MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU: The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra plays live as the iconic film “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back” is screened at the State Theatre on May 21.

State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick presents “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert” with the New Jersey Symphony on Sunday, May 21 at 3 p.m. The program features a screening of the complete film with composer John Williams’ musical score performed live to the film. The concert will be led by conductor Constantine Kitsopoulos. Tickets range from $59-$129. 

Since the release of the first Star Wars movie over 40 years ago, the Star Wars saga has inspired audiences around the world with its mythic storytelling, groundbreaking special effects, and iconic musical scores composed by Williams.

Williams is well known for scoring all eight of the Star Wars saga films to date, beginning with 1977’s Star Wars: A New Hope for which he earned an Academy Award for Best Original Score. His compositions for The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and Star Wars: The Last Jedi were each nominated for Best Original Score.

With 51 Academy Award nominations, Williams is the Academy’s most nominated living person and the second most-nominated individual in history, after Walt Disney. In 2005, the American Film Institute selected Williams’ score to 1977’s Star Wars: A New Hope as the greatest American film score of all time.

Kitsopoulos is equally at home with opera, symphonic repertoire, film with live orchestra, musical theater, and composition. He has conducted the major orchestras of North America, the Hong Kong Philharmonic, and the Tokyo Philharmonic. He is music director of the Festival of the Arts Boca and General Director of Chatham Opera. He is general director of the New York Grand Opera and is working with the company to bring opera, free and open to the public, back to New York’s Central Park.

The State Theatre New Jersey is at 15 Livingston Avenue. Visit STNJ.org.