Get ready for Star Trek: Mission Chicago with the latest panel and event highlights
MARCH 31, 2022 - Get ready for an exciting weekend at Star Trek: Mission Chicago, running April 8th-10th! The weekend will be packed with almost 60 panels, photo and autograph opportunities, and some of your favorite names from across the franchise on hand for the festivities. Star Trek: The Original Series legends William Shatner, Walter Koenig, and George Takei are set to appear, along with cast members from every Star Trek series.
The convention opens Friday, April 8th with a handful of panels and events you won’t want to miss. Join Star Trek science consultant and fan favorite Dr. Erin McDonald at the Cosplay & Family HQ stage for her panel discussion “Welcome to Starfleet Academy”. After that, check out a couple of classic Trek panels. Dominic Keating, Anthony Montgomery, and Connor Trinneer will be on stage for a Star Trek: Enterprise panel. Follow that up with a Star Trek: Deep Space Nine panel, led by Nana Visitor, Alexander Siddig, and Chase Masterson. Later in the day, producer David C. Fein will present a special screening of Star Trek: The Motion Picture - The Director’s Edition.
Saturday morning is packed with panels like “Body Painting for Cosplay” and the Chase Masterson-led panel “IDIC - Let’s Make it So!”, followed by special spotlight panels for George Takei and James Cromwell, Star Trek’s Zephram Cochran. Saturday will also include individual panels with the casts of Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Discovery, and Star Trek: Lower Decks.
Sunday, April 10th kicks off with Chase Masterson leading the panel “The Future is Female: Women’s Representation in Star Trek”. Following the theme, join Nana Visitor, Michelle Hurd, Isa Briones, Robin Curtis, Annie Wersching, Chase Masterson, and Natalija Nogulich on the main stage for a special panel discussion “The Women of Star Trek”. Sunday will also include a Star Trek: Prodigy panel with Kate Mulgrew, and spotlight panels with Shatner and Takei, respectively.
Star Trek: Discovery actor Kenneth Mitchell will also be in attendance at Star Trek: Mission Chicago. Mitchell, who is living with ALS, was recently honored by the franchise with the introduction of the U.S.S. Mitchell, a new ship named for the actor. Mitchell also was the inaugural recipient of the Kenneth Mitchell Hope Award at the LLAPy Awards during Virtual Trek Con in March. During his acceptance speech, Mitchell told fans he would be on hand during Star Trek: Mission Chicago for what would be one of his “last conversations” with the public.
This is just a taste of what’s to come at Star Trek: Mission Chicago April 8-10. For a complete schedule of events, and to purchase tickets, visit startrekmissions.com.
Chris Peterson is a contributing writer for Daily Star Trek News on the Roddenberry Podcast Network. An outdoor enthusiast and a fan of film and literature, he is also an actor, singer and musician with stage credits including CATS, Fiddler on the Roof, The Rocky Horror Show and The Producers.