Lots of amazing things happen at the PPL Center, Allentown.

Elton John kicked off his farewell world tour in 2018.

James Taylor returns for a concert June 27.

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms won a game.

More amazing that all that was “Star Wars: A New Hope” in concert, accompanied by the Allentown Symphony Orchestra.

Cue the “Star Wars” theme.

John Williams’ “Star Wars” score never sounded better as played by the Allentown Symphony Orchestra (ASO).

The estimated 4,000 who attended the May 20 concert seemed to agree.

Not only did the ASO sound great, but the “Star Wars” film looked terrific on the big screen set up midway in the arena.

And it was a great night for potential members of Credit Readers Anonymous. I never saw so many sit through the closing credits of a movie.

Of course, they stayed to listen to the ASO strings, brass and percussion finale.

Presenting an iconic feature movie accompanied by a live orchestra is a trend that’s catching the public’s fancy.

After all, why would 4,000 turn out at PPL Center to see a film that they have probably seen many times in theaters, on video and could probably stream in their homes almost any night of the week?

They came for the music. It was a classic, and classical.

The “Star Wars” concert accompanied by the ASO scored.

Whether this was a one-time event by the Allentown Symphony Orchestra is uncertain.

“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone In Concert” will be presented at the Mann Music Center July 23 when The Philadelphia Orchestra performs the John Williams’ score live as the film plays in high-definition.

“The Princess Bride in Concert” was presented Feb. 25 accompanied by the Philadelphia Orchestra.

John Williams’ fans, mark your calendars: The Allentown Symphony Orchestra presents “The Music Of John Williams,” 7:30 p.m. May 8, 2023, Miller Symphony Hall, Allentown, as part of the ASO 2022-’23 Pops Series. Tickets are on sale for the 2022-’23 ASO season.

Conducting an orchestra accompanying a movie requires a special skill set. Only a handful of conductors are authorized by the Walt Disney Company to raise the baton for orchestras to accompany its films.

Lawrence Loh, guest conductor for the Allentown Symphony “Star Wars” PPL Concert, is one of a handful authorized to do so.

Loh had an ear bud with a click track in his ear, and a video screen with special cues, punches and streamers, as the film played in front of him at the podium. He wielded his baton with the enthusiasm of Han Solo brandishing a lightsaber.

The Allentown concert featured the first “Star Wars” film, released in 1977. The 75-member ASO performed the John Williams’ score with the large giant screen set up mid-ice (the floor was covered) in PPL Center, home of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the American Hockey League professional team.

In accompanying a blockbuster movie, the ASO is part of a trend that symphony orchestras are in tune with.

“The Philadelphia Orchestra is beginning to do them. The New Jersey Symphony does a lot of them. And usually it’s a large orchestra. You need a big venue,” Allentown Symphony Orchestra Music Director Conductor Diane Wittry told The Press in a phone interview prior to the concert.

Even The Allentown Band, with conductor Ron Demkee, has gotten into the act, performing music to accompany the silent film, “‘Phantom of the Opera,” Aug. 18, 2018, in Miller Symphony Hall, Allentown.

Lawrence Loh has conducted orchestras numerous times to accompanying popular movies. “The first few that I did were ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and ‘Singing in the Rain,’” he told The Press in a phone interview before the concert.

Loh conducted “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” with the Baltimore Symphony, May 12, 13, 14. He conducts “ET” with the Dallas Symphony in September.

His conducting of concerts synchronizing live orchestral music with film has included “Star Wars Episodes. IV and V,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Jaws,” “Pixar in Concert,” “Disney in Concert” and “Casablanca.”

“Star Wars A New Hope” received an Academy Award for original score for John Williams.

“Star Wars” opened up a whole new universe for John Williams and scores of film composers.

And now for symphony orchestras, too, to accompany blockbuster movies.

The Walt Disney Company, which purchased Lucasfilm from George Lucas in 2012, controls the rights to the “Star Wars” films and franchise.

Orchestra musicians receive the score for the movie soundtrack in advance of the concert.

For the PPL Center concert, the ASO had two rehearsals the day before and one rehearsal the day of the concert.

During the movie concert, there were subtitles. All of the music was removed. The sound effects and dialogue was retained.

Said Lawrence Loh: “To have an orchestra playing the music live is such a special experience. For ‘Star Wars’ fans, to see a performance of ‘Star Wars” feels a little like going to see the film for the first time in 1977. It’s a communal feeling, being in the same room with so many other ‘Star Wars’ fans.”

Indeed, the Allentown Symphony Orchestra got a sustained standing ovation at the conclusion of its May 20 “Star Wars” movie concert.

It was truly an exhilarating experience. I must say, tears welled up in my eyes upon hearing the opening notes of the “Star Wars” theme.

It took a lot a brass to put on the concert. Literally. Diane Wittry added extra horns to the Allentown Symphony Orchestra for the concert of the “Star Wars” movie.

The force was with the Allentown Symphony Orchestra for “Star Wars A New Hope” in concert at PPL Center, Allentown.

Here’s hoping the Allentown Symphony Orchestra will accompany another blockbuster film.

Theatrical Domestic Movie Box Office,

June 10-12: It was Dino Might at the box office as “Jurassic World: Dominion” opened at No. 1 with $145 million, in 4,676 theaters, dropping “Top Gun: Maverick” from its two-week spot at No. 1 to No. 2, with a still strong $51.8 million, in 4,262 theaters; $395.1 million, three weeks.

The opening of “JW:D,” sixth in the series dating back to 1993, fell short of “Jurassic World” (2015), $208 million, and “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” (2018), $148 million.

3. “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” dropped one place, $5.2 million, in 3,345 theaters; $388.7 million, six weeks. 4. “The Bad Guys” stayed in place, $2.5 million, in 2,416 theaters, $91.8 million, eight weeks. 5. “The Bob’s Burgers Movie” dropped two places, $2.4 million, in 2,605 theaters, $27.2 million, three weeks. 6. “Downton Abbey: A New Era” dropped one place, $1.7 million, in 2,011 theaters, $40.1 million, four weeks. 7. “Everything Everywhere All at Once” dropped one place, $1.3 million, in 1,434 theaters; $63 million, 12 weeks. 8. “Firestarter” moved up 13 places, $833,340, in 150 theaters; $9.2 million, five weeks. 9. “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” dropped one place, $750,559, in 1,067 theaters; $189.8 million, 10 weeks. 10. “Ante Sundharaniki,” opening, $620,000, in 350 theaters.

Box office information from Box Office Mojo as of June 12 is subject to change.

Unreel,

June 17

“Lightyear,”

PG: Angus MacLane directs the voice talents of Chris Evans, Keke Palmer, Dale Soules and Taika Waititi, and the Animation in the Science-Fiction Drama. Buzz Lightyear goes to infinity and beyond.

“Spiderhead,”

R: Joseph Kosinski directs Miles Teller, Charles Parnell, Chris Hemsworth and Jurnee Smollett in the Science Fiction Action Thriller. In the future, convicts volunteer as medical subjects to shorten their prison sentences.

“Brian and Charles,”

PG: Jim Archer directs David Earl, Chris Hayward, Louise Brealey and Jamie Michie in the Comedy. A man in Wales builds a robot to keep him company.

Movie opening dates from Internet Movie Database as of June 12 are subject to change.