Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert

Set 30 years after Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: A New Hope returns to the desert planet of Tatooine in the fourth episode of the saga. While searching for a lost droid, a young Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) begins to discover his destiny when he is saved by reclusive Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness). A civil war rages in the galaxy, and Rebel forces struggle against the evil Galactic Empire. Luke and Obi-Wan enlist the aid of hotshot pilot Han Solo (Harrison Ford). Joined by the quirky droid duo R2-D2 and C-3PO, the unlikely team sets out to rescue Rebel leader Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and use stolen plans to destroy the Empire’s ultimate weapon.

In a legendary confrontation, the rogue group mounts an attack against the Death Star for a climactic battle with the evil Sith Lord Darth Vader.

Damon Gupton is the Principal Guest Conductor of the Cincinnati Pops. A native of Detroit, he served as American Conducting Fellow of the Houston Symphony and assistant conductor of the Kansas City Symphony. Appearances include the Philadelphia Orchestra, Boston Pops, Detroit Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, San Diego Symphony, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo, Sphinx Chamber Orchestra, Britt Festival, Brevard Music Center, and Classic FM Live at Royal Albert Hall with Chineke!. Concert collaborations include work with Sting, Marcus Miller, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Common, Leslie Odom Jr., Tony DeSare, The Midtown Men, Kenn Hicks, and Massamba Diop in Marvel Studio’s Black Panther in Concert.

Gupton received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Michigan. He studied conducting with David Zinman and Murry Sidlin at the Aspen Music Festival and with Leonard Slatkin at the National Conducting Institute in Washington, D. C.

A graduate of the Juilliard School Drama Division, Gupton is an accomplished actor in television, film, and onstage. He has had series regular roles in The Big Door Prize, The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey starring Samuel L. Jackson, Black Lightning, Criminal Minds, The Player, The Divide, Prime Suspect, as well as guest star/recurring appearances on Happy Face, Your Honor, Super Pumped, The Comey Rule, Dirty John, Goliath, Bates Motel, The Newsroom, Suits, Empire, Law & Order, and others. He appears in the upcoming film Lear Rex, starring Al Pacino, and Kristoffer Borgli’s The Drama, as well as Damien Chazelle’s Academy Award-winning Whiplash and La La Land. Stage roles include the award-winning Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom directed by Phylicia Rashad, and the Broadway production of Bruce Norris’ Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Clybourne Park.

Permitted items:
- Food, beverages, and disposable utensils (compostable, plastic, reusable, etc.)
- Blankets and breathable ground coverings
- Umbrellas
- Please note: Only personal-sized umbrellas will be permitted on the amphitheater lawn.
- Lawn chairs
- Please note: Lawn chairs must not exceed 43 inches in height when opened. Lawn chairs on the center amphitheater lawn must not exceed 26 inches in height when opened.

Items listed are subject to change or vary on show day

Items not permitted:
- Metal utensils
- Plastic tarps
- Lawn chairs over 43 inches in height when opened
- Tents (prohibited from the Amphitheater lawn and the area immediately in front of the Charles R. Wood Discovery Stage)
- Grills, cooking equipment, or any flame that uses a liquid, gas, or gel accelerant
- Laser pointers
- Drones
- Professional audio or video recording equipment
- Cameras with detachable lenses
- Bikes, rollerblades, skateboards, scooters, etc.
- Pets (except ADA-approved service animals)
- Illegal drugs or substances
- Weapons of any kind

Items listed are subject to change or vary on show day

Ground rules:
- Security procedure: all bags will be inspected, and all personnel may be searched via metal detectors. Bags include, but are not limited to, coolers, baskets, tote bags, purses, diaper bags, strollers, and other containers. Any item that is not permitted should be disposed of or returned to your vehicle.
- Smoking is permitted on the SPAC grounds in designated areas only. Please ensure that all cigarette butts are disposed of properly.
- Guests are welcome to bring items such as blankets and umbrellas but please consider others around you. If your items are disruptive, you may be asked to remove them.
- Reentry is permitted for SPAC-produced events. Guests must obtain a reentry wristband from staff at the gates prior to exiting the venue.
- SPAC has a zero-tolerance policy for harassment of any kind, including but not limited to race, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender presentation, sexual orientation, age, ability, religion, and citizenship. Harassment includes stalking, verbal or physical intimidation, offensive verbal comments, physical assault and/or battery, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome physical attention. If you are made to feel uncomfortable or unsafe, please immediately report any concerns to SPAC staff or security personnel so appropriate action can be taken.

Amphitheater House Rules for Classical Performances:
- "House" refers to seating inside the amphitheater. House rules are applicable inside the amphitheater for SPAC-produced events.
- Beverages are permitted in the amphitheater, but food is not.
- As a courtesy to the performers and the audience, guests arriving after the performance begins will not be seated until the earliest appropriate opportunity in the performance at the discretion of House Staff.
- Please turn off or silence all mobile devices prior to the start of the program. Texting and making calls in the theater is not allowed. Should an emergency arise in which you must use a mobile device, we ask that you step outside of the theater to avoid disturbing other guests.
- Video, photography, audio, or cell phone recording during performances is prohibited.