Nichelle Nichols set for NJ Star Trek con

Star Trek fans unite!

The annual New Jersey Star Trek convention, hosted by Creation Entertainment, comes to the Parsippany Hilton Friday, June 24 through Sunday, June 26. Expect several celebrities from all of the incarnations of Star Trek, plus vendors, panel discussions, a costume contest, live auctions and music videos created by fans.

For more information, click here. Although online sales are currently closed, tickets will be available at the convention. For a Gold Weekend Package, which includes priority seating in the main auditorium plus most of the celebrity autographs, tickets cost $369. One step below that level is the Preferred Weekend Package, which includes reserved seating and autographs as well ($185). The main difference is that the Gold package includes an exclusive party on Friday night.

For the peasants, general admission costs $20 each day (double that if you’re looking for a reserved seat).

The highlights of the convention should be numerous. Of particular note, Nichelle Nichols, Lt. Uhura from the original series, will greet fans on Sunday. Michael Dorn, who played Worf in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, will also attend the convention on Sunday. Dorn replaces Jonathan Frakes, who was originally scheduled to appear.

Friday will see Nana Visitor and Rene Auberjonois, two actors from Deep Space Nine. Saturday will see Connor Trinneer and Dominic Keating from Star Trek: Enterprise, plus a rare appearance by Barbara March and Gwynyth Walsh (they will be dressed as Lursa and B’Etor, respectively). Attending the convention all three days will be everyone’s favorite yeoman, Grace Lee Whitney (Janice Rand from the original series) and Bobby Clark (the Gorn from the classic Star Trek episode, “Arena”).

Gene Rodenberry’s assistant, Richard Arnold, will be on hand to offer thoughts about his old boss and Star Trek’s 45th anniversary. On Saturday night, there will be a cabaret show featuring the comedic talents of Keating, plus on-stage skits from March and Walsh. Tickets for the celebrity cabaret are $15 (one of the better deals at the convention).

Also on Saturday night will be a cocktail party with several actors (price is $49, which includes one drink).

The best deal of the convention is the Friday night theatrical showcase by Visitor and Auberjonois: It’s called Cross Your Hearts and it’s free (after you’ve bought an admission ticket, of course).

The two best panels will likely be John Paladin’s Character Make-up Workshop and “The Ships of Starfleet.”

Most of the autographs will set you back $20, while the separate photo opportunities cost anywhere from $35 to $40. For a slight bargain, try purchasing the joint photo opportunities that will be available. You’ll save a few bucks and also have a better, more memorable picture.

The tentative schedule includes…

Friday, June 24

• Noon to 7 p.m. – Vendors room open
• 1:35 p.m. – Richard Arnold’s salute to Star Trek’s 45th anniversary
• 2:10 p.m. – Q&A with Grace Lee Whitney
• 2:40 p.m. – John Paladin’s Character Make-Up Workshop
• 3:45 p.m. – Q&A with Rene Auberjonois
• 4 p.m. – Q&A with Auberjonois and Nana Visitor
• 4:45 p.m. – Q&A with Visitor
• 5:30 p.m. – Stump the Experts Trivia Game
• 6 p.m. – Blooper reels
• 6:20 p.m. – Special performance of Cross Your Hearts by Auberjonois and Visitor
• 7:10 p.m. – Autographs with Auberjonois and Visitor
• 9 p.m. – Dessert and cocktail party for Gold Weekend Package attendees

Saturday, June 25

• 10:15 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Vendors room open
• 11:35 a.m. – A look back at the original cast
• 12:30 p.m. – Star Trek Yes/No trivia competition
• 2:15 p.m. – No-minimum bid auction
• 3 p.m. – Q&A with Dominic Keating and Connor Trinneer
• 4 p.m. – Q&A with B’Etor and Lursa
• 5:25 p.m. – Pitch an idea for the next Star Trek film
• 6:05 p.m. – Costume contest
• 6:45 p.m. – Autographs with Keating, Trinneer, Gwynyth Walsh and Barbara March
• 9:30 p.m. – Cabaret performance starring Keating, Walsh and March
• 10:30 p.m. – Cocktail party with the stars

Sunday, June 26

• 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Vendors room open
• 11:50 a.m. – Richard Arnold panel on Star Trek’s 45th anniversary
• 12:25 p.m. – Q&A with Bobby Clarke
• 1 p.m. – Q&A with Michael Dorn (note: Dorn will sign autographs at various times on Sunday in the vendors room)
• 2 p.m. – “The Ships of Starfleet” panel
• 3:15 p.m. – No-minimum bid auction
• 4 p.m. – Q&A with Nichelle Nichols
• 5:20 p.m. – Star Trek Yes/No trivia competition
• 5:50 p.m. – Autographs with Nichols

(There will be many times throughout the weekend for photo opportunities with the celebrities.)

Enjoy the convention, and make sure you bring extra cash. Last year’s event had manageable crowds, with the main auditorium the most packed for Jeri Ryan. The vendors room is normally nicely laid out and includes quite a few rare finds.

The Star Trek bash will be held at the Parsippany Hilton, located at 1 Hilton Court in Parsippany.

For more information, click here.

Beam me to Parsippany!

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com