Video interview: Star Wars: in Concert conductor Mark Watters

by John P. Meyer

Here's an up-close-and-personal with the gent who'll be waving the baton at tonight's Star Wars: in Concert event at Cowboys Stadium.

His name's Mark Watters, and he's a home-grown North Texan, having spent his childhood years in Irving before heeding the siren song of SO CAL and heading west to pursue a composing career. At which he's prospered.

Watters has also established himself as a go-to guy for musical direction and conducting, in which regard he's done high-profile duty at the podium of two recent Olympics opening ceremonies (1996 and 2002).

It's in this capacity that he will appear before a crowd of Star Wars fanciers (and spectacle lovers in general) in Jerry's House, where the dramatic music of John Williams will be performed in counterpoint to a multi-media presentation involving clips from all six Star Wars films.

Lurking in the wings will be original production props -- including costumes, blasters, light sabers (non-functioning, we trust), and original sheet music from composer Williams' archives.

Emceeing the proceedings will be Anthony Daniels (C-3PO) -- sans golden togs, mind you -- who will introduce each themed segment of the entertainment.

Watters proclaims he made a smart decision by marrying a Texan (his wife hails from Arlington), and that he's been keeping up with the progress of the stadium construction on his periodic trips to town to visit family. (He might have saved himself the trouble.)

In our interview, Watters explains how the program was put together. (HINT: It involved a coordinated effort by both Lucasfilm folks and composer Williams.) Here are highlights of our conversation:

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