SAN DIEGO — Anthony Daniels, the man behind the voice, mannerisms and persona of C-3PO, is hitting the road to host a new U.S. tour of the Star Wars orchestral scores.
The British actor who portrays everyone's favorite protocol droid seems like the perfect choice to host Star Wars: In Concert, as his character remains one of the only constants in George Lucas' fantastic universe. After appearing in all six feature films, Star Wars videogames and TV specials, The Clone Wars movie and TV series and other tie-in productions, you could say Daniels is the voice of Star Wars.
"It never occurred to me that way," Daniels told Wired.com during a quiet moment in a Comic-Con International press room last week. "I think, if Darth Vader is the scary face of Star Wars, Threepio is the friendly face — the vulnerable face of Star Wars."
The symphonic tour will bring the unmistakable sounds of John Williams' sweeping cinematic scores to a generation of Star Wars fans who have most likely never heard the music performed live.
"Children are spellbound by this concert," said Daniels (pictured), whose link to Williams extends back to 1977, when the award-winning composer asked the actor to conduct a London concert dressed as C-3PO — an evening Daniels calls "simply the greatest night of my life."
The concert, which brings the sights and sounds of one of pop culture's most enduring franchises vividly to life, is part of a continuing effort to lure the masses to orchestral performances by staging shows based on entertainment staples like movies and videogames. The music of Williams, a former conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra and winner of multiple Oscars and Emmys, is perfectly situated to pull off the cultural crossover.
"You can't not be spellbound by this concert," Daniels said. "But I want to see people come to a live performance and hear live orchestral sound played beautifully throughout the hall. We have live cameras that can focus in on the orchestra so you can see the musicians working together to create that sound up on a huge, 100-foot digital screen."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoG07Wi6e1UThe screens present montages of Star Wars scenes, synced up to the conductor's direction and the musicians' efforts, thanks to state-of-the-art audiovisual technology.
The tour also travels with original costumes and props from each of the six Star Wars films, which are displayed throughout concert venues. For the first time, those display items include original sheets of the movie scores in Williams' hand, with his notations.
C-3PO and his robotic companion R2-D2 are key elements that carry through Lucas' sprawling space saga, Daniels said.
"George knows you can latch onto those characters and know you're watching a Star Wars movie," he said. "That was always the intention — to make the droids the through-line throughout the series. I think it really works well. And Threepio is such a sweet character at heart. He wants to be helpful. You want to like him."
Daniels said that during any Star Wars shoot, he arrives on set in costume, fully dressed in the shiny, golden C-3PO costume. "It makes an impact because it's iconic," he said. "And George Lucas will say, 'Now, Star Wars has arrived.'"
Daniels' own likable persona will take center stage during the upcoming Star Wars: In Concert tour, as he won't be wearing a droid outfit this time. He hosted the event when it originally played the Royal Albert Hall in London, but this will be the first time he's taken the show on the road.
"People know this music, but they'll have the wonderful opportunity to see how it's made," he said.
The show is currently in rehearsal before opening in October in Anaheim, California. As for the fall tour, Daniels is certain it will run without any of the disasters that befall his robot alter ego in the Star Wars movies.
"Threepio is always being battered about in one way or another — shot apart, decapitated," he said. "But I've been assured that this tour will be made as easy as possible. I won't be abandoned on a street corner having to hail a taxi to get me to Denver."
Image courtesy Star Wars*: In Concert*
See also:
