FredO writes: I wanted to give you and your readers some advance notice about ticket sales for “The Lord Of The Rings Symphony” here in Pittsburgh, PA for July 22 & 23, 2005. Tickets will go on sale via the internet at the Pittsburgh Symphony web site, pittsburghsymphony.org and at the box office (phone 412-392-4900 or toll free at 1-800-743-8560) on Monday, March 28, 2005 at 9:00AM. Ticket prices are $75.00, $43.50 and $19.50.

All 3 performances last year in Pittsburgh were sold out! This year the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will be conducted by John Mauceri (johnmauceri.com) as he leads more than 200 musicians and vocalists through Middle Earth with Howard Shore’s amazing score. Accompanying John Mauceri will be two soloists: Susan Egan (susanegan.net) and Tammy Tyburczy.

It should be noted that this is an early opportunity for TORN readers to purchase tickets before the general public is made aware of the concert dates and ticket availability. No major advertising has been done for the shows yet.

In addition to the concerts there will be a Q&A before each show. There will also be a post-concert event where attendees who purchase tickets at the $75.00 level (only 208 per show are available at this price) can meet John Mauceri and the soloists.

There is also a benefit dinner for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra preceding each concert. The menu for this dinner is derived from Emerald Took’s “Regional Cooking From Middle-Earth: Recipes Of The Third Age”. Tickets are $65.00/person and may be purchased at the same time seat tickets are purchased. As this is a benefit the cost of this ticket is tax deductible. The conductor and vocal soloists will likely attend this affair. There is a theme for each night’s dinner. Friday night the theme is “A Shire Homecoming.” Saturday night the theme is “The Coronation Of A King.” The menu for each evening will be different and will include a broad and exotic array of choices including vegetarian (and of course mushrooms!).

Celevon Elensar, a national award-winning author, wants to see your nonfiction LOTR-related short story. Modeled after similar anecdotal books, Lembas for the Soul will feature interesting, funny or moving stories written by the Tolkien fans themselves. [More]

Byrd writes: Today (March 25) the Internet Movie Data Base poll is about what was the biggest special effects movie of the past few years. All three of the LOTR movies are listed with “Return of the King” in the lead by a wide margin. [More]

Karen in Philadelphia writes: I wanted to let you know that the East Coast Premiere of Dominic Monaghan’s film ‘Shooting Livien’ will be shown at the Philadelphia Film Festival on Saturday, April 16 at 4:45 pm and on Sunday, April 17 at 9:30. [Philadelphia FF]

Elrond’s heart forbade him going with the Fellowship; Gandalf encouraged him to throw himself down a well as a preventative measure against stupidity. This weekend in Hall of Fire, we discuss Pippin Took: Bold, hard halfling or piece of luggage? [More]

Elrond’s heart forbade him going with the Fellowship; Gandalf encouraged him to throw himself down a well as a preventative measure against stupidity. This weekend in Hall of Fire, we discuss Pippin Took: Bold, hard halfling or piece of luggage?

Pippin, as Peregrin Took was universally known, was the youngest (and perhaps most reluctantly accepted) of the Fellowship. He was only twenty-eight when he set out with Frodo and Sam from Bag End on the first part of their great journey — quite young for a Hobbit.

What does this say about the character of Peregrin Took?

Initially, Pippin seemed singularly unsuited to the long, dangerous journey. Early on, we see him calling for rests, complaining about the lack of food and generally acting more like he’s part of a Sunday stroll through the Shire than a dangerous trek with an uncertain ending.

However, things change at Henneth Annun. Through the sacrifice of Boromir, his captivity with the orcs of the White Hand and subsequent events with the Palantir and Denethor, we see a wiser, less naive Pippin emerge — the future Thain of the Shire.

What was Pippin’s purpose in the Fellowship, and indeed his role in the greater arena of the War of the Ring? Was it a simply a case of making up the numbers? Or something more?

Join us this weekend as we discuss all things Pippin in Hall of Fire!

Time and date:
Saturday March 26

America:
5.30pm EST
4.30pm CST
3.30pm MST
2.30pm PST

Europe:
10.30pm UK
11.30am (Sunday) Central Europe

Asia-Pacific:
8.30am (Sunday) Brisbane
9.30am (Sunday) Sydney
11.30am (Sunday) Wellington

Hall of Fire currently is held every weekend on alternating Saturdays and Sundays, with chats lasting anywhere between 45 minutes and an hour and a half depending on the topic. We’re very newbie friendly: simply drop in and join the conversation!

Where?

Hall of Fire chats happen on irc.theonering.net – the TORn IRC server – in the channel (or room) #thehalloffire. If you’re an IRC newbie, you can easily jump on via our java chat client that works inside your web browser. Simply choose #thehalloffire on the drop down box, enter a nick and you’ll be in the channel within seconds!

Alternatively, you can install a dedicated IRC program such as mIRC. To find out more about using mIRC to connect to the TORn IRC server, check out these instructions.

Upcoming topics:

“Pippin Took – bold hard halfling or piece of luggage?”

– Saturday Mar 26
– Sunday April 3

“Silmarillion Chapter 8 – Of the Darkening of Valinor”

– Saturday April 9
– Sunday April 17

“Tell us your LoTR fan experience!’

– Saturday April 23
– Sunday May 1

Got a topic? Let us know your idea!

If you have a burning desire to discuss something in Hall of Fire, drop us a line with your topic at halloffire@theonering.net. If we like it, we’ll probably give it a run in the coming weeks – you might even get to guest moderate the session!

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