As it turns out, the creators of the new theatrical stage version of the fantasy novels by J.R.R. Tolkien aren't calling their planned $27 million, three-hour epic "a musical" at all. Recent press and marketing materials from the producers refer to the show as a "theatrical event" and an "epic" - never a musical.

Nevertheless, media outlets, including Playbill.com, The Toronto Star, The New York Times and others, have characterized the show as a musical in recent months. As early as 2003, when The Lord of the Rings was announced as aiming for London in 2005, Playbill.com reported that the work was a "musical." (A separate production in London is now a late 2006 goal, following at least nine months at Toronto's Princess of Wales Theatre, where it world-premieres Feb. 2, 2006. Toronto is an open-ended run.)

"The creators of The Lord of the Rings feel that the show is technically a play with music," the show's U.S. press rep, Adrian Bryan-Brown told Playbill.com following a July 25 story about casting for the "musical" The Lord of the Rings.

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