QUEEN's 'We Will Rock You' To Debut In Toronto In March; Tickets Go On Sale This Month

The London and international smash hit musical "We Will Rock You" makes its Canadian premiere on March 14, 2007. A unique collaboration between rock titans QUEEN and Ben Elton, "We Will Rock You" has been London’s No. 1 show since opening in May 2002. Now in its fifth year in the West End, this immensely popular show has also conquered Australia, Germany, Spain, Russia, Japan and South Africa. Already playing to over five million fans, "We Will Rock You" is on the road to becoming one of the most successful rock musicals ever. And now David and Ed Mirvish are bringing "We Will Rock You" to Toronto in a brand new Canadian production that will begin March 14, 2007 for a limited run at the Canon Theatre. Tickets go on sale Monday, November 20, 2006.

"We have been closely following 'We Will Rock You''s success in London and many other world capitals," says Canadian producer David Mirvish. "The show is a true phenomenon. Having seen it three times myself and having experienced first-hand the frenzy with which audiences react to the show, I know that, like me, Toronto audiences will go 'Ga Ga' over this popular piece of musical theatre.

"We are excited to be working with the show's original London producers and creative team, including legendary rockers Brian May and Roger Taylor and the multi-talented writer/director Ben Elton, to build a brand new Canadian production. This show will provide immense opportunities for Canadian artists and a thrilling, energetic and unforgettable night out for audiences.'

The search for the Canadian cast begins immediately. Preliminary auditions for singers and dancers will take place across the country. Open auditions will be held in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver throughout November. A new interactive web site, www.wewillrockyou.ca, will carry full audition updates as well as other news about the Canadian production. To launch the website and to encourage the public to become a part of the "We Will Rock You" community, a contest is being held to win a trip to London to see the West End production of "We Will Rock You". Log on today to enter the contest.

"We Will Rock You" tells the story of a future Earth where globalization has eliminated all creativity and idiosyncrasy. Set 300 years in the future, everyone watches the same movies, wears the same clothes and thinks the same thoughts. It's a safe and happy 'Ga Ga' world where music is computer-generated by the Killer Queen. All musical instruments are banned. But resistance is growing. A hero is needed. Is the one who calls himself Galileo that man and can he help them break free?

Produced by Robert de Niro's Tribeca Productions, QUEEN and Phil McIntyre Entertainment, "We Will Rock You" delivers a show that reflects the scale and spectacle that marked QUEEN's live performances and earned the band its pinnacle position in rock history. The collaboration between Tribeca and QUEEN reaches back to a chance encounter between band members Brian May and Roger Taylor and De Niro at the Venice Film Festival in 1996. De Niro approached May and Taylor asking if they had ever considered creating a musical based on their work. It was the genesis of the project that was to become "We Will Rock You".

When it opened in 2002, "We Will Rock You" dominated the musical categories in London Theatregoers' Choice Awards presented by whatsonstage.com, the only London theatre awards decided by the public and voted by over 16,000 theatregoers. "We Will Rock You" swept the Awards, winning each of the five categories in which it was nominated: Best New Musical, Best Actor in a Musical, Best Actress in a Musical, Best Supporting Actress in a Musical, as well as Best Director. In addition, when London's top radio station introduced their own listener awards, "We Will Rock You" was voted the Best Performance of the Year. The only musical to be nominated in the category, "We Will Rock You" triumphed against competition that included live concert performances by Paul McCartney and Robbie Williams.

"We Will Rock You" brings together a production and design team behind some of the biggest international theatre productions and rock tours. "We Will Rock You" is written and directed by acclaimed novelist and TV scriptwriter Ben Elton and features 32 of QUEEN's greatest hits. Elton previously collaborated with Andrew Lloyd Webber on the West End musical "The Beautiful Game" and won an Olivier Award for his play "Popcorn" that ran in the West End for two years.

While "We Will Rock You" continues to rock London, the rest of the world has followed with productions in Australia, Germany — with a second production opening this December in Zurich — Spain, Russia, Japan and South Africa. Globally, an audience of more than five million has now seen the show.