George Takei to Perform with Indianapolis Symphony in “Sci-Fi Spectacular” Concerts July 16-17

If you are looking for something to do in the Indianapolis area this weekend, you may want to take in some culture with the original Sulu. The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra will be performing a concert of music from Sci-Fi TV and movies (including Star Trek), with special guest George Takei who will be proving a "dramatic narration"…oh my. More details below.

 

Press Release

Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Performs Sci-Fi Spectacular with George Takei in Concerts July 16-17

Led by ISO Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly, program features music from science fiction films and TV; actor George Takei (“Mr. Sulu”) to appear as special guest

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly will take Marsh Symphony on the Prairie Series audiences on a celestial journey through many popular selections from famous science fiction film scores and television scores with special guest George Takei, who portrayed “Mr. Sulu” in the original Star Trek series and films, in Sci-Fi Spectacular, Friday and Saturday, July 16 and 17, at 8 p.m. at the Conner Prairie Amphitheater.

Maestro Everly has created an exciting weekend of music featuring numerous works by John Williams, including the main themes and selections from various Star Wars films, plus other favorites from Superman, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial. The concerts also will feature a suite from John Horner’s score to Avatar, selections from Michael Giacchino’s film score to Up and Star Trek (2009), and the main theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey, derived from Also sprach Zarathustra, by Richard Strauss. Other highlights will include Takei providing dramatic narration for the thematic elements from Bernard Herrmann’s score to the sci-fi classic, The Day the Earth Stood Still, plus a medley of sci-fi television themes titled “Lost in Syndication”  (including Alexander Courage’s original Star Trek theme).

As an added treat, renowned singer and songwriter Tony DeSare, a self-described “dedicated ‘Trekkie’,” will make a cameo appearance to sing the popular standard “Fly Me to the Moon,” and authentic costumed characters from the many Star Wars films represented by the 501st Legion in Indianapolis will be present before the concert and at intermission for photo opportunities with patrons.

Tickets are priced at $21 in advance and $26 at the gate for adults, with children’s prices (ages 2-12) at $10 in advance and $12 at the gate. Tickets may be purchased at any Marsh or O’Malia’s supermarket location, by calling the Hilbert Circle Theatre Box Office at (317) 639-4300, toll free at (800) 366-8457, or by visiting the ISO’s website at www.IndianapolisSymphony.org. Premium parking passes may be purchased for $20 each exclusively through the Hilbert Circle Theatre Box Office.

If rain is possible on concert days, the public can stay up-to-date via the ISO’s mSYMPHONY weather text message service by texting WEATHER [date of performance] (e.g. WEATHER JULY 16) to 24025. This service will be available on every concert date and will be updated by the ISO as conditions change.

Marsh Supermarkets is the Title Sponsor of the entire 2010 Marsh Symphony on the Prairie season and St. Vincent Health is the Premiere Sponsor for the summer series. Associate Sponsors for this concert are LLP Key Bank, Charles Schwab, Indianapolis Power & Light Company, Liberty Mutual, Wells Fargo, and United Parcel Service.

Artist Biographies:

A North American leader in symphonic pops, Jack Everly has served as Principal Pops Conductor of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra since 2002, and has been the Music Director of the ISO’s holiday production of Duke Energy Yuletide Celebration since 1994. He also serves as Principal Pops Conductor with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, Canada, and was recently named Pops Conductor of the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra. Originally appointed by Mikhail Baryshnikov, he was the Music Director of the American Ballet Theatre for 14 years. On Broadway, he teamed with Marvin Hamlisch to conduct many of his hits, including The Goodbye Girl, They’re Playing Our Song, and A Chorus Line, and he also worked with the legendary Carol Channing in two separate productions of Hello Dolly! In television and film, Maestro Everly has appeared on In Performance at the White House and conducted the songs for Disney’s animated classic, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. He has served as music director on many Broadway cast recordings and conducted the critically-acclaimed Everything’s Coming Up Roses: The Complete Overtures of Broadway’s Jule Styne. Maestro Everly was chosen to conduct the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) for the 2010 National Memorial Day Concert and A Capitol Fourth, two of PBS’ highest-rated programs which air live in HD from the West Lawn of the United States Capitol.

George Takei has been an actor for decades and is best remembered for his portrayal of “Mr. Sulu” in the original Star Trek television series and subsequent films that followed. On television, he also guest starred in episodes of series such as “Perry Mason,” “Mr. Novak,” “Hawaiian Eye,” “I Spy,” “It Takes a Thief,” “The Twilight Zone,” “Kung,” “My Three Sons,” “Mission: Impossible,” “The Six Million Dollar Man,” “Baa Baa Black Sheep,” “Miami Vice” and a dual role in the series “Hawaii Five-O.” In addition to the Star Trek movies, other film credits include Ice Palace with Richard Burton and The Green Berets with John Wayne. In addition to his acting career, Takei also hosted a television public affairs program titled “Expression East/West,” which dealt with issues involving human relationships, and he authored two books: a science fiction novel Mirror Friend, Mirror Foe, and his memoir, To the Stars.

Versatile singer, pianist and songwriter Tony DeSare was named a “Rising Star” Male Vocalist in the 2009 Downbeat Critics Poll who has won critical acclaim for his many concert appearances in North America, Australia, Japan, and Hong Kong. Often compared to Harry Connick, Jr., and Michael Bublé, DeSare brings his own unique style with refreshing, jazzy interpretations of pop standards, plus his own original works. Since his debut album, Want You, in 2005, which was featured in on the Billboard charts, he has performed on CBS’ “Early Show,” NBC’s “Today Show” and Weekend “Today,” Fox News Channel, “The Tonight Show,” and “Entertainment Weekly,” among others. He also wrote and composed the title theme to My Date With Drew, an independent documentary feature film about a man who has 30 days and $1,100 to get a date with Drew Barrymore, and his original song, “Let’s Just Stay In,” will be featured in the upcoming 20th Century Fox film, The Tooth Fairy, starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Ashley Judd, Billy Crystal and Julie Andrews.

Soprano Kristin Plumley has operatic credits in prominent roles with New York City Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Virginia Opera Lyric Opera of Cleveland, Virginia Opera and L’Opéra Francais de New York, and has stared in regional productions of West Side Story, Carousel, Brigadoon, and Oklahoma! On the concert stage, she has performed at Carnegie Hall with the New England Symphonic Ensemble, and has appeared in both the Indianapolis and Pacific Northwest touring casts of Yuletide Celebration.

Founded in 1937, the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir has partnered with the ISO each season to perform great choral masterworks, and performs its own season of concerts and educational outreach programs that reach more than 25,000 persons each year. In addition to the choral classics, introducing new works is central to the Choir’s mission and recent seasons have seen numerous commissioned works added to the body of choral repertoire. The Choir is led by Eric Stark, who will begin his eighth season as Artistic Director of the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir this autumn.

In Brief:


Jack Everly conducts Sc-Fi Spectacular concerts featuring popular favorites from science fiction films and television; actor George Takei (“Mr. Sulu” on Star Trek) will serve as narrator.

Performers: Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra

Conductor: Jack Everly

Artists: George Takei, Narrator

Tony DeSare, Vocalist

Kristen Plumley, Vocalist

Indianapolis Symphonic Choir

Location: Conner Prairie Amphitheater – 13400 N. Allisonville Rd., Fishers, IN

Dates (times): Fri., & Sat., July 16 & 17, 8 p.m.

Repertoire:

Program features many selections from popular sci-fi film scores and television series including The Day The Earth Stood Still, various Star Wars films and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. George Takei will provide dramatic narration to accompany elements from Bernard Herrmann’s score to The Day the Earth Stood Still and versatile singer Tony DeSare will sing “Fly Me to the Moon” in a cameo appearance.

Tickets:

Adults – $21 (Advance); $26 (At Gate)

Children (Ages 2-12) – $10 (Advance); $12 (At Gate)

Hilbert Circle Theatre Box Office by calling (317) 639-4300; Toll Free (800) 366-8457; in-person at all Marsh and O’Malia’s stores, or online at www.IndianapolisSymphony.org

 

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Security reports Mr. Sulu is chasing musicians… with a baton!

“Kung?” musta missed that one.

The 501st and Rebel Legion will also be there this weekend providing ambiance :)

I might have to make the trip to see Sulu!

If anyone has the pipes for a dramatic narration, it’s Takei. :D

I went to the Star Wars in Concert last week. It was excellent. Anthony Daniels (c threepio) was the host.

The Symphony on the Prarie is a very cool venue. Its an outdoor amphitheatre north of Indy. Its all very casual and laid back. People bring blankets or lawn chairs, sit back and listen to the ISO. Some people tailgate or bring their own dinners to eat while the program is going on.

George was on local Indy radio this morning…and of course, was bashing the Shat. The DJ was goading him on though.

I didn’t get tickets, dang it!

haha looks like Takei is taking a page from the Shat’s book! Would love to see this – he has a great voice.