It's safe to say that most video-game geeks would rather eat their controller than spend an evening at the orchestra.

At the same time, if someone had told conductor Arnie Roth long ago that he would one day produce symphony orchestra concerts based on video-game music, he would have called them crazy.

But on Saturday, gamers will fill the Orpheum Theatre and Roth will once again lead a full-sized orchestra as it performs music from the bestselling video game series "Final Fantasy."

The Chicago-based conductor has toured this show, called "Distant Worlds: Music From Final Fantasy," in Asia and the United States since 2004. Tickets -- some as high as $128.50 -- go fast.

It's been 20 years since the "Final Fantasy" franchise helped pioneer role-playing video games. The series' longtime composer, Nobuo Uematsu, is worshiped in video-game circles for matching the game's sword and spell sagas with epic, almost cinematic musical scores.

Roth has worked closely with the Japanese composer in bringing the music to life in concert. During Saturday's performance, a giant video screen will hang above the orchestra, displaying sequences from the games. Because the show doesn't travel with an orchestra, the 100-piece unit will be assembled from Minnesota Orchestra players and the Macalester Concert Choir.

Roth said there is a different kind of pressure when performing in front of video-game junkies who have heard these songs thousands of times. They tend to be very vocal when they disapprove.

"I've seen what they say on the Internet," he said.

For the most part, fan approval has been overwhelming. In Asia, "Final Fantasy" concerts have repeatedly sold out 4,000- to 5,000-seat concert halls, he said.

For many fans, Roth said, this is their first time seeing a symphony orchestra. Some get dressed up (tuxedos and dresses), while others really get dressed up -- in costumes from the game. Either way, they're the ideal concert crowd, Roth said.

"You can hear a pin drop in this audience from the beginning to the end."

New season, new fashion shows

The first big fashion show of the season, Envision, takes place at the Graves 601 on Saturday. The show features clothes by local boutiques, an interactive hair show and music by DJs Timmay and Jevne. Some proceeds benefit the breast cancer research fund Young Survival Coalition.

9 p.m. Sat. 601 1st Av. N., Mpls. $20. 18 and older. 612-677-1100. envisionmpls.com.

Got what it takes?

On Saturday, the leather comes out for the annual Mr. Minneapolis Eagle 2009 contest. The Washington Avenue gay bar will send its winner onto the international Mr. Leather contest in Chicago over Memorial Day weekend.

10 p.m. Sat. 515 Washington Av. S., Mpls. 612-338-4214. minneapoliseagle.com.

Night at the museum

Thinking about a trip to the Weisman today? Come for the art, stay for the hard-hitting hip-hop and spoken word. Equilibrium brings its popular spoken-word series to the museum with a night of Vietnamese poets (the show features Sahra Nguyen, Jennii Le and the group Magnetic North). The evening complements the museum's current exhibit, "Changing Identity," which focuses on recent works by Vietnamese women.

8 p.m. Fri. 333 East River Rd., Mpls. $3-$5. 612-625-9494. weisman.umn.edu.

thorgen@startribune.com • 612-673-7909