Conventions and Events

[#STLV] Las Vegas Star Trek Convention 2015 Recap & Photo Gallery

[#STLV] Las Vegas Star Trek Convention 2015 Recap & Photo Gallery

Creation Entertainment’s 2015 Official Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas wrapped on Sunday after four full days of costumes, contests, celebrity appearances, photo ops, autograph sessions and more.

The event had more than 100 Star Trek personalities take the stage at the Las Vegas Rio for what has become the largest annual convention of its kind. Stars included William Shatner, Patrick Stewart, George Takei, Kate Mulgrew, Joan Collins, Jeri Ryan, Walter Koenig, James Darren, Michael Westmore, Jonathan Frakes, Marina Sirtis, Michael Dorn, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Tim Russ, Max Grodenchik, Terry Farrell, Robert Picardo, Denise Crosby, Armin Shimerman, Ethan Phillips, Nicole de Boer, Robert Beltran, Nana Visitor, Alexander Siddig, Garrett Wang, Rene Auberjonois, Connor Trinneer, Dominik Keating, John de Lancie, Brannon Braga, Jeffrey Combs, Alice Krige, Robert Duncan McNeill and many more told stories, joked and reminisced about their time on the five incarnations of Star Trek on TV. A TOS bridge was even available for photo ops.

Now in its 14th year in Las Vegas (and fourth at the Rio), Creation sets their sites on 2016, as fandom comes to gather to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Star Trek franchise.

Check out the PHOTO GALLERY below.

Thursday

The convention kicked off on Thursday in a big way — with Anthony Montgomery, Linda Park, John Billingsley, Dominic Keating and Connor Trinneer comprising a Star Trek: Enterprise reunion panel in the Leonard Nimoy Theater. With Scott Bakula and Jolene Blalock not in attendance, two action figures were sat with the rest of the cast to complete the group.

Discussing the series’ polarizing final episode, “These Are the Voyages…”, Keating admitted that he’s never seen the episode. On the topic of the series coming to a premature end, Montgomery said “We’d found our space legs as a series. And it was too late at the end of the day.” He noted the awkwardness of his romantic scene with Park, saying it was like “kissing your sister or kissing your aunt,”. Talking mirror universe, Park said “I could just completely just let my hair down, you know, wear a midriff, be evil, make out with people.”

A mini-DS9 reunion consisted of Armin Shimerman, James Darren and Nicole de Boer who were surprised on stage by Mark Allen Sheppard in full Morn costume. De Boer, who joined the cast in the final season noted “If I had really thought about it and watched it, I would’ve been more nervous.” Shimerman went on to discuss the prejudice against the Ferengi for their physical and how that mirrors real life.

Friday

On Friday morning, Star Trek: The Original Series star Walter Koenig took the stage. Koenig, who played the original Pavel Chekov, said he was warmly welcomed when he joined the cast of the iconic series. However, he talked about not feeling like an integral member of the cast until the feature films.

Next up was a tribute to the great Leonard Nimoy, who passed away in February, titled “A Celebration of the Life and Times of Leonard Nimoy.” TrekNews.net contributor John Tenuto began the tribute with a slideshow of images from Nimoy’s life and career. Nimoy’s son Adam later joined Creation co-founder Adam Malin on stage to discuss his father and his upcoming film For the Love of Spock.

Cirroc Lofton, Rene Auberjonois, Nana Visitor, and Terry Farrell were up next to discuss their time on Deep Space Nine. “I didn’t watch the show!” Farrell admitted. Aberjonios noted that while there were ups and downs over the seven years it ran, DS9 was a “pretty extraordinary work.” Lofton talked about his friend and mentor Avery Brooks, saying that the two “connected instantly,” which made it easier for him to enjoy the work. Visitor and Auberjonois discussed their scene together in the final episode which ended their story arc. Auberjonois noted that the goodbye was inevitable, saying Odo “had to go back to his people.”

Marina Sirtis, Michael Dorn, and Denise Crosby hit the stage next. Crosby talked about leaving the show, noting that the decision “ultimately worked out for everyone.”

Joe Gatt, who played Science Officer 1708 in Star Trek: Into Darkness was up next. The herculean actor said that he was set to reprise his role in the upcoming Star Trek Beyond, however due to script changes, the character would not appear. He said that he’d be open to returning, if the opportunity presented itself.

Saturday

On Saturday, Kate Mulgrew, Jeri Ryan, Roxann Dawson, Tim Russ, Robert Picardo, Ethan Phillips, Garrett Wang, Robert Duncan McNeill and Robert Beltran came ogether to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Star Trek: Voyager. The friendship of many of these actors was evident to the fans in the theater, who witnessed the joking between them. When discussion turned to the 20th anniversary, Ryan chimed in saying that “technically I’m cheating because it’s only my 17th anniversary.” The panel ended with Mulgrew telling not only her former castmates, but also the fans in attendance “I love you!”

It was announced that due to a scheduling conflict, Karl Urban would not be able to attend. Instead, Michael Dorn would fill his spot in the day’s schedule.

With “Rocket Man” blaring, William Shatner took the stage next.

Shatner discussed the concept of Star Trek and what it means to fans. “That’s why we are here, the mythology. The awe. The wonderment. That’s why we’re here.” He went on t pay tribute to Grace Lee Whtney, who died earlier this year, saying she was a “delightful light”. On the topic of Leonard Nimoy, Shatner said “I loved Leonard as as my brother — the brother I wish I had.”

Shatner went on to discuss his much-publicized battle with George Takei.

“The six movies we made were a couple years apart, again he’d come in, ‘Hello George.’ I had no interaction with him whatsoever. In the last fifty years, the man has blackened my reputation. I am… I pride myself on being a professional actor, I’m there on time, I know my words, I’m amiable to almost anything because what’s important is making the performance and nothing else. I don’t have to be there for the spaceship being brought up uh…. one of the things he used against me was that I wasn’t at the debut of the Enterprise someplace… I was working! So he has demeaned me, really badly, ugly. Every so often I get in touch with him and say, ‘What are you doing? I don’t know. What did I do to you? What happened?’ I have no idea who he is or what he is, or what he wants.” he added.

(Hat tip to Roddenberry on Facebook for the quote)

RELATED: [#STLV] William Shatner On Feud With George Takei: It Upsets Me

Sunday

On Sunday, a third Deep Space Nine panel took place — with Alexander Siddig, Andrew Robinson, Marc Alaimo, Chase Masterson, and Casey Biggs taking the stage. The five-some discussed their time on the show and talked about current projects, including Masterson’s work with the United Nations to combat bullying.

John de Lancie and Disruptor Beam CEO Jon Radoff, discussed the upcoming release of the Star Trek Timelines video game. While the game will take place during the TNG-era, it will feature characters seen throughout Star Trek’s 50-year history.

Star Trek: The Original Series star George Takei was up next. After giving the Vulcan salute, Takei discussed the passing of Leonard Nimoy. “He is a real loss in the Star Trek family. He was not just an actor. He was an extraordinarily decent human being.” he said.

He went on to discuss his new stage play Allegiance. Unfortunately, his panel was a abbreviated, due to his photo op session running longer than expected.

Next, Patrick Stewart took the stage, greeting the crowd by saying “Hello Las Vegas!” in his fantastic British accent. Stewart joked about the dinner he had the previous night with his former co-stars: Jonathan Frakes, Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn.

He spent a good portion of his stage time answering questions from fans. He also spoke about his work against domestic abuse.

A fan, who had stepped up to the microphone to the side of the stage, told Stewart that she had waited her entire life to meet him. She went on to note that due to health concerns, this may be her only opportunity. Stewart stepped off the sage to hug her, returning to tell the audience that “There are always unexpected moments at these events.” Noting that it’s because of those mementos he still loves doing them.

I want to send out a huge ‘thank you’ to TrekNews.net contributors Laurie Lee and Alton Carswell for providing photos and notes throughout the event.

Star Trek Las Vegas Photo Gallery

Next year’s Official Star Trek Convention expands to five days and will take place August 3-7 at the Rio Suites Hotel in Las Vegas.

Stay tuned to TrekNews.net for news and information related to STLV 2016.

[Photos: Laurie Lee]

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