Pittsburgh Symphony to Present STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE Live at PPG Paints Arena

On May 25, 2027, 50 years to the day after the film's release, UPMC Movies with the PSO will present John Williams' legendary score performed live alongside Star Wars: A New Hope in an immersive arena production PITTSBURGH — Fifty years to the day after Star Wars first premiered in theaters, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will present Star Wars: A New Hope at PPG Paints Arena as part of UPMC Movies with the PSO. Led by PSO Associate Conductor Jacob Joyce on May 25, 2027, John Williams' ACADEMY Award-winning score will be performed as the film plays on the arena's giant screens in a one-night-only celebration of one of the most beloved films of all time.

The concert will be both a visual and musical spectacle. The production will use PPG Paints Arena's incredible four-sided videoboard, made up of four 50-foot-by-32-foot screens with over 32 million pixels, along with two 360-degree LED rings and dynamic lighting and special effects, creating an immersive experience unlike any other Star Wars concert. Fans will also find special activations throughout the arena before the show and during intermission.

The orchestra will be positioned beneath the main videoboard, facing Section 112. The performance will be professionally amplified and broadcast throughout the arena via the venue's sound system, ensuring clear audio for all attendees. Additionally, because the videoboard features a 360-degree display, the accompanying video content will be visible from every seat in the arena.

Since the release of this first Star Wars film in 1977, 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. Fans will experience the scope and grandeur of this beloved film in a live symphonic concert experience.

Legendary composer Williams is well known for scoring all nine of the Star Wars saga films, beginning with 1977's Star Wars for which he earned an Academy Award for Best Original Score. His scores for subsequent Star Wars films The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker were each Oscar-nominated for Best Original Score.

The presentation is licensed by Disney Concerts. The concert is part of UPMC Movies with the PSO, the orchestra's film-with-live-orchestra series, which takes its new name this season as UPMC signs on as title sponsor.