen versions of JRR Tolkien’s trilogy. Casting is now under way for the musical’s premiere production, which opens in March 2006 in Toronto. However, if they’re unable to fill the 50-strong company from the local casting pool, the producers have an agreement with Canadian Equity that gives them a window during which they can hire British actors where necessary.
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