Get a Behind-the-Scenes Look Into The World Of TOLKIEN At The Sheen Center

On Tuesday, February 12 at The Sheen Center for Thought & Culture (18 Bleecker Street at the corner of Elizabeth Street in NYC) gets a behind-the-scenes look at "Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth," the most extensive public display of original Tolkien material for several generations. For one night only at The Sheen Center's Loreto Theater, hear about the Tolkien and the landmark exhibition (currently running through May 12 at The Morgan Library & Museum) from John T. McQuillen, Ph.D., Associate Curator of Printed Books & Bindings and organizing curator of the exhibit for the Morgan Library, and Holly Ordway, Ph.D., Professor of English at Houston Baptist University and author of the forthcoming book Tolkien's Modern Sources: Middle-earth Beyond the Middle Ages. Moderated by Corey Olsen, Ph.D., the "Tolkien Professor" and President of Signum University.

"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit." With these words the Oxford professor J.R.R. Tolkien ignited a fervid spark in generations of readers. From the children's classic The Hobbit to the epic The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien's adventurous tales of hobbits and elves, dwarves and wizards, have introduced millions to the rich history of Middle-earth. Going beyond literature, Tolkien's Middle-earth is a world complete with its own languages and histories. Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth celebrates the man, his artistic creation, and the Catholic faith that fueled his literary genius.

Drawn from the collections of the Tolkien Archive at the Bodleian Library (Oxford), Marquette University Libraries (Milwaukee), the Morgan, and private lenders, the exhibition will include family photographs and memorabilia, Tolkien's original illustrations, maps, draft manuscripts, and designs related to The Hobbit.

Visit www.SheenCenter.org for more information about the above event as well as other theater, film, music, poetry, art, and talk events featuring artists and thought leaders including Tony Award winner Lena Hall; Grammy Award-winning musician and recording artist Eileen Ivers; and journalist and former Wall Street Journal columnist Sohrab Ahmari. Events will include the new Broadway Backstage series featuring Joe Iconis and cast members from Be More Chill, and company and creative team members from the upcoming Roundabout Theatre revival of Kiss Me Kate; anniversary screenings of milestone films Mississippi Burning and The Wizard of Oz; direct from London's West End, the U.S. premiere production of All Our Children; as well as special talk events tackling national themes including race, faith, the disabled, and more.

The Sheen Center for Thought & Culture (www.sheencenter.org) is a New York City arts center located in NoHo that presents a vibrant mix of theater, film, music, art and talk events. A project of the Archdiocese of New York, The Sheen Center serves all New Yorkers by presenting performances and artists that reflect the true, the good, and the beautiful. Named for the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, best remembered as an inspirational author, radio host and two-time Emmy Award-winning television personality, The Sheen Center reflects his modern-day approach to contemporary topics. The Sheen Center is a state-of-the-art theater complex that includes the 270-seat off-Broadway Loreto Theater, equipped with five-camera high-definition TV and live-stream capability and a multi-track recording studio; the 80-seat off-off-Broadway Black Box Theater; four rehearsal studios; and an art gallery.

Tickets for "Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth,"are $20. Tickets/reservations for all events at The Sheen Center for Thought & Culture are available online at SheenCenter.org, by phone at 212-925-2812, or in-person at The Sheen Center box office (18 Bleecker Street, at the corner of Elizabeth Street, NYC),Mon. - Fri. noon to 5PM.Student rush tickets will be available an hour before the event for $10 with a valid current student ID.