Stormtroopers that is. George Lucas is scheduled to be grand marshal of the Rose Bowl parade.
This New Year’s day I suggest everyone take a moment to sober up and check out the parade for the Rose Bowl. There you will see 200 storm troopers who are part of the 501st Legion. Over at Variety, they had this too say about the event.
"When Lucas had the idea for a “Star Wars” float in the Rose Parade, an open audition call went out to 501st members. Lucasfilm received 700 videos from costumed fans who filmed themselves marching. These were narrowed down to 200 participants, and Lucasfilm is flying those members in from across the nation and around the world, with 22 countries and 36 states represented.
About 80% will be dressed in the parade as the traditional iconic stormtroopers, with the rest appearing in related costumes such as snowtroopers, sandtroopers and biker scouts, Warner said.
“Think of it as the opening of the Olympics, with each foreign garrison represented by its country’s flag and local garrison arm patches,” Warner said.
Accompanying the 501st will be the Grambling State U. marching band from Louisiana—176 band members dressed as Imperial officers. Lucas is a big admirer of marching bands, especially Southern show-style bands. They’ll be performing three compositions familiar to fans of the films—the “Main Title,” “Imperial March” and “The Throne Room”—but Warner promises “a New Orleans twist.”
Eight dancers and eight flag girls from Grambling State will also be dressed as Twi’leks—exotic alien dancers from the “Star Wars” films.
Lucasfilm’s “Star Wars Spectacular” will be bookended by two floats representing the theme of this year’s parade, “Our Good Nature.” First float will be the Forest Moon of Endor from 1983’s “Return of the Jedi,” complete with Ewoks swinging between trees. The second float is the planet of Naboo, seen in the prequel trilogy, featuring royal queens, handmaidens, Jedi protectors and even working waterfalls."
I will be watching just to see if one falls will it look like human dominos.
-sk-