A few select members of the 501st were cast by a talent agent to participate in the HUGE Bar miztvah for twin boys called Ben and Zak.  At first we were all thinking, cool, free plane tickets, free hotel, show up in someone's basement, take a few pictures posing with Barney and go back home.

Nope.

None of us could believe the scale on which this Bar miztvah was planned.  From huge painted scrims, to 4 15ft TV screens, a full lighting and sound crew, stagehands, caterers, a live band and even personalized Benzak napkins, this whole show was unbelievable.  The coolest part was the lighted tunnel where the guests entered!

I couldn't possibly go into detail about this whole show without writing an 8 page synopsis of what we did and what happened.  We had 48hrs to plan a light saber duel, our group played football in kmart and Corey's brother started a fart war (don't ask), our rental van broke down, I killed my back, we got to meet mini-Jay leno; one of the midgets they hired for jawas.  It was an incredible adventure, there is no way to top it!  

As for the big performance, the entire production was staged like a ride from universal studios (i.e. Back to the future ride), guests showed up in Sci-Fi costumes, and the twins greeted them on a television screen (pre recorded) as X-wing pilots on a mission.  The guests walked through the lit tunnel in small groups and went through a Star Trek type sliding doors to a cocktail area of the hanger, decorated like a huge space ship.   Everyone enjoyed cocktails for about an hour and then a movie was played on 2 15ft screens of the twins crash landing their space ship (fully digitally rendering movie).  The center curtain in the hanger opened to reveal the stage, dance floor, food band. 2 more 15ft screens, awesome decorations and a scrim decorated as if you crash landed on a strange planet and could see a celestial display above you!  The people ate, danced, and had a great time and then us costumed characters started to show up and perform.  From walking around as troops to full out battle with maul and vader to save the twins.  Vader turned good at the end and killed my stupid ass.   Then we mingled with the crowd until late and bonus, I got to stay in character.  I scared the crap out of everyone!  I loved being mean.  Oh and the food was awesome by the way!

Amazingly I heard rumor that the bill supposedly ran somewhere around $400,000US.  Unfortunately none of us got paid -- lets just say I wish those kids parents would adopt me.  However I had the greatest time, got to know my friends better and got to make new friends!  Thank you everyone for a wonderful time!

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The "bad flight attendant" thought we were sooo cool. And we were. The stress was getting to me! Joey was hyper. Evan didn't feel so good LOL.
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The bar mitzvah layout Testing out my saber Nick testing out Vader's saber Meet Scott's R2 and Scott! Fully functional remote control R2D2 unit
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The stage under construction Ooooo pretty! The lighting and stage were so cool! Me playing with the fog machines! The lighting could not have been more wicked. Oh man the tunnel kicked ass!
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Did I mention the tunnel kicked ass? (me in the tunnel) Me and Scott (Maul and Vader) posing The bad ass duo. Saber fight choreography with Jimmy, Joey and me Teaching Scott the choreography
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Planet Ben Zak sign R2 and an armless 3CP0 Wicked costumes guys! WOOOO! Check out those lasers!
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Jimmy playing in the lights Joey playing in the lights The starwars dressing room Preparing 3CPO 5 min to first call!
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Our little friends the jawas -- including mini Jay Leno! Joey admires the life-size Chewbacca Chewie! Great costume! The Emperor and SithVixen Oooo we're bad...
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Nick's great makeup job! Thank you Nick for doing my makeup for me! Damn hood covering it. The SithVixen ready for appearance Peeking at the crowd from behind the scrim Mingling after the performance -- everyone was scared of me
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Vader after the performance Meet one of the twins (both were dressed as rebel pilots) Like my hat? Evan's tongue gets stuck to the Millenium Falcon ice sculpture Long story about Dip and Dots.  Nick that is gross!
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Evan relaxing with his belted in helmet on the way home. Mpg of the maul/vader saber fight Another MPG of the maul/vader saber fight MPG of SithVixen walking through the tunnel MPG of R2D2 functioning
MPG of troopers in the tunnel