Club Jade

The ‘multi-media event,’ currently trekking through Europe, returns to the States in May, with brand-new dates winding from Florida to California. Tickets will go on sale next week.

It’s getting to be that time again… StarWars.com posted their own mammoth Best of 2009 this morning. Below is my personal list. Since it is personal, it’s clearly missing some things. (As always, I don’t speak for all of Club Jade. I just post a lot.) So let’s get to it: (more…)

Star Wars: In Concert has continued to wind its way through the country, leaving lots of local press coverage in its wake: Salt Lake City, Oklahoma City. Dallas, Tulsa, Houston, Tampa, Philadelphia, and Charlotte. (Anthony Daniels was no slouch either.) And don’t forget Paula’s review!

The show will be in New Haven on Tuesday, and Toledo got an early jump on things by profiling the 15-year-old fan who won their prize pack. And there are a couple chances to win tickets for Detroit, Toronto, and New York.

(Picture from Cowboys Stadium by ThornMonkey)

November 3rd was the Atlanta showing of Star Wars: In Concert.

If you’re still waiting your turn (or trying to decide if you want to spend the money on an upcoming show), it is SO worth going! I won’t spoil it. (Although really, can you spoil it?) But the multimedia is mind-blowing. The montages really make you look at the story in a different way. And hearing a live symphony so obviously well-rehearsed on the music is magical.

Anthony Daniels spins a magical tale. Yes, we all know the story. But the way he tells it is a wonderful take on the individual characters and the overarching saga. And, as anyone who has seen him at a convention knows, he knows how to work a crowd.

The only negative I would give (at least at our show) was that the micing for the choir was a bit off. Admittedly, I’m a bit of a choir snob, but there was a mic near one tenor that made him stick out SO much. (Thankfully, he was correct and in tune the whole time.) But they sounded amazing, even for all that.

Some tips:

• Seating Recommendations – If you have yet to buy tickets (and Atlanta was only half-full, so you may not be too late), I’d go with the floor, but in the second or third section back. Too close to the stage and you won’t get the full effect of all the, um, effects. Plus, there is fire, people. Major fire. I was in the back floor section and it was hot back there!
• If you can’t afford the lower seats, go for closer to the stage. The way it’s set up, you’ll still see everything, but still get to see some detail.
• Get there as soon as the doors open.  – This is people-watching at its finest. I saw everything from toddlers to someone who had to be in his mid-80′s. Every five minutes or so, a kid would excitedly yell out, “Star Wars!” (And we adults happily took up the call.) There are also archive set-ups featuring stuff I have never seen at the many exhibitions I’ve been to. With the crowds, it will take a while to see them all. Plus, watching the 501st work the crowd is always amusing.
• Save up your pennies for the store. –  There are some wonderfully clever designs to be had that don’t come across on the website. Having tried on all of my goodies, I would recommend buying up one size if you don’t like tight-fitting shirts or jackets.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself.  It did my little geeky heart good. I will end with a quote from my friend (and Dragon*Con Star Wars track director) Brandy Roatsey: “Every time you watch the Saga or hear the music it’s like renewing your vows and falling in love all over again!”

As Star Wars: In Concert rolls along (Los Angeles and San Jose last week,) the press has caught wind and treated us to a few articles and the traditional oh-so-inspired headline choices. So far, the biggest treatment is out of Denver, which uses the concert tour as a hinge to play the dueling franchise game. With infographics! It’s familiar territory but one can’t help but appreciate the enthusiasm.

You can expect the expected (twice) from the San Jose Mercury News, while the Sacramento Press plays it safe. Next up is the northwest, where the Seattle Times and The Oregonian both offer interviews with Anthony Daniels. (The San Francisco Chronicle also nabbed him – on their baby blog? ) Don’t expect much from the east coast or midwest yet (it’s football season,) but Toledo and Cleveland have nods.

Of course CNN, being CNN, got George.

Buns over Broadway. Carrie Fisher’s one-woman show ‘Wishful Drinking’ opened on Broadway this weekend, and the reviews are in. Not too shabby! Let’s not forget the woman herself is still blogging away… And not pulling any punches, either.

Why is the goofy news always from the U.K.? Two stories involving David Prowse… In the first, his car breaks down. Okay, maybe not so wacky, except the part where it used to belong to Kenny Baker, thus allowing all the ability to write a silly headline. In the second, a house where the actor was filming a drama was raided by police after neighbors reported the film crew as being there to shot a porn flick.

Behind the CGI. The New York Daily News has a nice piece profiling the Clone Wars voice talent.

In Concert. Naturally the tour is getting some (digital) ink; L.A. Times’ Hero Complex talked to several folks, including host Anthony Daniels; Pheonix New Times’ Benjamin Leatherman was not particularly impressed, though he did give the masses a say. (Ahh, Twitter. Removing the journalist’s need to actually talk to people for comment since 2006.) As for the places where it’s yet to come, Chicago Now’s Geek to Me and The Ottawa Citizen have taken notice.

These aren’t on Ticketmaster or the show website yet, but a little Jawa pointed me at this site, which lists the following:

• Nov. 24: Ottawa, Ontario; Scotiabank Bank Centre

• Nov. 25: Montreal, Quebec; Bell Centre
• Dec. 1: Toledo, OH; Lucas County Arena
• Dec. 6 (two shows, Phil says:) Chicago, IL; United Center
• Dec. 12: Indianapolis, IN; Conseco Fieldhouse

UPDATE: The Star Wars: In Concert site has updated with the above plus:

• Dec. 9: Kansas City; Sprint Center (On sale Oct. 17)

• Dec. 13: Nashville, TN; Sommet Center (On Sale Oct. 24)

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The Star Wars: In Concert tour kicked off last night in Anaheim. (Be sure to check out the pictures, from StarWars.com or the civilians: The photo above is from Iman1138 @ Flickr.)

The tour is only just beginning, and new dates have been flowing into Ticketmaster all week. Tickets are available for many of the newly-announced dates: I just snagged some great seats at one of the Detroit shows. (The previous on-sale date of 9/23 was only for AMEX cardholders.) I’m including all the recently added dates here, but the latest additions are in green.

• Nov. 12: Manchester, NH; Verizon Wireless Arena.

• Nov 20: East Rutherford, NJ; IZOD Center.
• Nov 20, 21 (three shows:) Long Island, NY; Nassau Coliseum
• Nov. 26: Toronto, ON (Canada;) Air Canada Centre. (Americans, don’t forget about the new passport requirements.)
• Dec. 8: Omaha, NE; Qwest Center Omaha.
• Dec. 10: St Louis, MO; Scottrade Center.

New York and New Jersey go on pre-sale 10/5 and to the general public 10/10; St. Louis presale is on now, with general admission 10/10. Toronto general admission starts 10/03. Manchester, Baltimore, Columbus, Omaha and Cincinnati are on sale now.

As we gear up for the American debut of Star Wars: In Concert this Friday, StarWars.coms Pete Vilmur takes a look back at past Star Wars concert events.

(On that note, Ticketmaster has added just December dates for Omaha and St Louis.)

Also, it’s a trend!