Cleveland POPS

Every fan knows -- deep in their heart -- that the music of John Williams is just as much a reason for the enduring legacy of the Star Wars franchise as the spaceship, planets and everything else that has transformed these films into a multi-generational icon.  The music of John Williams can be heard in everything from Star Wars, the Indiana Jones films, and even still today with the Harry Potter movies -- his music has became the soundtrack of our childhood.

Photo courtesy of jedi-seamstress

So when the Cleveland POPS Orchestra invited Great Lakes Base, Ohio Garrison and Mando Mercs to be part of their John Williams tribute concert, we couldn't pass this up.  For a few of us -- myself included -- this was a return to Severance Hall as we'd performed with the Cleveland POPS at a New Years Eve concert in 2006; the night before the Rose Bowl Parade celebrated Star Wars' 30th anniversary.  However, this was a new experience for most of our group; many of them had never even been inside Severance Hall before!  The Hall opened back in 1931 and was completely restored just over ten years ago.  When you walk into Severance Hall, you feel like you're walking back in time -- or just landed on Naboo.

Padme and Snipe

Before the show, Great Lakes Base and Ohio Garrison -- with troopers visiting from Great Lakes Garrison -- and Mando Mercs "invaded" the lobby at Severance Hall with 24 characters available for photos with concert guest.  Tonight's concert also hosted a collection drive for Harvest For Hunger.  Once the concert started, we had some downtime for our guys to practice their lightsaber routines and other on-stage performances -- because the Star Wars music wasn't until after intermission. 

If you know anything about BrianKenobi, you know that he's DREAMED of performing a three character lightsaber battle to "Duel of the Fates" from The Phantom Menace  for as long as anyone can remember.  The last time it was attempted, the guy playing Darth Maul hit his knee during rehearsal; and Brian has never had a chance to put the trio back together.  So when the Cleveland POPS added this song to the playlist, this was a chance at some personal redemption.  However, both qui-gon32 and Darth Maul live in Michigan... so HOW do you prepare for something like this?

Since qui-gon32 has just recently joined the "All Wings Report In!" blog team, I'm going to let Paul tell the rest of this story.. because for these three guys, "Duel of the Fates" was an experience of a lifetime!

Next up was something Carl Topilow (conductor of the Cleveland POPS) has wanted us to attempt -- going all the way back to the New Years Eve 2006 concert -- play "Yoda's theme" with a life-sized Yoda on stage!  Now, bear in mind, we get asked "where's Yoda?" ALL THE TIME when we troop at public events -- everyone loves Yoda!  The problem is that it's next to impossible to find a child who is willing to get dressed up... wear a rubber mask... AND walk across the stage -- on front of thousands of people.  Then you gotta hope they don't get hurt, or run off like in those "America Funniest Home Video - weddings gone WRONG" moments.  If I sound a little neurotic even talking about it -- after the fact -- imagine what was going on in my head as I opened the door for our little Jedi Master to make her way across the stage.  In fact, our little Yoda performed beautifully -- she stole the show!

Carl Topilow awarded a medal

If one dueling sequence wasn't enough for you, the POPS came right back with "Battle of the Heroes."  This time, Darth Vader #1 (yes, we had TWO of them -- more on that later) squared off against Jaster in a not quite literal interpretation of the climactic scene from Revenge of the Sith.  And there is no better way to end an evening but with the Rebel Legion's John Williams favorite on-stage performance "Throne Room" ending from Star Wars: A New Hope.  This is a chance for all the Rebels, Jedi Knights and Senators to take one last bow; darthmitsy presented Carl Topilow with the ceremonial medal (sorry Chewbacca) and we wished everyone a good night!

But then... the Empire showed up! *dramatic music*

C3P0 and Super-Carl!

Actually, we knew going in that the 501st would get their turn to take over the stage as "Imperial March" was one of the encores -- not listed on the program.  In what has become something of a concert tradition, Darth Vader #2 (SL-9134) from Ohio Garrison and his troopers assumed control of the Cleveland POPS Orchestra and lead them in the playing of his signature theme.  However, Carl Topilow had a surprise for the Sith Lord -- as he changed into a Superman costume (backstage) and chased away the Empire... leading into the theme from Superman: the movie.  Finally, charkboy's C3P0 delivered Topilow's reb/blue clarinet -- which ended the evening in a fun rendition of the Cantina Band -- as all the characters got fans on their feet and dancing in the aisles.

Cleveland POPS - John Williams tribute concert "Mission Photos"

Overall, the evening was a HUGE success -- and we'd like to thank Cleveland POPS for inviting us!