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emeraldskulblaka.bsky.social
Emerald
@emeraldskulblaka.bsky.social
66 followers 60 following 83 posts
Theatre and linguistics enthusiast. Keeper of the Tolkien stage adaptations performance calendar. she/her
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emeraldskulblaka.bsky.social
Delved deep into Finnish Ryhmäteatteri's archives and found these two delightful programme scans - Arwen (Sanna Fransman) and Galadriel (Ulla Uotinen) in Taru sormusten herrasta at Suomenlinna near Helsinki, 1989. A six-hour open-air play with music by Toni Edelmann.
Sanna Fransman as Arwen. She has her back towards the camera and can only be seen from the waist up. Her long, dark, wavy hair falls down her back. It's braided and decorated with golden bands at the top, her earrings are gold as well. Her costume appears plain white, with wide sleeves that open from the shoulders, leaving her arms bare. There are big wing-like applications on her shoulders, but the quality of the scan makes it hard to determine their exact shape. Ulla Uotinen as Galadriel. She's holding up Nenya with her right hand and is looking at it; the ring is glowing brightly. Her costume is green-ish, decorated with pearls and a white flower on her top. The most striking features of Galadriel's appearance are her typical 80s perm and her bare midriff.
August 28, 2025 at 7:12 PM
emeraldskulblaka.bsky.social
Two years ago, the first preview of The Lord of the Rings took place @watermilltheatre.bsky.social, more than 15 years after the London production closed. It marked a new era in the musical's life, and now it's touring the world!
These four pictures show what makes this adaptation so special to me:
Frodo and Sam as portrayed by Louis Maskell and Nuwan Hugh Perera in The Lord of the Rings: A Musical Tale. It is the "Epilogue (Farewells)" scene. Frodo is looking at Sam with a sad, but very fond look in his eyes. Sam's back is towards the camera; he's looking at Frodo and carrying the Red Book, a huge bag over his shoulder. They are outside in the Watermill Gardens: trees and hedges can be seen behind them. The "Lament for Moria" scene. Gimli as portrayed by Folarin Akinmade is in the centre, the spotlight on him as he sings a song of his fallen ancestors. The other members of the Fellowship are around him, some huddled on the floor, some accompanying Gimli on their instruments. Gandalf (Peter Marinker) can be seen prominently. He's half-sitting and leaning on his staff, looking pensively into the distance. The "Lothlórien" scene. Galadriel (Georgia Louise) is descending on a platform, surrounded by a vaguely flower-shaped circle of gold. The Elves of Lothlórien and the Fellowship are greeting and praising her, stretching their arms out to her. Golden freckles of light dust the scene. Sam (Nuwan Hugh Perera) and Rosie (Charlotte Grayson) reunite. They are smiling brightly at each other; Sam is clutching Rosie's face gently, who is in turn holding onto Sam's wrists. Behind them are Pippin (Amelia Gabriel), Merry (Geraint Downing) and Frodo (Louis Maskell), their arms around each other and smiling at Sam & Rosie.
July 25, 2025 at 11:10 AM
emeraldskulblaka.bsky.social
I got several postcards by these two at TolkienCon earlier this year, and I couldn't be more in love with them...! Two wonderful artists.
10 postcards arrayed in three rows. Those in the first and third row depict artworks by chechula (1st: Rivendell, Cerin Amroth, the Old Road, a hut surrounded by a green landscape, Lothlórien; 3rd: Galadriel & Gimli), those in the second row depict artworks by suwi (Sam, Éowyn, Fangorn, Smaug with Bilbo).
June 6, 2025 at 6:49 PM
emeraldskulblaka.bsky.social
The Lord of the Rings: A Musical Tale has had an incredibly successful run in Melbourne/Naarm with largely positive reviews and two extensions - and a huge number of incredible covers and swings saving the day with sudden debuts and split tracks!
So here's a huge shout-out to the LotR tour covers ✨️
Matt Hourigan (cover Elrond) and Jemma Rix (Galadriel) smiling into the camera, half embracing Rohan Campbell (cover Aragorn) and Patrick Schnur (cover Boromir) in their dressing room. They're posing with their characters' swords over their shoulders, half facing each other. Cameron Davey (cover Sam) and James Frampton (cover Frodo) in their dressing room. They're smiling into the camera, with James leaning his head against Cameron's. Jayme Jo Massoud (cover Arwen) and Stefanie Caccamo (cover Galadriel). Jayme is taking the selfie and puckering her lips, Stef is standing behind her and laughing into the camera.
June 4, 2025 at 8:34 PM
emeraldskulblaka.bsky.social
Coming back to bsky with a collection of beautiful flowers from our garden 🌸
How's everyone doing? :)
May 24, 2025 at 7:20 PM
emeraldskulblaka.bsky.social
Official production photography of the Australian cast of The Lord of the Rings: A Musical Tale by Daniel Boud ✨️
The tour wrapped up the first stop in Sydney earlier this month, and will resume in Perth on 19 March.
A scene from the pre-show number "Springle Ring". It's Bilbo's 111th birthday and the stage is decorated with a birthday banner and garlands. Several Hobbits are dancing joyfully, handkerchiefs in air. Others are sitting on a podium in the middle of the stage and are playing music in front of a big wicker ring. In the back, the party tree is visible. A scene in the Prancing Pony. Frodo has put on the Ring and the spotlight is on him. He's reaching upwards, looking at his hand with the Ring. The rest of the stage is in darkness. However, a skeleton head of a Black Rider's horse is visible right behind Frodo. Breelanders and Hobbits, some carrying instruments, are trying to leave the scene. Before the Final Battle. Aragorn is challenging Sauron, the reforged Andúril in hand. Around him, members of the Fellowship and other fighters are kneeling and facing him, including Gimli and Legolas. Gandalf is standing in the back. Behind Aragorn, Sauron's flaming Eye is projected. Bilbo and Frodo meet in Rivendell. Bilbo is walking with a cane, Frodo is touching his shoulder and looking at him.
February 17, 2025 at 8:01 PM
emeraldskulblaka.bsky.social
Maybe they'll get more comfortable as the tour continues - that was the case with the Watermill Theatre cast in 2023. Towards the end, everyone was extremely touchy and emotional. The theatre posted this with the hashtag couplegoals haha
Frodo and Sam in The Lord of the Rings: A Musical Tale at the Watermill Theatre, 2023, played by Louis Maskell and Nuwan Hugh Perera. Against the backdrop of green leaves, they are looking at each other. Sam is carrying a huge bag and the Red Book, and has his back towards the viewer. Frodo's face is visible; he looks at Sam wistfully and lovingly. This is part of the Epilogue (Farewells) scene in the musical.
February 6, 2025 at 5:10 AM
emeraldskulblaka.bsky.social
Who is your celebrity “Birthday Twin” (born same day as you)? Answer with pic or gif only.
January 13, 2025 at 8:17 PM
emeraldskulblaka.bsky.social
Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year ✨️
The first Tolkien Stage Adaptations Calendar post of 2025 is out now, featuring 7 stage shows in 7 countries! From pantos to puppetry plays to musicals to rock operas, Middle-earth is represented in many different ways.
Cover image for the January 2025 edition of the Tolkien Stage Adaptations Performance Calendar. Background images from left to right feature Frodo and Sam sitting on the ground, with Frodo, eyes closed, looking pained, and Sam behind him clutching his shoulders in Taru sormusten herrasta; Finrod sitting on his throne in the Finrod rock opera, fairy lights behind him; and the Bilbo puppet in Der Hobbit clutching and looking at the glowing Arkenstone.
January 1, 2025 at 3:08 PM
emeraldskulblaka.bsky.social
Two weeks left of Taru sormusten herrasta in Tampere, Finland! A visually stunning play with beautiful music and gender-blind casting, positively reviewed by three Finnish friends of mine :) fingers crossed for a revival.
📸 Mikko Karsisto, Maria Atosuo
Gandalf and Frodo in Bag End. Frodo is looking at the One Ring. Legolas and Gimli before Galadriel in Lothlórien. Legolas is kneeling; Galadriel is speaking to Gimli. Aragorn and Frodo in a boat on the Anduin. Aragorn is rowing; both are looking ahead. Gandalf confronts Saruman after Isengard's defeat. Saruman, up on Orthanc, is making a grand gesture. Gandalf is looking up at him and lifting his staff in defence.
December 28, 2024 at 8:27 PM
emeraldskulblaka.bsky.social
Some more gorgeous Hobbit-centric shots from The Lord of the Rings: A Musical Tale in Aotearoa ✨️
From Chicago to Auckland, this wonderful cast has brought Hobbit-y joy to so many. Happy trails!

📸 Liam Newth
A scene in The Prancing Pony. Sam (Michael Kurowski) and Frodo (Spencer Davis Milford) are starting a song, both holding mugs. Frodo is squatting on a bench, Sam is standing on the floor next to him. Breeland Hobbits watch them with a mic of surprise and confusion. Sam (Michael Kurowski) and Frodo (Spencer Davis Milford) dancing during "The Cat and the Moon". They have joyful expressions on their faces and are doing some fancy choreography. Frodo (Spencer Davis Milford) looking at the One Ring in the middle of The Prancing Pony, utterly entranced. Sam (Michael Kurowski) and Frodo (Spencer Davis Milford) sitting on the floor during "Now and For Always". Sam is singing and playing the guitar, while Frodo, wearing his Elven cloak from Lothlórien, is looking at him intently.
December 7, 2024 at 4:11 PM
emeraldskulblaka.bsky.social
The December edition of the Tolkien Stage Adaptations Performance Calendar has been published!

This month, you can see the Hobbit, LotR and the Silmarillion in the US, Canada, Aotearoa, Germany, Russia and Finland ✨️
Cover image for the December 2024 edition of the Tolkien Stage Adaptations Performance Calendar. Background images from left to right feature Frodo kneeling on the ground with Sting in hand, unaware of Shelob behind him, in The Lord of the Rings: A Musical Tale; Aragorn and Frodo in a swan boat in Taru sormusten herrasta; and Melian in the Lay of Leithian rock opera, looking judgingly towards the left with her arms crossed.
December 1, 2024 at 7:16 PM
emeraldskulblaka.bsky.social
Yessss ✨️
Vilena Sokolova as Lúthien and Mikhail Potekhin as Beren in the Lay of Leithian rock opera. Beren is carrying Lúthien in his arms, and she is touching his face lovingly. Photo by Yulia Gubina, 11 March 2022.
November 20, 2024 at 9:37 PM
emeraldskulblaka.bsky.social
If there are stairs in J&H, they're not *these* stairs because it's not produced by Stairway (the theatre company that did Last Trial).
Here's Emil Sales as Renfield in Stairway's Dracula: The Price of Eternity:
November 20, 2024 at 7:47 AM
emeraldskulblaka.bsky.social
I can offer photos from Chicago earlier this year instead - Gollum was played by the same actor, Tony Bozzuto.
November 16, 2024 at 9:39 AM
emeraldskulblaka.bsky.social
Me too! Honestly, I think you'd enjoy it. Galadriel is the only character that's musical theatre-y, but her songs are beautiful, and she's not out of place at all.
November 15, 2024 at 7:37 PM
emeraldskulblaka.bsky.social
The Lord of the Rings: A Musical Tale opened in Auckland, Aotearoa yesterday ✨️
(How fitting that this is my very first post on this site!)
📸 Nathan Simo for 13th Floor
November 13, 2024 at 6:02 PM