More of my interview with “Star Wars in Concert” narrator and C-3PO performer Anthony Daniels:

Part 1 | Part 2

PHOTO: ANOTHER PLANET ENTERTAINMENT

Unlike the Star Wars films, where John Williams’ score was cut to the film, “Star Wars in Concert” features footage that was cut to emphasize the music.

“We all know John Williams’ music, but I think a lot of people don’t know how it’s made,” said Anthony Daniels, narrator of the production and the voice of C-3PO going back to the original Star Wars movie in 1977. “Here they can actually see the violins are working in counterpoint to the cello, the double bass, the percussion sure as heck makes itself heard, because the brass comes in — but they’re all taking from each other, interweaving, repeating, repeating back again, throwing the ball back at each other all the time. … And it’s live. Very few people go to live concerts. I mean a lot of them go, but a lot more people could go if we take away the mystery.”

But there’s more than music to “Star Wars in Concert”: Traveling with the show is an exclusive exhibit of props, production artwork and costumes - including one of Daniels’ own original C-3PO suits. “So you can gaze in its glass case and think why would anybody, even for ready money, wear that kind of thing,” Daniels said wryly. “Which is why I’m very happy not to be wearing it here for the show.”

PHOTO: STARWARSINCONCERT.COM

Daniels said there is a moment in the show, however, where his suit “becomes a little golden.

“There are shades of Threepio that appear within the concert, but it’s very much me,” he said. Read the rest of this entry »

There’s a scene in Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi where the chatty droid C-3PO, having saved his friends from ending up as dinner for the primitive Ewok tribe by impersonating a god, tells his furry followers an epic tale of galactic war, romance and the Force to win their help in fighting the evil Empire. This alien bedtime story may be gibberish, but the honest voice of Anthony Daniels shines through the funny words and golden façade to reach people in a galaxy far, far away.

That was a long time ago. Now Daniels, the actor who has played “Threepio” since the character debuted in 1977’s Star Wars, is telling the story all over again, but in a different way: He’s the narrator of “Star Wars in Concert,” a live show stopping in Glendale for two performances Oct. 4 at Jobing.com Arena. He stopped in the Valley on Monday to promote the tour and get a feel for the venue.

As an 86-piece orchestra performs the film score of John Williams, Daniels will lead the audience through film montages that tell story of all six Star Wars films in the space of 90 minutes.

PHOTO CREDIT: JAYSON PETERS, EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE

“What I’m doing is just telling the story, and I hope we tell it in a very clear way that allows people to understand the story of Star Wars,” Daniels said. “Some people, I hope, will come who have never seen Star Wars and will go away knowing the story. I reckon there are people out there who are embarrassed to say they have never seen Star Wars or would like to actually know, without going through the whole six films, what it’s about.”

But even people who are familiar with the movies will come away with something new, he said.

“You know the movie but now you’re seeing it through a different pair of binoculars and getting a very different feeling about it. Rather like the original films, there are so many things within that screen - so many cuts - that you are hard-pressed to see everything, frankly.”

Look for more about “Star Wars in Concert” from my interview with Mr. Daniels as the event approaches.

See also: Anthony Daniels on board for ‘Star Tours II’