Channel 62 Under the Stars, Weird Al Screens UHF With a Live Orchestra at the Greek
On Halloween night, composer John Du Prez will conduct the 1989 comedy’s score live, followed by a Q&A with Yankovic.
“Weird Al” Yankovic has claimed Halloween night in Griffith Park. On Saturday, October 31, the Greek Theatre will screen UHF, his 1989 comedy, for one night only, and for the first time the film’s original score will be performed live by a full orchestra, conducted by its composer, John Du Prez.
When the credits roll, Yankovic will come out for a Q&A with what his own site calls “special surprise guests.” Time Out lists an 8 p.m. start with tickets from $40, and VIP meet and greet packages are sold separately. “It’s not a Halloween movie, per se, but expect to see fans dressed in Hawaiian shirts and curly wigs,” Time Out notes.
Yankovic co-wrote UHF with Jay Levey, who directed it. Orion Pictures’ original press release set up the plot with a straight face. “George Newman (Yankovic) has an imagination that works overtime. But George himself can’t hold a job more than 24 hours.” His uncle wins a tiny television station in a poker game and makes George its manager. The cast includes Kevin McCarthy, Michael Richards before Seinfeld, Fran Drescher, Emo Philips and Victoria Jackson. Rock Cellar notes that the film failed to catch on at the box office and became a cult classic in the decades that followed.
The night marks the movie’s 37th anniversary, and Yankovic described it his own way. “I’m so excited to join the great John Du Prez on stage at the Greek to celebrate the 27th anniversary of the 10th anniversary of the release of UHF,” he said in a statement. “This will truly be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Du Prez, whose film scores include A Fish Called Wanda and the first three Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies, and who co-wrote Monty Python’s Spamalot with Eric Idle, sounded just as pleased. “Everything we imagined in the studio all those years ago will finally take on a new life performed in real time by a full symphony orchestra and Al’s wonderful band,” he said. His score has also been pressed on vinyl for the first time, sold through Yankovic’s site on his label, Way Moby.
The Greek date lands inside Yankovic’s Bigger & Weirder Tour, which his site says has been selling out venues including the Kia Forum. Velvet also covered Halloween Week at Full Volume, Steve Aoki Brings Dim Mak to Academy LA.
