The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will play the Star Wars: A New Hope score live with the film on May 25, 2027, 50 years to the day after it opened. Tickets start at $45 on Oct. 15.
Star Wars is turning 50, and Pittsburgh is throwing it a very loud birthday party.
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will play John Williams’ score for Star Wars: A New Hope live while the movie plays on giant screens at PPG Paints Arena. The show is set for Tuesday, May 25, 2027, at 7 p.m., according to WPXI.
That’s 50 years to the day after the original Star Wars hit theaters on May 25, 1977.
When do tickets go on sale for Star Wars at PPG Paints Arena?
Tickets go on sale to the public on Thursday, Oct. 15, at 10 a.m. They start at $45, WPXI reported.
The concert was first planned for Heinz Hall, the orchestra’s downtown home. It moved to the arena so more fans can attend.
If you already bought tickets for the Heinz Hall show, you’ll get priority seating at the arena. Call the Heinz Hall ticket office at 412-392-4900 to get your new tickets.
Who is conducting the Star Wars concert?
Associate conductor Jacob Joyce will lead the orchestra. He has led the symphony’s past Star Wars film concerts, too.
The show is part of UPMC Movies with the PSO, the orchestra’s film series. It took that name after UPMC signed on as the title sponsor.
What will the Star Wars concert look like at PPG Paints Arena?
Big. The arena will use its four-sided videoboard, with four screens that each measure 50 feet by 32 feet. Together, they have more than 32 million pixels.
The show will also use two 360-degree LED rings, lighting effects and special effects. The orchestra will sit under the main videoboard, facing Section 112, and the music will play through the arena’s sound system.
There will also be special activities before the show and during intermission. The orchestra hasn’t shared details yet.
Why is the Pittsburgh Symphony moving Star Wars to an arena?
To fit more fans. Melia Tourangeau, the orchestra’s president and CEO, said the arena lets the group share the music with more people.
“There’s no score more iconic than Star Wars,” she said. She added that the arena show is “designed to be as epic as the film itself.”
PPG Paints Arena is best known as the home of the Pittsburgh Penguins. It holds far more people than Heinz Hall.
Is the Pittsburgh Symphony playing other Star Wars movies?
Yes. The orchestra is also playing Star Wars: Return of the Jedi with the film at Heinz Hall on Feb. 5 and Feb. 7, 2027, according to the season lineup WPXI shared in March.
The same season includes film concerts for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, How to Train Your Dragon and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. There’s also a Disney in Concert pops show in January.
The orchestra played The Empire Strikes Back with the film in May 2026.
What makes the Star Wars score so famous?
It’s one of the most recognized pieces of movie music ever. John Williams won the Academy Award for best original score for Star Wars.
In 2005, the American Film Institute named it the greatest American film score of all time. Williams went on to score all nine movies in the main Star Wars saga.
From the opening fanfare to the “Imperial March” in later films, the music is a big part of why the movies still feel huge.
How does a live-to-film concert work?
The movie plays on screen with its dialogue and sound effects, but the music track is removed. The orchestra plays the full score live, timed to match every scene.
That takes a lot of practice. The conductor watches cues to keep the music lined up with the action, so the lightsabers and the trumpets hit at the same time.
For fans, it’s a chance to hear a score they know by heart the way it was first recorded, with a full orchestra in the room.
Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
WPXI, Elisa Schwartzmiller (Oct. 12, 2026): the arena move, date, conductor, production details, ticket info and Melia Tourangeau’s quotes
WPXI (March 17, 2026): the 2026-27 season lineup, including Return of the Jedi
Sports Pittsburgh (2026): the May 2026 Empire Strikes Back dates
The Duquesne Duke, Josh Imhof (Feb. 6, 2025): Jacob Joyce leading past Star Wars film concerts
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