We Will Rock You to end Toronto run, tour Canada

The final performance in Toronto of the musical We Will Rock You will be May 11, after another extension of its run, Mirvish Productions has announced.

The popular production, set to the music of British rockers Queen, will then tour Canada, David Mirvish announced on Tuesday.

Originally set to run for seven weeks, the show has been extended numerous times, and will have played 61 weeks by the final performance.

It won a Dora for best musical last year and its success has paved the way for a slate of musicals in the Mirvish 2008-9 season that include The Sound of Music and Spring Awakening.

"The show has also introduced live theatre to many young people, making them loyal theatregoers, if we are to judge by how often many of them have been to see We Will Rock You," Mirvish said. "Many have attended a dozen or more times."
 
The show, written by Ben Elton with musical consultation from Queen guitaritst Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor, is about a group of rebellious kids fighting a powerful corporation that feeds them a diet of synthesized pop.

We Will Rock You is also playing in Switzerland, Germany, Japan and Spain, and is in its sixth year in London. 

Details of the Canadian tour aren't yet available.