MarsCon Movie Night
LOST BOYS
Fri./Sat. Feb 22/23, 11:30 pm
Plaza Maplewood Theater
All Seats: $4.00
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MarsCon 2002 home |
Airport Hilton Bloomington, MN MarsCon P.O. Box 21213 Eagan, MN 55121 612-724-0687 By email... Info Central: 2002info@MarsCon.org Webmaster: 2002webmaster@MarsCon.org |
Programming Update
by Christine LaBounty, Programming Chair
Thanks, Volunteers!
Thank you to all who have lent your time and talents to MarsCon programming in the past and to all who plan to contribute to programming for MarsCon 2002! Programming is the heart of this great convention, and you wonderful volunteers make it beat. I would gladly welcome any feedback on how to improve programming for the upcoming convention. Also, if you are interested in getting more involved in planning programming for MarsCon or if you would like to serve as a panelist or speaker or performer, please do get in touch with me. I would love to hear from you. My email addy is 2002programming@marscon.org, or you may contact me through the MarsCon email, snail mail or phone # listed above.
Hotel Layout & Programming Logistics
Switching hotels for 2002 has presented some logistical challenges, but, rest assured, programming content will still be rich with the same broad emphasis on science fiction and fantasy in all its glorious forms: literature, television, film, comics, games, art, music and costuming, etc ... as well as the hard sciences and children's programming. Programming rooms, Main Stage and Blue Mars will be located on the 2nd floor, close to Registration, Ops, Gaming Suites, Science Room and the Art Show. Additional programming will be found in Krushenko's and the Martian Music Room, located on the 12th floor, close to parties and the Con Suite. Blue Mars (our film/video/anime room) will likely be the room most affected by our change in venue as it will be held in a conference theater room with a built-in screen and chairs arranged in tiers ... like a real theater, only cozier and with prettier lights. Maps of the Airport Hilton first and second floor layout are now available. Look for additional maps and signs at the con.
Event Highlights
We're very much looking forward to another fine Klingon performance by the IKV RakeHell. The Fan Show will also be returning to MarsCon for its second year, bursting with the full flavor of satire ...and... it leaves a minty after taste. A belly dancing extravaganza at the Masquerade has been promised, and we are planning to host another convention roundtable discussion of the subject of running SF/fantasy conventions. Many programming ideas are in the process of bring refined at this point, but examples of panels and talks that probably will happen include:
- Dragonriders of Pern discussion
- Practical Magic: Using Magic in Your Everyday Life
- Religion and Science Fiction/Fantasy
- History of Fandom: an "Old Pharts" discussion of fandom and great events at various past cons, Worldcons, etc...
- Recent Films (Including Harry Potter... & The Fellowship of the Ring)
- The Future of Literary Science Fiction/Fantasy
- The Frelling Farscape Phenominon
- International Space Station News
Programming Guests of Honor
I feel very fortunate to be working with such an incredible and diverse group of Guests of Honor for programming this year. Lyda Morehouse, John Levene, Peter Woodward, Robin Wood, and our Featured Guest Craig Lang are all an absolute pleasure to work with, and I hope everyone who attends MarsCon will have the chance to meet each one of them at their scheduled events.
- Lyda Morehouse is a veteran & marathon programmer at MarsCon, and has been since our first year. (Thank you, Lyda!) She will be participating in panel discussions throughout the convention and plans to read us samples from her latest work, the sequel to her novel Archangel Protocol.
- John Levene will be sharing his own film tribute to Doctor Who with us in Blue Mars. John also plans to talk all about his experiences performing in eight seasons of Doctor Who, in Space: 1999, in U.F.O., in The Adventurers, and in other productions too numerous to list, as well as his journeys around the world, to the sets of other SF classics, and as a speaker at educational seminars about our favorite Doctor.
- Peter Woodward plans to entertain us with anecdotes about his role as Galen on Babylon 5 and Crusade and will answer questions from the audience. He will also be discussing his experiences in Egypt hosting the Emmy-nominated documentary Egypt: Beyond the Pyramids.
- Robin Wood, creator of the Robin Wood Tarot and illustrator of The People of Pern, will be joining us for a second time. Her programming from the first MarsCon was outstanding, and this year's programming promises to be excellent as well. She plans to do a Pagan round-robin as well as discuss digital art. Robin will be on hand in the Dealers Room (located on the 1st floor, close to lobby, restaurants, bar, pool, hot tubs & sauna) during the convention, do feel free to stop by her table.
- Craig Lang of MUFON has contributed to programming these past two years. (Thank you, Craig!) He plans to discuss potential scenarios of ET discovery and contact, as well as methods of investigating UFO sightings.
Special thanks also to the many local authors already planning to participate in programming for MarsCon 2002, including Joan Marie Verba, harry LeBlanc, Eleanor Arnason, Paula Fleming, Pam Keesey, Ruth Berman, P.M.F. Johnson and Sandra Rector. You are all the absolute BEST!
Musical Offerings
What would MarsCon be without music? Not nearly as much fun, of course. Not to worry... MarsCon 2002 will be full of musical goodness including the traditional filk, karaoke, dance, drum jam and concerts. Musical guests thus far include:
- The Nick Atoms wowed us with their debut performance at MarsCon 2001, and we are ecstatic to have them back. They are a music force beyond all comprehension! Together, they will be lost in space, ending up in the 25th century, hoping that Doctor Who can send them a six million dollar man to defeat Bigfoot and Wildboy to escape from New York and leave the land of the lost behind. This is no ordinary band. This is no ordinary show. Don't miss your chance to be atomized!
- Tri-Destiny is an all-female vocal trio from Salt Lake City, Utah. They offer a combination of enchanting music and unforgettable emotions. Travel through time - from medieval knights in "A Rover" to the bittersweet "Love Lies" of the '90s and beyond - in a concert of all-original, soft rock, romance music.
Another musical event currently in the planning stages is a Cabaret and Talent Show, hosted by our Guest of Honor John Levene with the support of The Nick Atoms. Jump ahead in this Virtual PR-2 for the details about what should prove to be a fun and exciting event.
Last Call for Programming Ideas
This is it! If you have any ideas for activities you'd like to see and/or facilitate at MarsCon, please get them to me. All programming titles and descriptions will need to in final form for printing in the Program Book by January 20, 2002... (you missed it.) Your ideas are welcome, you participation in programming is desired, and your enthusiasm is always appreciated. Happy New Year & see you soon!
Next page in the MarsCon 2002 Virtual PR-2: MarsCon Art Show
March 1-3, 2002
Hilton Mpls/St. Paul Airport
3800 East 80th Street
Bloomington, MN
This page last revised January 12, 2006 at 01:46 PM