Celebration Cinema readies for upcoming Star Wars premiere
A total of 567 tickets have already been sold for opening night showings of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" at Celebration Cinema in Mount Pleasant.
The first 7 p.m. showing sold out Dec. 1, more than two weeks prior to showtime, said Celebration Cinema General Manager Chris Couling. The film will be released Dec. 18, with an advance showing available Dec. 17.
Couling and his staff are preparing the theater for what is projected to be a massive opening weekend.
"We want everybody who wants to see (the film) to be able to see it," Couling said.
Theater workers focused on having enough showtimes, stocking up on popcorn and other snacks and increasing turnaround time between shows, Couling said.
Turnaround time is the gap between showings for the staff to clean and prepare the theater for the next showing. Given the predicted attendance, turnaround times will accommodate for early arrivals and heavy traffic.
Ticked prices for "Star Wars" will be the same as other films. Although there was a $.25 increase in film tickets this fall, this is not a special case for the premiere.
Tickets for the movie are $10 for showings 6 p.m. or later and $8.25 for matinees. Students can receive a discount if they bring their Student ID, which reduces the evening price to $8.75. Any valid student ID will be accepted, including those other than Central Michigan University.
Couling encourages moviegoers to show their enthusiasm by arriving in costume, but asks that patrons not wear helmets or otherwise obscure their faces with makeup, masks or other items. Helmets or masks can be carried but not worn inside.
Mount Pleasant radio station WCZY 104.3 will be hosting a costume contest in the theater during the premiere. Participation in this contest is the only time wearing a helmet will be permissible inside the theater.
Couling also asks the community not to bring "blaster" toys or replicas or any prop resembling a firearm. Lightsaber toys and props are encouraged as long as they aren't a distraction during the film.
Although arriving early is encouraged, arriving more than an hour early will crowd the lobby and interfere with those trying to see the next show, he said.
Celebration Cinema employee Danielle Kwaitkowski will be one of approximately 30 employees working during opening weekend. She plans to celebrate her graduation Saturday by seeing the film with her family later that night.
"'Empire Strikes Back' is probably my favorite," the Warren senior said. "It's going to be super busy and the hardest part will be turning away people who don't know the show is sold out."
Couling is also a longtime fan, and is eagerly awaiting seeing the new movie.
"This is our biggest premiere since 'Hunger Games,' 'Twilight,' 'Harry Potter' and even 'Avatar,'" he said. "This may dwarf all of them."
Ann Arbor freshman Austin Johnson, who has only seen one "Star Wars" film, is aware of the hype surrounding the new film.
"There's a lot of publicity, a lot of talk about it, and it's all around," Johnson said. "I'm probably going to see it. It's going to be a big event."
