ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT REPORTS FROM THE TIMES, NEWS SERVICES AND THE NATION’S PRESS.

MOVIES/TELEVISION

Stars for Charity: Orange County movie fans who missed seeing “Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace” the first time around--or want to see it on the big screen again this millennium--have a chance to be a part of history beginning Friday.

The George Lucas blockbuster will return to theaters for one week in about 350 cities in the United States and Canada, and--for the first time--100% of the proceeds will go to charity. Theater owners, in conjunction with Lucasfilm and 20th Century Fox, have chosen 177 charitable groups to benefit from the encore release. Newport Beach-based Edwards Theaters, which has selected Childhelp USA to receive its box office proceeds, will screen the film at four of its Orange County locations: Edwards Island in Newport Beach, Edwards 21 Megaplex at Irvine Spectrum, Edwards Aliso Viejo Stadium 20 and Edwards Brea Stadium 22. Says president and CEO James Edwards III: “With the holiday season upon us, it is especially important that we encourage community awareness of and participation in events which contribute to making this time of year special for those who are less fortunate.”