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North of Seattle, in historic downtown Snohomish, science fiction and fantasy imaginings will unfold in computer art, sculpture and acrylic work. For the month of April, the Arts of Snohomish Gallery will feature the works of Brian Taylor, a cyber artist, Stephen LeStat, a 2D and 3D artist, Heather Freeman, who works in acrylics, Kamal Siegel, illustrator and cyber artist, and Rod Countryman, who works with glass.

The exhibit opens tomorrow, April 1, with an artist reception on April 8 from 6-9pm.

Brian Taylor
www.briantaylorstudios.com
A native of Snohomish, Brian Taylor’s art fuses his passion for photography, futuristic art and computers.

Stephen LeStat
www.stephenlestat.com
Also from Snohomish, Stephen LeStat creates archeological artifacts from the future, including scrolls, shields, map fragments and other inscribed objects.

Heather Keith Freeman
www.fireseastudios.com
Another Snohomish artist, Heather Keith Freeman uses mythological and psychological archetypes to anthromorphize abstract ideas. A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in cognitive science, and a former robotics engineer, she has painted with acrylics since she was a child. Her art is characterized by through intense colors and long, sweeping lines.

Kamal Seigel
www.flyinglab.com
Hailing from Redmond, Kamal Seigel uses a combination of traditional and digital media in his art. A life-long science fiction and fantasy art lover, he as creating sci-fi animations on the computer by age 12. In high school and college he sketched aliens and fantasy-themed artwork, and created many dry pastel and acrylic paintings. A graduate of The Art Institute of Seattle, he is the technical art director for Flying Lab Software and owner of Digital Double, a Redmond-based company that specializes in creating digital replicas of real people for use in video games and movies.

Rod Countryman
The work of Rod Countryman from Monroe that will be on display was produced in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Using leaded glass, he created sci-fi portraits that were mostly textural and devoid of color. Also on display will be his pen and ink drawings, reflecting a pop sci-fi horror sensibility. Currently, Countryman creates neon lighting for retail businesses.

DETAILS
What: Sci Fi and Fantasy Art Exhibit
Where:
The Arts of Snohomish Gallery
105 Cedar Avenue
Snohomish, Wash. 98290
www.artsofsnohomish.org
Hours:
Tuesday through Saturday: 10am to 5pm
Sunday: Noon to 5mp
Monday by appointment only

I’m not sure why this restaurant calls itself The Hobbit, but it does sound like a cool dining experience – if you’ve got the cash.

Wednesday through Sunday, The Hobbit offers a seven-course, prix-fixe (fixed price) menu. The meal lasts about three to three and a half hours, beginning with Champagne and hors d’oeuvres in the wine cellar and ending with dessert. Between the salad course and the main course, there is an intermission when guests can visit the chef, see the kitchen or stroll on the patio.

Other amenities include a Non-Smoking Lounge with full bar and a Cigar Lounge (although you can't smoke in it).

The experience is $69 per person, not including tax, tip or selected wine or beverages. If you’d like an alternative entrée, there is an additional $5.75 fee per person.

DETAILS:
What: The Hobbit Restaurant
Where: 2932 E. Chapman Avenue, Orange, Calif.
For more information: www.hobbitrestaurant.com.

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This Hobbit message was brought to you by the
Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Tour of the
World Premiere Lord of the Rings Musical.
Only 5 more days left to register!
For more information, click here.

This just came into my mailbox last night. If you happen to be in the Barrington, Ill., area this Friday, and you’re into the goth scene, you might want check out Gothic Industrial Night, A Night of Darkness and Underground Music.

Hosted By SGL Entertainment, the event will feature the following bands:

• Project .44
• Digital Mindy
• Dies Mali
• Drake (it’s their CD Release Party)
• Voodoo Vampires
• Twice Removed
• Tripwire and
• 76

Details:

When: Friday Mar 24, 2006, at 9:00 PM

Where:

Penny Road Pub
28W705 Penny Road
Barrington, IL 60010

The Lord of the Rings officially opens in Toronto tomorrow and last week the news was flooded with professional opinions of the production. Since there is only one week left to sign up for the Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Tour of World Premiere Lord of the Rings Musical, I thought you’d like to see what people are saying. Here are some links to stories about the musical.

Michael Therriault, NOW Magazine
Glenn Sumi’s feature on the man who plays Gollum.

On stage: Lord Of The Rings is a 'world of wonder', XTRA!
A feature about Tony Award-winner Brent Carver, who plays Gandalf.

Mirvish gambles on musical Lord of the Rings, Ottawa Citizen
Jamie Portman’s take on the stage production.

'Lord of the Rings' Takes the Stage, NPR
Jeff Lunden’s take on the production. Includes images and a sound file, along with links to other related NPR stories.

PHOTO CALL: Lord of the Rings Takes Over Toronto, Playbill
Cool images from the production.

Lasting magic or a puff of smoke?, Los Angeles Times
Patrick Pacheco’s take on the production.

Theater: 'Ring' a Ding Ding, MSNBC.com
Jeff Giles’ take on the production.

Bloggers weigh in on LOTR musical while pro critics wait for opening night, Canada.com
A roundup of what non-professional theatre critics are saying about the production in their blogs.

NEW! (3/22/06)

Gollum gosh, the hills are alive with hobbits
"A musical version of The Lord of the Rings is an Ent-sized gamble, writes Paul French."

Ringing the changes
Warning: this page may take a little while to load.
Guy Dammann's view, as posted on the Culture Vulture Blog

Into the fire
More from The Los Angeles Times

The Ring Sings, Time
"J.R.R. Tolkien's saga soared as a book and a movie. Now it has inspired the most expensive stage musical of all time"

NEW! (3/23/06)

Can 'Lord of the Rings' rule the Tonys someday?, Los Angeles Times
Tom O'Neil: Gold Derby collumn

A Revitalized Toronto Pins Its Hopes on the Hobbits, The New York Times
By Susan Catto

'Rings' moves to center stage, USA Today
By Elysa Gardner, "Move over, The Lion King. Another epic adaptation is nipping at your heels — one even longer and more commercially extravagant."

Tolkien’s Rings Premieres in Toronto Pre-London, Whatsonstage.com
By Terri Paddock

NEW! (3/24/06)

Toronto's 'Lord of the Rings' a show of firsts
CTV Toronto

Music sets the tone, Toronto Star
"Finnish group Värttinä's style meets requirement to tell archaic tale in songs for modern ears"

Feet of all shapes and sizes in motion, Toronto Star
Choreographer mixes hobbits' big hairy toes with stilt-walking giants in battles and dance

The ringer: Stage adaptation of award-winning movies hits Toronto stage
By Sharon Demarko-Gordon, Tonawanda News

 

	Watch the Lord of the Rings TV Commercial
	Choose your preferred format
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Australia has a new ad campaign to entice you come out for a visit. According to a recent survey, only 6% of Americans surveyed who expressed affection for Australia intend to visit in the immediate future. Which leaves Australians to ask, “So where the bloody hell are you?”

“Authenticity is the key to the campaign,” said Ian Macfarlane, marketing director for Tourism Australia. Although other tag lines, such as “Where are you, mate?,” were tested, this cheeky line was chosen as most illustrating a “warm, authentic invitation from down under,” according to AdAge.com.

If you’d like to see the commercial, visit www.wherethebloodyhellareyou.com. It’s kind of cute. It shows a series of Australians preparing for your visit, including a fellow who says, “We’ve bought you a beer,” a lady who says, “We’ve shampooed the camels,” and a golfer who adds that the ‘roos have been taken off the greens. The best part is when the Aboriginal dancers say, “We’ve been rehearsing for over 40,000 years.” Check it out.

Australia is a major player in the world of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Not only does it have a healthy fan base of its own, with several talented writers and quality genre publications, but plenty of genre film and TV has been shot there, as well. Here’s a short list:

• Mad Max (1979)
• The Road Warrior (1981) (US title)
• Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)
• Fortress (1993)
• Dark City (1998 )
• The Matrix (1999)
• Farscape (1999-2003)
• Red Planet (2000)
• Pitch Black (2000)
• The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
• The Matrix Revolutions (2003)