See below the press release for a special Force-Cast / TFN offer!!!











Akron Symphony Presents Star Wars: Music & Myth Sunday October 26

Odyssey Concert to feature on stage lightsaber battles, highlights from Star Wars documentary, art of Ralph McQuarrie, more

Pre-concert Activities include costume contest at 2 PM


Akron—The Akron Symphony will take audiences on a journey to a galaxy far, far away when it performs music from the Star Wars film saga – LIVE – at The University of Akron's E.J. Thomas Hall on Sunday, October 26 at 3 PM. Star Wars: Music & Myth will explore the films' major themes through the music of composer John Williams and a cast of collaborators including costumed characters courtesy of the 501st Legion and Rebel Legion, highlights from Chicago filmmaker Cris Macht's The Force Among Us documentary, on stage lightsaber battles by Masters of the Force and a multi-media presentation of the art of Star Wars concept artist, the legendary Ralph McQuarrie.

Costume Contest and Pre-Concert Activities at 2 PM
Concert attendees are encouraged to arrive in costume. Those wishing to participate can register their costumes beginning at 2 PM in the E.J. Thomas Hall lobby. Guest judges will choose several finalists and winners will be recognized on stage at the end of the concert. The E.J. Thomas Hall lobbies will also hold other activities appropriate for children and their families. All pre-concert activities begin at 2 PM.

Photo Opportunities with Star Wars characters
Following the concert, audience members will have the opportunity to meet and take photos with the costumed characters from the 501st, Rebel Legion, and Master of the Force. Attendees are asked to bring their own cameras, however photography during the concert is not allowed.

The Music of John Williams
John Williams is an American composer, conductor, and pianist. In a career that spans six decades, Williams has composed many of the most famous film scores in history, including all but one of Steven Spielberg's feature films, Star Wars, Superman, Born on the Fourth of July, and Harry Potter. In addition, he has composed theme music for four Olympic Games, NBC Nightly News, and numerous television series and concert pieces. He served as the principal conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra from 1980 to 1993, and is now the orchestra's laureate conductor. Williams is a five-time winner of the Academy Award. He has also won 4 Golden Globes, 7 BAFTA Awards and 10 Grammy Awards. With 45 Academy Award nominations, Williams is, together with composer Alfred Newman, the second most nominated individual after Walt Disney. He was inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame in 2000, and was a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors in 2004.

The Art of Ralph McQuarrie
Ralph McQuarrie is a conceptual designer and futurist responsible for the look of the original Star Wars film trilogy, the original Battlestar Galactica, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and Cocoon, for which he won an Academy Award. "RMQ", as he is known to sign original works, has provided illustrations to supplement several Isaac Asimov publications, including Robot Dreams and Robot Visions.

Cris Macht and The Force Among Us documentary
Cristian George Macht (Director/Writer/Producer: The Force Among Us) was born on the same day 2 years before before the initial theatrical release of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope on May 25, 1977 and has been a Star Wars fan ever since. Cris celebrated the release of the final live-action Star Wars feature film (Revenge of the Sith) by attending the London premiere where he met Star Wars creator/Director George Lucas in 2005. Meeting Lucas inspired Macht on a journey to many of the Saga's original filming locations, including the deserts of Tunisia and the remote glaciers of Norway. On Star Wars' 30th Anniversary in 2007, Cris and his sister Cortney released the highly acclaimed Star Wars documentary, The Force Among Us. The film profiles Star Wars fans of all kinds and features footage from Cris' travels to filming locations. Cris calls The Force Among Us a "Hallmark card for Star Wars fans." Cris Macht is a graduate of Columbia College in Chicago.

Masters of the Force: lightsaber duelists
In May of 2007, a group of like-minded friends and members of the 501st Legion's Ohio Garrison founded Masters of the Force. Their goal was turning costuming participation at conventions, parades and charity events from simple photographic opportunities into a theatrical production. Through acting and athleticism, they came up with ways to produce live, simulated lightsaber combat based on some of the most memorable moments from the Star Wars saga. Masters of the Force focuses on two aspects of lightsaber dueling – choreographed battles and Jedi Academy Training. Masters of the Force performed professionally for the first time in July, 2007 with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra's production of The Music of John Williams. The reaction from the audience was overwhelmingly positive, and Masters of the Force was invited to perform again with Erich Kunzel at the Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra. Masters of the Force knew they had tapped into something special. The members bring the magic of the lightsaber to life, celebrating the great battles everyone loved in the movies in a live stage performance.

The 501st Legion
The Legion is a volunteer club formed for the express purpose of bringing together costume enthusiasts and giving them a collective identity within which to operate. The Legion's aims are to celebrate the Star Wars movies through the wearing of costumes, to promote the quality and improvement of costumes and props, and most importantly to contribute to the local community through charity and volunteer work. A truly engaging Star Wars experience only occurs through a convincing appearance. To this end, the 501st constantly strives to improve the quality and accuracy of its member's costumes. Their goal is to appear as if our characters have just stepped off the big screen and into this world. While their organization was founded to simply provide a collective identity for costuming fans with similar interests, the 501st is proud to put its resources to good use through fundraising, charity work, and volunteerism. Read more about the 501st at 501st.com.

Tickets
To purchase tickets, or for more information, please call the Akron Symphony ticket office at (330) 535-8131 or (330) 972-7570 or visit AkronSymphony.org. Single tickets for Star Wars: Music & Myth are $15 for adults and $10 for children age 12 and under.

Support
The Odyssey Series is sponsored by OMNOVA Solutions Foundation. Pre-concert activities are made possible by The Davey Tree Expert Company, the Akron Canton Airport, and The Welty Family Foundation. Media partners for the Akron Symphony's Odyssey series are Akron Family Magazine, WAKR 1590 AM, and Akron Life & Leisure magazine.

The Ohio Arts Council helps fund the Akron Symphony with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. The University of Akron also supports the Akron Symphony and its programs.



Mark your calendars
Sunday, October 26, 2008 – Star Wars: Music & Myth
E.J. Thomas Hall – 3:00 p.m.
Akron Symphony Orchestra
The music of the Star Wars film saga
Christopher James Lees, conductor
Special guests
2:00 p.m. – Pre-Concert Activities begin in the E.J. Thomas Hall lobbies
Tickets available: $15 – adults; $10 children 12 and under




*As a special offer to Force-Cast listeners and TF.N readers, if you mention either "FORCE-CAST" OR "THE FORCE.NET" when you order your tickets, you will save $5 off the cost of an adult ticket. So, basically, you get in for the child's price of $10.



Could there be a live Force-Cast broadcast from the event? Nothing is certain but stay tuned...





UPDATE: Not a true update...just a reminder.




UPDATE #2: From Cris Macht of The Force Among Us:

"For those of you not able to make the Akron Symphony event this sunday - The Force Among Us "Across the Stars" edit is now available on YouTube.

The Force Among Us clip will be projected on a giant screen behind the Symphony during the live performance of John Williams "Across the Stars".

The Force Among Us will also be in attendance at this very special event.

For more info visit www.theforceamongus.com and http://www.akronsymphony.org/aso/starwars/ "


Too lazy to click on the link to YouTube? No worries. See below:






Thanks Cris!