‘Star Wars in Concert’ sails into Cleveland, Pittsburgh

By John Benson

From a galaxy (Hollywood) far, far away, there comes a new multimedia concert tour where generations are joining together to celebrate the power of The Force, Jedi Knights and George Lucas. It’s called “Star Wars in Concert,” and it is coming to Pittsburgh and Cleveland.

As for what exactly will take place in the show, just think of it as witnessing a live scoring session for a Hollywood movie complete with a full symphony orchestra and choir with specially edited footage from the films displayed on a three-story-tall, high- definition LED super-screen. Oh yeah, add in the fact it’s narrated live by actor Anthony Daniels (C-3PO) and, well, you get the idea.

“It’s a big telling of the ‘Star Wars’ saga,” said “Star Wars in Concert” Producer Spencer Churchill, calling from Los Angeles. “It’s a walk through the six films. I say it’s a loose chronology because there is some license taken with the way that different scenes are inter-cut with others.

“There’s also an exhibit that’s touring with it. So when you come into the building, you walk into the exhibit of artwork and costumes and props from the films. We spent about three years on and off going through Skywalker Ranch with them helping us select the stuff that we could tour.”

Among the props on display are full costumes for Jedi Masters Kit Fisto and Plo Koon, composer John Williams’ original handwritten sheet music for “Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace” and various never-before-seen props from the films, including blasters and helmets from Coruscant, Tatooine and other iconic Star Wars locations.

As appealing as the live orchestra and film portions of “Star Wars in Concert” may be, Churchill, whose r sum includes producing concert tours by Barbara Streisand, Fleetwood Mac and Tom Petty, said it’s the prop exhibit that truly enthralls fans.

“I think the exhibit is a huge part of this,” Churchill said. “What we’re finding is a lot of times people don’t expect it. But when they get there, the concourses are packed. That’s been a really fun part of it and really popular part of it. In fact, in London on opening night, we had to close the exhibit to get people to come into the arena so we could start the show. I think that said an awful lot to us.”

Churchill said that tour producers were first contacted by George Lucas’ people more than three years ago about staging a once-in-a-lifetime orchestral show that gives fans of the “Star Wars” saga something special. He added that in his opinion, “Star Wars in Concert” accomplishes that goal and more.

“The best that we can hope for is that they’re entertained,” Churchill said. “I know it sounds clich , but everything is a bonus after that. So that’s what we want to do, but what we’re hearing is that people understand the story a little bit better. And we’re hearing from people that haven’t seen all six films who love the show. The scope of the production, the size of the screen and everything that goes into it is a little bigger than life. And I think that if people come away wanting to see it again, that’s great. But what we keep hearing is that they’re talking about it with their kids, wives or husbands for days afterward, and for us, that’s a bonus.”

He added, “It’s very cool to see. I’ve watched it a dozen times, and I don’t get tired of watching it.”