One ring to rule them all - and it's starting in Toronto. David and Ed Mirvish are expected to announce at a news conference today that Toronto will host the world premiere of The Lord of the Rings, the $27-million stage musical based on J.R.R. Tolkien's world-famous trilogy.

The plan is to open the show at Toronto's Princess of Wales Theatre with a largely Canadian cast on March 23, 2006. This coincides with 70th anniversary of Tolkien’s writing the epic novel, and 50th anniversary of the first publication.

The Mirvishes will be joining forces with producers Kevin Wallace, Saul Zaentz and Michael Cohl to stage the musical. Wallace confirmed the news yesterday in London.

A report by The Associated Press said Wallace had hoped to open the show in London in the fall, but no theatre large enough to accommodate the technically complex production was available. The musical is now slated to open in London in autumn 2006.

Despite worldwide buzz over the selection of Toronto for the premiere (the musical is also scheduled to debut in London in fall 2006) and hopes that Rings will revive the city's flagging tourism scene, some worry that the enormity of the production may lead to financial challenges.

Rehearsals are scheduled to begin Oct. 24, with the first preview scheduled for Feb. 2, 2006. 

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