BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20250727T000000Z DTEND:20250727T033000Z LOCATION:Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre 1000 North Carolina Music Factory Boulevard Charlotte NC 28206 TRANSP: OPAQUE SEQUENCE:0 UID: DTSTAMP:20260408T083446Z SUMMARY:Weird Al's Bigger & Weirder 2025 Tour Charlotte DESCRIPTION:FROM THE LECs (Legion Event Coordinators): Personnel: For the Weird Al performance, we invite you to provide: • The preferred lineup is an even number of (8) traditional Storm Troopers (ANH Hero and, A New Hope Stunt, ESB, and/or RotJ) and (1) Darth Vader. NOTE: It must be an EVEN number of Troopers to maintain symmetry on stage. If we do not have 8 [white] OT stormtroopers, then a pair of the following, in this order, can replace TKs: 2 Scout Troopers, 2 Sand Troopers, 2 Snow Troopers, 2 Clone Troopers, 2 Imperial Guards [If more than 1 Vader and 8 Stormtroopers sign up, then a lotto system will be implemented to determine who can attend at each city/event.] • A working R2D2 is always welcome. You MUST be able to provide a piece of 4’ x 4’ x 1/8” masonite, which can be taped down on stage and used as a ramp to cover cables, to be returned at end of show. • 1 handler per trooper (must sign up as a handler on our website). Preference will go to a handler which is a family member of the chosen trooper. If a family member isn't joining with a trooper, then a handler slot will be open to anyone in the Garrison. In addition an archivist (1) to shoot home video of the performance will be allowed. Videotaping may be subject to venue approval. Performance: “The Saga Begins” and “Yoda” are performed back-to-back at the end of the show. Your appearance on stage takes place during the performance of the song “We all have Cell Phones” which leads in to “The Saga Begins.” You will promptly exit stage at the end of “ The Saga Begins” and before “Yoda” begins. After Show Meet & Greet: All group members are invited to join the staff/Weird Al after the show for the VIP Meet & Greet and photo opportunity with Al. This typically begins 15-20 minutes after the show has ended and lasts 30-45 minutes. Depending on the number of costumed members in your Garrison, we may encourage splitting the participation of members between the Meet & Greet and greeting fans in the lobby or exit area of the venue. Showtime/Arrival: All garrison members and handlers should plan to arrive between 2 ½ and 3 hours prior to show time, with everyone present by 2 hours prior. The Tour Manager will advise you of your show’s start time. To find out the show time for your show before then, please visit the venue’s website. Schedule: After everyone has arrived, your group will be shown the routine by our Stage Manager. If you’re not familiar with the routine it’s extremely simple and is quickly learned. You’ll have a room or space to rehearse with audio (the recorded version of “The Saga Begins”) as much as you would like up until the time you’re needed on stage. There are also videos from past performances that can be found on YouTube for advance reference. Parking/Guests Parking availability varies and is based entirely on the venue for any given show. Some venues, especially older theatres, have limited parking, while others may have the space to accommodate several vehicles. We are usually able to accommodate at least three vehicles. If you have more vehicles than we can accommodate at the venue, we will provide passes or reimbursement for near-premise lot parking. Food We will provide pizza and salads along with a variety of drinks backstage for all 501st performers and handlers prior to the performance. ADDTIONAL INFORMATION: PLEASE READ ALL!!! As you can see, the official request from Weird Al is for 1 Darth Vader and 8 OT, white, storm troopers, and 1 working R2-D2. We have 10 costumed slots to sign up, but if there are more signed up than there are slots, this will NOT be first come first serve. We will spin a wheel for ALL of that costume type who signed up. Hence, just because you're the first Vader to sign up doesn't mean you'll be selected to go. We, the GEC team, will keep the official list, and work with the POC's of each city's show. The handler spots will be first available for a significant other or child of the selected trooper, so don't randomly sign up to be a handler. The archivist can be anyone that has a great capability to record this event. After we've selected those who can go, we'll have an official list (noted below) for each city's event, and then everyone else, in order they signed up, will be back-ups. Don't remove yourself if you aren't selected if you want to be a back-up... that's the advantage of signing up first, is if you aren't selected, at least you'll be first in line in case someone has to drop. If you are selected for one city, you may not participate in an additional city. We want everyone to have a chance at this. TL;DR If more than 1 Vader and/or 8 TKs sign up, to be fair, we will spin a wheel. (Robert, the current XO, or someone on command staff at that time after the June 1, 2025 cut off date for sign ups, will spin/select the names live, probably on FaceBook). Hence, just because a Vader or 8 TKs have already signed up... continue to sign up as you still have a chance. If there are not 8 TKs, then we'll choose additional outfits as named by the tour manager above. Remember, they must be in pairs, so if only 1 Scout signs up, but 2 Sandtroopers also sign up, it'll go to the Sandtroopers because they want symmetry on stage. Last, please don't ask us why only certain characters are requested. Weird Al's Tour Manager worked with the Legion (Legion Level Event Coordinators) and this event request was sent to any/all Garrison's with a city on his tour. Hence, it will be the same rules for every city he tours in, with the exception of the amount of those requested... larger venues have more requested slots and smaller venues have less requested slots. This special request is allowed and is approved at the Legion level. Beyond R2, this event does not call for any RL or MM costumes. Sign-ups will be open until June 1, 2025. If needed, drawing for slots will be on or around June 6, 2025. That will give those selected plenty of time to request off and get situated. Again, if you are chosen, and need to back out, please do so ASAP so another can be brought in to take the slot. **************************** Official Approved / Awarded Slots per drawing/lotto in June 2025: Vader: 1: Monty D Hutchens Back-Up: Jerry Sienkiewicz 1. Cheralyn Lambeth - TK ESB 2. Phillip Ledford - TK ESB 3. Jordan Leitner - TK Stunt (ANH) 4. Dean Plantamura - TK Stunt (ANH) 5. Thomas Choiniere - TK Stunt (ANH) 6. Eric Swenson - TK Stunt (ANH) 7. Billy Finney - Biker Scout ROTJ 8. Chris Gould - Biker Scout ROTJ R2D2: 1. James Holley Back-Up: Archivist: 1. Back-Up: Handlers: 1. Ava Swenson 2. Cody Plank 3. Connie Hutchens 4. Bailey McGuinness 5. Jerry Sienkiewicz 6. Jeff Miller 7. Christine Miller 8. PRIORITY:1 CLASS:PUBLIC BEGIN:VALARM TRIGGER:-PT10080M ACTION:DISPLAY DESCRIPTION:Reminder END:VALARM END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR