INTERVIEW: Stefanie Gangone On the Trek Long Island Convention; "You Will Be Overwhelmed"

MAY 12, 2023 - Fans of Star Trek have a new event to add to their calendars this year with the inaugural Trek Long Island convention. The convention will take place on May 20 and May 21, 2023, at the Hyatt Regency Long Island Hotel in Hauppauge, NY.

Stefanie Gangone, the event runner, said the convention is an extension of the non-profit Library for the Kind that she founded last year. Library for the Kind promotes children’s books that celebrate diversity, inclusion, gender equality, LGBTQ+, and kindness, so a Trek-themed event seemed like a natural fit.

“What is Star Trek, but that?” Gangone said.

Attendees can expect to be immersed in a world of all things Star Trek, with a variety of activities scheduled throughout the weekend. Fans can attend panel discussions featuring special guests, meet and greets with their favorite actors, and participate in a cosplay show.

This year's convention will feature a fantastic lineup of guests, including headliners Doug Jones, Oded Fehr, and David Ajala, who all appeared in Star Trek: Discovery. Additional guests include Evan Evagora, who played Elnor in Star Trek: Picard, Raven Dauda, who appeared in Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Short Treks, and Isa Briones, who played Dahj and Soji Asha in Star Trek: Picard.

Gangone said one guest appearance attendees will not want to miss is J.G. Hertzler, known to Trek fans as Klingon General Martok. She said Hertzler will be signing an actual Klingon Bat’leth during his panel and the blade will be auctioned off at the event.

Gangone said there aren’t many Trek events on the East Coast, so a special effort was made to look for guests who might not make it to the area as often. She was especially happy to announce that voice actress Bonnie Gordon will be in attendance. As part of a full slate of children’s activities, Gordon will be reading the Star Trek: Prodigy book “Supernova” in the voices of the characters from the animated series. In addition, “Supernova” author Robb Pearlman is one of the authors who will be featured at the event, along with John Peel, Michael Jan Friedman, and Christopher D. Abbott.

“We also have Alan Asherman who wrote The Star Trek Compendium,” she said.

Gangone said as a librarian and “Trek nerd,” she is excited to see the literature aspect of Star Trek be represented. 

“They have created a world that surrounds the Trek world,” she said.

A full list of guests and events is on the event website at www.treklongisland.com/ and Gangone suggested attendees use it to plan ahead and make sure they don’t miss out on their favorite stars and panels.

“You will be overwhelmed,” she said.

As she begins the final week of preparation, Gangone was feeling a little overwhelmed herself and is anxious for as many people as possible to enjoy the results of the effort of her and her team. 

“This whole thing is fan run,” she said. “I want it to become an annual event, but the only way to do that is if people jump on board the first year.”