NJSO Presents Star Wars: A New Hope In Concert On Thanksgiving Weekend

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra presents screenings of the complete film Star Wars: A New Hope with Oscar-winning composer John Williams' musical scores performed live on Thanksgiving weekend, November 23-25.

In the first film of the original Star Wars trilogy, Luke Skywalker begins a journey that will change the galaxy, as he leaves his home planet, battles the evil Empire and learns the ways of the Force. Fans will be able to experience the scope and grandeur of this beloved film in a live symphonic concert experience at three New Jersey venues.

The NJSO performs A New Hope on November 23 at 3 pm and 8 pm at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, November 24 at 3 pm and 8 pm at NJPAC in Newark, and November 25 at 3 pm and 8 pm at State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick.

Since the release of the first Star Wars movie more than 40 years ago, the Star Wars saga has had a seismic impact on both cinema and culture, inspiring audiences around the world with its mythic storytelling, captivating characters, groundbreaking special effects and iconic musical scores composed by Williams.

The Orchestra performs Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back-the second film in the Star Wars: Film Concert Series-on January 3 at 7:30 pm and January 4 at 8 pm at the Count Basie Center for the Arts, January 5 at 3 pm and 8 pm at NJPAC, and January 6 at 3 pm and 8 pm at State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick.

Tickets for all performances are on sale now. For more information, visit njsymphony.org/starwars.

Single tickets for all dates and locations start at $35 and are available from the NJSO online at njsymphony.org, by phone at 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476) or in person at 60 Park Place, Suite 900, in Newark. NJSO Patron Services hours are Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm, and concert Saturdays, 11 am-5 pm.

Tickets for the November 23, January 3 and January 4 performances are available from the Count Basie Center for the Arts online at thebasie.org, by phone at 732.842.9000 or in person at 99 Monmouth Street in Red Bank. Box office hours are Monday-Friday, 12-6 pm; Saturday, 12-3 pm, and concert Sundays beginning three hours prior to a performance.

Tickets for the November 24 and January 5 performances are available for purchase from NJPAC online at njpac.org, by phone at 1.888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722) or in person at 1 Center Street in Newark. In-person box office hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 12-6 pm, and beginning three hours prior to Sunday performances.

Tickets for the November 25 and January 6 performances are available from State Theatre New Jersey online at stnj.org, by phone at 732.246.SHOW (7469) or in person at 15 Livingston Ave in New Brunswick. State Theatre New Jersey Guest Services hours are Monday-Friday, 10 am-6 pm, and at least three hours prior to curtain on performance dates unless otherwise specified.

PROGRAMS

STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE IN CONCERT

Fri, Nov 23, at 3 pm and 8 pm | Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank

Sat, Nov 24, at 3 pm and 8 pm | NJPAC in Newark

Sun, Nov 25, at 3 pm and 8 pm | State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick

Constantine Kitsopoulos conductor

NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Luke Skywalker begins a journey that will change the galaxy, as he leaves his home planet, battles the evil Empire and learns the ways of the Force. Don't miss Star Wars: A New Hope in concert, with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra performing John Williams' Oscar-winning score live to the complete film.

Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts in association with 20th Century Fox, Lucasfilm Ltd., and Warner/Chappell Music. © 2018 & TM LUCASFILM LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. © DISNEY

3 pm performance on Nov 23 presented in collaboration with Count Basie Center for the Arts. Nov 25 performances presented in collaboration with State Theatre New Jersey.

STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK IN CONCERT

Thu, Jan 3, at 7:30 pm | Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank

Fri, Jan 4, at 8 pm | Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank

Sat, Jan 5, at 3 pm and 8 pm | NJPAC in Newark

Sun, Jan 6, at 3 pm and 8 pm | State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick

Constantine Kitsopoulos conductor

NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

After the destruction of the Death Star, the Empire has regrouped-with Darth Vader leading the hunt for Luke Skywalker. Star Wars and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra join forces for Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in concert, featuring the iconic movie on the big screen with the NJSO performing John Williams' legendary score live.

Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts in association with 20th Century Fox, Lucasfilm Ltd., and Warner/Chappell Music. © 2018 & TM LUCASFILM LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. © DISNEY

Jan 3 performance presented in collaboration with Count Basie Center for the Arts. Jan 6 performances presented in collaboration with State Theatre New Jersey.

The Star Wars: Film Concert Series is produced under license by Disney Concerts in association with 20th Century Fox and Warner/Chappell Music.

STAR WARS and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. © & TM Lucasfilm Ltd.

John Williams

Legendary composer Williams is well known for scoring all eight of the Star Wars saga films, beginning with 1977's Star Wars: A New Hope, for which he earned an Academy Award for Best Original Score. His scores for The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi and Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi were each nominated for Oscars for Best Original Score.

Williams has won five Academy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, seven British Academy Film Awards five Emmy Awards and 23 Grammy Awards. With 51 Academy Award nominations, Williams is the Academy's most nominated living person and the second most-nominated individual in history, after Walt Disney. In 2005, the American Film Institute selected Williams' score to 1977's Star Wars as the greatest American film score of all time. The soundtrack to Star Wars also was preserved by the Library of Congress in the National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant." Williams was inducted into the Hollywood Bowl's Hall of Fame in 2000, and he received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2004, the National Medal of Arts in 2009 and the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2016. Williams has composed the scores for eight of the top 20 highest-grossing films at the US box office (adjusted for inflation).

DISNEY CONCERTS

Disney Concerts is the concert production and licensing division of Disney Music Group, the music arm of The Walt Disney Company. Disney Concerts produces concerts and tours and licenses Disney music and visual content to symphony orchestras and presenters on a worldwide basis. Disney Concerts' concert packages include a variety of formats, such as "live to picture" film concerts and themed instrumental and vocal compilation concerts, and range from instrumental-only symphonic performances to multimedia productions featuring live vocalists and choir. Current titles include the Star Wars Film Concert Series (Episodes IV-VII), Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Fantasia, Pixar In Concert, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Alice In Wonderland, Frozen, Ratatouille, The Pirates of the Caribbean series (Episodes I-IV) and Silly Symphonies, which last year collectively accounted for more than 400 performances in many of the world's top concert venues, including Lincoln Center, Royal Albert Hall, Sydney Opera House, Tokyo Forum and the Hollywood Bowl. Numerous new concert packages and touring productions from Disney's portfolio of studios, including Disney's feature animation and live-action studios, Pixar, Lucasfilm and Marvel, are currently in development.

NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Named "a vital, artistically significant musical organization" by The Wall Street Journal, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra embodies that vitality through its statewide presence and critically acclaimed performances, education partnerships and unparalleled access to music and the Orchestra's superb musicians.

Music Director Xian Zhang-a "dynamic podium presence" The New York Times has praised for her "technical abilities, musicianship and maturity"-continues her acclaimed leadership of the NJSO. The Orchestra presents classical, pops and family programs, as well as outdoor summer concerts and special events. Embracing its legacy as a statewide orchestra, the NJSO is the resident orchestra of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark and regularly performs at State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick, Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, Richardson Auditorium in Princeton, Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown and bergenPAC in Englewood. Partnerships with New Jersey arts organizations, universities and civic organizations remain a key element of the Orchestra's statewide identity.

In addition to its lauded artistic programming, the NJSO presents a suite of education and community engagement programs that promote meaningful, lifelong engagement with live music. Programs include school-time Concerts for Young People; NJSO Youth Orchestras family of student ensembles, led by José Luis Domínguez; and El Sistema-inspired NJSO CHAMPS (Character, Achievement and Music Project). NJSO musicians annually perform original chamber music programs at community events in a variety of settings statewide through the NJSO Community Partners Program.

For more information, visit njsymphony.org or email information@njsymphony.org. Tickets are available for purchase by phone at 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476) or on the Orchestra's website.

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra's programs are made possible in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, along with many other foundations, corporations and individual donors.

Count Basie CENTER FOR THE ARTS

The Count Basie Center for the Arts is New Jersey's premier center for the cultural arts, dedicated to fostering powerful, inclusive artistic experiences and creative exchange of ideas. The Basie mission is to inspire, educate and entertain through its distinct and engaging cultural and artistic offerings that reflect the diversity of the region. As a nonprofit organization, the Basie is committed to enriching the community's quality of life by generating opportunities for participation in the arts, partnering with schools, collaborating with other mission-based organizations and driving regional economic prosperity. The Basie Center has hosted an array of world-class artists, including Bruce Springsteen & the E-Street Band, Jon Bon Jovi, John Legend, Crosby Stills & Nash, Tony Bennett, Sophia Loren and Ringo Starr. Count Basie Center programming is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

For more information, visit thebasie.org.

STATE THEATRE NEW JERSEY

State Theatre New Jersey-creating extraordinary experiences through the power of live performance. The theater exists to enrich people's lives, contribute to a vital urban environment and build future audiences by presenting the finest performing artists and entertainers and fostering lifetime appreciation for the performing arts through education. State Theatre New Jersey's programs are made possible in part by funding from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and contributions from numerous corporations, foundations and individuals.