Dallas Sci-Fi Convention Outperforms Economy

Thirty dollars will barely cover dinner and movie, but invested wisely it can provide three full days of entertainment at the Dallas convention "All-Con".

All-Con provides content incorporating the interests of science fiction, fantasy, anime, costuming, gaming, robotics, roller derby, and art communities. The three day fan convention is March 13-15, 2009 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Addison, Texas, just north of Dallas.

Celebrities attending include Aaron Douglas ("Chief Tyrol" from Sci-Fi's Battlestar Galactica), Peter Mayhew ("Chewbacca" from Star Wars), Ken Lally ("The German" from NBC's television show Heroes and "Albert Wesker" from Resident Evil 5), Candace Kita (Masked Rider, Son of the Beach, Running with Scissors), and Burton Gilliam (Paper Moon, Fletch, Blazing Saddles, Back to the Future III). Ginny McQueen is attending as a Cosplay guest of honor.

Many components upon which fan conventions are built will be available. Artist Alley is filled with illustrators and coloring artists, both traditional and digital, along with clubs and podcasters. Console gaming offers open play and tournaments. Tabletop gamers will find themselves welcome at Dungeons and Dragons and Attacktix venues. An art gallery houses prints and originals from artists across the U.S. In the vendor room goods from comic books to resin film prop replicas to hand fashioned hats and commissioned costumes are all available. Indoor laser tag is offered every few hours. All events are intertwined with hourly discussion panels and workshops and are included in the single price of admission.

Featured events for the weekend incorporate Peter Mayhew's "Ask Chewbacca" questions and answers session which is free and open to the public (www.AskChewbacca.info), the Dallas Personal Robotics Group's RoboRama open practice, and the Assassination City Women's Roller Derby team dinner with fans. Imperial Gladiators is a sporting type event during which Star Wars costumers, mainly stormtroopers, compete to complete objectives while being restricted by the limitations of their own costumes as the public cheers them on.

Attendees who want to get into the action have several arenas in which they can join competitions. Ms. Star Wars is a non-costumed pageant in which fans of the saga and expanded universe can vie for the annual title. The Maid Competition focuses on the uniform (Cosplay and Crossplay welcomed) and table preparation. Hobbyists enjoy entering the weekend-long plastic model and diorama competition. Costumers have their choice of any of three events: Cosplay, the costume contest, or Super Hero Sunday.

Fans of the Rocky Horror Picture Show look forward to Los Bastardos' full shadow cast of the film on Friday night. American tribal dance by the Brazen Bellies, traditional burlesque performances by the Lollie Bombs and Lady Divina, and a live concert by URIZEN make up the Saturday evening entertainment.

Advance tickets and event details are available online from www.All-Con.org, or from Titan Comics in Dallas 214-350-4420. Celebrities charge a small amount for autographs to cover costs of travel and to appear.

All media contacts, advertising requests, event sponsors, exhibitor inquiries, and general questions should be sent to: info @ All-Con.org where they will be routed to the correct department and responded to within 24 hours.