Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Tickets for NYMF performances of Fellowship!

Tickets for NYMF performances of Fellowship! Go on sale to the public Sept. 1st,
However we can get you advance tickets that are cheaper!
Fellowship! the Musical Parody of "Fellowship of the Ring"
at American Theatre of Actors (Chernuchin) 314 West 54th Street (between 8th and 9th)


Click here to submit ticket request via email




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Price - $20.85 each
Dates and times:

Thursday, Oct 7th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
Friday, Oct 8th, 2010 at 10:30 pm
Sunday, Oct 10th, 2010 at 9:00 pm
Wednesday, Oct 13th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
Saturday, Oct 16th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
Sunday, Oct 17th, 2010 at 1:00 pm

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Lord of the Rings Online Free to Play Starts September 10th


AS FIRST REPORTED ON LOTROREPORTER.COM


by Chris "Almazar" Perry


"Today Turbine announced that the Free-to-Play transition will occur on September 10th. This is much sooner than most of us expected (me included!) and I’m quite excited to see this major change to the game take place. I think that my biggest excitment is for the fact that we will not have to wait long to see how the game that we all play and love will be changed by this new business model. We’ve all heard the “the sky is falling” comments about the influx of new players, and also the “nothing is going to change” comments that seem to ignore that the game is evolving at all. My thought, as I’ve stated before, is that yes, things are going to change. How? Most likely for the better or very little. The only thing that is certain is that the game will be different…..somehow.

I’m also excited because this means that all of the game mechanics (Instance Join, Class Change, Plugins, etc) and the new content (Enedwaith) will be in game in just a few weeks!

I’m very impressed with the efficiency with which Turbine has gone through this Beta. Remember, the Beta only launched in June, and we’re already going live in September! That’s wonderfull when you compare it to the much longer drought that DDO had during their transition to Free to Play.

To quote Kate Paiz, Executive Producer of LOTRO, in Turbine’s Official Announcement:

“Our LOTRO beta program has been a huge success and we want to thank all of our players who worked with us to get the game ready for launch. Our unique pricing model has revolutionized the industry and starting in September, players will be able to choose how they pay for and play one of the world’s best online games and we can’t wait to welcome millions of new players to Middle-earth!”

View the official Press Release here.

For those of you who have not been following the news about LOTRO’s Free-To-Play transition, take a look at the Free-To-Play category for more columns on this topic. What do you think about this date? Have you been in the beta and feel that the game is ready? Almost ready? Not even close? Comment and let us know!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Fellowship! the musical parody of "The Fellowship of the Ring"

FELLOWSHIP! IS COMING TO NEW YORK!!!

The award-winning musical parody of The Fellowship of the Ring hits the Manhattan stage as part of the New York Musical Festival.

Six performances only - starting Oct. 7th and ending Oct. 17th.

Thursday, Oct 7th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
Friday, Oct 8th, 2010 at 10:30 pm
Sunday, Oct 10th, 2010 at 9:00 pm
Wednesday, Oct 13th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
Saturday, Oct 16th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
Sunday, Oct 17th, 2010 at 1:00 pm

There are two ways to GET TICKETS:

1) Get tickets now by purchasing a membership to the festival.

2) Buy tickets when they go on sale to the public on Sept. 1st.

Get your tickets before they're gone!!

Now your quest is to forward this to all of Middle Earth (especially anyone you know on the East Coast) and help the world discover just how hilarious one little hobbit's adventure can be!


The Full Cast of Fellowship!

(Front Row) Edi Patterson, Ryan Smith,

(Middle Row) Peter Allen Vogt, Cory Rouse,

Steve Purnick, Lisa Fredrickson,

(Back Row) Kelly Holden-Bashar, Brian D. Bradley,

Matthew Stephen Young.

PHOTO CREDIT: Blake Gardner, 2005
ABOUT FELLOWSHIP!
In 2004, Kelly Holden-Bashar and Joel McCrary had the crazy idea to attempt the impossible: Make a parody musical of The Lord of the Rings... or more precisely, of Tolkien's first book, The Fellowship of the Ring.


After several drafts of the book, Kelly and Joel brought in composer Allen Simpson to start work on the songs, and they soon realized that the impossible might actually be within their grasp. They assembled the cast from some of the funniest and most talented actors and improvisers in Los Angeles. The original cast was also instrumental in helping to develop the book and all of the songs.

Six years later, after numerous awards and sold-out runs at the historic El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood, The Met in Hollywood, The Lyceum Theatre in San Diego and most recently, 2009's hugely successful run at Garry Marshall's Falcon Theatre in Burbank, Fellowship! is still going strong!

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Tolkien Fandom Review: From its beginnings to 1964

Tolkien Fandom Review:
From Its Beginnings to 1964
by Sumner Gary Hunnewell
(Hildifons Took)
2010 The New England Tolkien Society

Since meeting with the Mythopoeic Society's keeper of the Golfimbul head and gear, S. Gary Hunnewell sometime ago we have been fascinated in all things Tolkien fandom.  When founding our society we were very much aware of the early New York Tolkien Society founded Richard "Dick" Plotz.  Plotz as you know is cited on several occasions throughout the Letters of JRR Tolkien.  With many thanks to Gary Hunnewell we have in our possession some early fanzines from that era, and perhaps for another feature we will discuss the later societies of the New York/Northeast US Areas. 
However, we recently received Gary's latest publication on Tolkien Fandom and it is a brilliant look at early fandom.  Gary provides a short overview of fandom up until 1964, and admits that this volume is by no means exhaustive as "most fanzines were created in limited quantities and are difficult to track down." (pg. 2)

One note we admired is "Lest anyone thing there is anything new under the sun, these are Tolkien fandom firsts during this time," (pg.2)

  • A film treatment of The Lord of the Rings

  • The Silmarillion is almost ready to be published

  • Possible homosexual overtones in The Lord of the Rings

  • Tolkien based filksong, story and poetry

  • Tolkien and racism

  • Human-elf interbreeding

  • Origin of the Orcs

  • Tolkien's literary predecessors/sources (Beowulf, The Elder Edda)

  • The Lord of the Rings is not a trilogy
If you do not know already, Gary has a growing collection at Marquette University where numerous Tolkien manuscripts and collections are housed.  Click here to view the S. GARY HUNNEWELL COLLECTION, 1960-

If you are member of one or numerous Tolkien Societies then you may recognize a number of the periodicals listed . Our very own Parma Nole Journal is also a part of the collection.

While in the New England area a few years ago, founding chairman of the German Tolkien Society, Marcel R. Bülles  conducted this interview with .S. Gary Hunnewell for us.  They of course discussed all things Tolkien,  fandom, and Gary's collection of fanzines

3rd Conference on Middle Earth

26 March 2011, Westford, MA, USA
Call For Papers


Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo!

The 3rd Conference On Middle-earth solicits papers, paper proposals, and panel proposals from scholars interested in any aspect of The Worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien.

Topics: J.R.R. Tolkien, his works, works based on Tolkien and his works, criticism, teaching Tolkien in the classroom, the books’ impact on oneself and/or the world, the films and the film industry, the music, the art, the fannish side of this universe and its impact, and anything you can imagine on topic

Only members of C.O.M.E. will be able to present and participate. Once papers and proposals have been accepted, the presenter/panelist will need to immediately join the conference, if they are not already members. If a presenter can not be present, then it will be possible for the paper to be read for them. However, as indicated, they must be members of The 3rd Conference On Middle-earth.

Paper Proposal: Please email a 250 word abstract (Maximum reading time for the finished paper is 20 minutes, tho it can be less.) including the presentation title, your name, mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address. The receipt of proposal will be confirmed by e-mail.

Panel Proposal: Please email the panel name and a 250 word abstract. Please include the panel title, the panel chair (who may be one of the presenters), mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address of each presenter. The receipt of proposal will be confirmed by e-mail.

E-Mail Submissions To: programming@3rdcome.org

Submissions: The 3rd Conference On Middle-earth will accept submissions beginning Friday, 25 March 2010, FA, up to Tuesday, 2 November 2010, FA. Participation is limited. Submissions may close early.

NOTE: Confirmation of receipt of submissions does not guarantee acceptance for presentation.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Summer Harvest Picnic One Week Away!

Summer Harvest Picnic



Sunday, August 15th 2010
1pm-5pm

The Conference House Great Lawn
298 Satterlee St.
Staten Island, NY 10307

How to find us upon entering the park
"Anthony and Jessica will be clearly visible on Great Lawn, walk into park area and look toward middle of lawn"

We are pleased to announce our Summer picnic upon the Great Lawn of the Historic Conference House!

Visit the Conference House Online for directions and travel info at:
http://www.conferencehouse.org/

All are welcome, please bring your own basket of goodies to share with your friends, family, plus if you wish any specialties you wish to share with fellow attendees.

The chairs, Anthony and Jessica, will be there 1pm sharp to welcome you all.

There is plenty of local public transportation, and is very easily accessible via public transportation, or car.

We plan on discussing all thing Tolkien, news of The Hobbit film, read from the works of Tolkien, and have a grand ol end of Summer blast! Plus announce our fall gatherings!

We may even have a raffle or two!

If you plan on attending and wish further travel information feel free to email Anthony and Jessica

HerenIstarionNETS@gmail.com