KNTR Schedule of Events at Phoenix Comicon 2011

The Royal Geek Court is serenaded to "Geeks of America" by Steven Riley.

Thursday-Sunday

KNTR Booths 301, 303, 400, 402
Exhibitor Hall
Goodie Backpacks & Highlights for Kids            KNTR Founder & Author PJ Haarsma
KNTR 2012 Wall Calendars & Note Cards          Author & Illustrator Steven Riley
Geeksages, Geekonnieres & Geek Blinkies        Browncoats: Redemption Film Crew
Star Wars Smugglers Run Game Badges           Signed Nathan Fillion READ Posters

Friday, May 27

Star Wars Neighborhood Photo Booth (Benefiting KNTR)
11:00 AM-12:00 PM, Star Wars Neighborhood, Exhibitor Hall
Have your photo taken with Star Wars costumed characters for a small donation to KNTR.

Star Wars Bounty Hunt (Benefiting KNTR)
1:00 PM-5:00 PM, Star Wars Neighborhood, Exhibitor Hall
Hire a Mandalorian Merc to arrest your friends and place them in the Star Wars Neighborhood jail (5 minute maximum jail sentence) for a bounty donation of $5. Place your bounty at the Mando Merc table in the Star Wars Neighborhood.

Star Wars Imperial Cadet Training (Benefiting KNTR)
2:00 PM-5:00 PM, Room 129B
Lord Vader commanded the 501st to prepare the next generation of recruits to serve the Empire. Kids will be trained by experts and use their new skills to fight their way through Phoenix Comicon’s special combat course.

Marisa Grieco Signing
3:00 PM-4:00 PM, Kids Need to Read Booth 301
Artist Marisa Grieco will be available to sign her art piece in your KNTR 2012 wall calendars and note cards. Be sure to also have your calendars and note cards signed by the following 2012 calendar artists at Phoenix Comicon:
Jon S. Lewis – Table 637
James A. Owen – Table 633
Tony Parker – Table 531
Steven Riley – KNTR Booth 303

Fans Giving Back
4:30 PM-5:30 PM, Room 124A
Join representatives from several fan groups, including Kids Need to Read Executive Director Denise Gary, Arizona Browncoats, Austin Browncoats, Arizona Ghostbusters, Browncoats: Redemption, and The Dune Sea Garrison 501st Legion to learn how they give back to the community and how you can be involved.

Star Wars Neighborhood Photo Booth (Benefiting KNTR)
6:00 PM-7:00 PM, Star Wars Neighborhood, Exhibitor Hall
Have your photo taken with Star Wars costumed characters for a small donation to KNTR.

KNTR 2012 Calendar Launch Party
8:00 PM-10:00 PM, My Big Fat Greek Restaurant (private room), Arizona Center, 455 N. Third Street (short walk from the convention center)
Join us in honoring our 2012 calendar illustrators with an evening of refreshments, door prizes, and visiting with our special guests: PJ Haarsma, Shannon Denton, Marisa Grieco, Jon S. Lewis, James A. Owen, Tony Parker, and Steven Riley. $15 covers the price of your food and beverage, and does not benefit KNTR.
(There are only five openings available at this time.)


Saturday, May 28

Star Wars Neighborhood Photo Booth (Benefiting KNTR)
11:00 AM-12:00 PM, Star Wars Neighborhood, Exhibitor Hall
Have your photo taken with Star Wars costumed characters for a small donation to KNTR.

Marisa Grieco Signing
1:00 PM-2:00 PM, Kids Need to Read Booth 301
Artist Marisa Grieco will be available to sign her art piece in your KNTR 2012 wall calendars and note cards. Be sure to also have your calendars and note cards signed by the following 2012 calendar artists at Phoenix Comicon:
Jon S. Lewis – Table 637
James A. Owen – Table 633
Tony Parker – Table 531
Steven Riley – KNTR Booth 303

Star Wars Imperial Cadet Training (Benefiting KNTR)
2:00 PM-5:00 PM, Room 129B
Lord Vader commanded the 501st to prepare the next generation of recruits to serve the Empire. Kids will be trained by experts and use their new skills to fight their way through Phoenix Comicon’s special combat course.

The Story of Stories and Then Some!
3:00 PM-4:00 PM, Room 126C
Kids Need to Read presents this wildly fun storytelling session with children’s author and illustrator Steven Riley (Little Ty Cooney National Wonders series). Kids will be swept away by this true, death defying story about an adventure through one of our National Parks. It will blow your mind . . . and that is just the beginning.

Marisa Grieco Signing
4:00 PM-5:00 PM, Kids Need to Read Booth 301
Artist Marisa Grieco will be available to sign her art piece in your KNTR 2012 wall calendars and note cards. Be sure to also have your calendars and note cards signed by the following 2012 calendar artists at Phoenix Comicon:
Jon S. Lewis – Table 637
James A. Owen – Table 633
Tony Parker – Table 531
Steven Riley – KNTR Booth 303

Star Wars Neighborhood Photo Booth (Benefiting KNTR)
6:00 PM-7:00 PM, Star Wars Neighborhood, Exhibitor Hall
Have your photo taken with Star Wars costumed characters for a small donation to KNTR.

Exclusive Phoenix Comicon Art Auction (Benefiting KNTR)
7:30 PM-11:30 PM, Room 125
The Art Auction features unique one-of-a-kind creations by Phoenix Comicon creators past, present, and future. Pieces will include single artists and multi-artist jam pieces.

Kids Need to Read Geek Prom, Sponsored by Bookmans (Benefiting KNTR)
8:00 PM-Midnight, Hyatt Regency Phoenix Ballroom
Don’t miss the second annual Kids Need to Read Geek Prom, sponsored by Bookmans Entertainment Exchange and hosted by Phoenix Comicon. As the signature event of the convention, an entire ballroom is devoted to the KNTR Geek Prom, enabling throngs of Geekanoids to attend this quirky soiree. Due to the Geekerosity of our Geektabulous friends at Bookmans, all proceeds benefit Kids Need to Read, a foundation that does not discriminate against Geeks, Dweebs, or Nerds. This is the Big Bang Party! Expect fun, prizes, a live Geek auction, and special guests, including actor Paul McGillion, KNTR founder PJ Haarsma, and author/illustrator James A. Owen. Dress in your Geeky best and enter the Fashion Geektacular to vie for the titles of Geek King, Geek Queen, Geek Prince, and Geek Princess! The Royal Geek Monarchs are serenaded to Geeks of America each year by Geekariffic performer Steven Riley. Have your stylin’ photo taken under the magnificent edifice renowned in all of Geekdom as the Geek Arch. New to 2011 will be the Geekbump-inducing Geek Portal. DJ Mike Dougherty, well known in Geek circles, is returning to play the finest of Geekola for your auditory and dancing pleasure. Geeksages, Geekonnieres, and Geek blinkies will be available for a small donation at the KNTR booth (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday) and at the door, while quantities last. Dress code is Geek casual or formal – real Geeks won’t even need a costume! Come celebrate the Glory of Geek at this don’t miss Geek Gala, only at the inimitable Phoenix Comicon!
Ticketing Information for Kids Need to Read Geek Prom 2011: Geek Prom tickets are being sold online at the Phoenix Comicon website. They are only $10 each and due to the generosity of Bookmans, your ticket will include a photo op underneath the Geek Arch or Geek Portal at no extra charge! (One free photo op per ticket holder; image files will be available on Flickr after the convention.) Your ticket will have a unique barcode that you will redeem at the door of the Geek Prom. (You must have a Phoenix Comicon membership to attend the Geek Prom, so bring your badge.) Click on the Phoenix Comicon interactive ticketing thingy and select “Special Events” to purchase your tickets. Cash bar, ID required. Rated PG-13
Live Auction Packages at Kids Need to Read Geek Prom 2011:
-Geektastic Star Wars Auction Package
-Geekerrific Kids Need to Read Founders Package
-Geektacular Mojo-Bone Software Studios Mega Auction Package
Listing of auction package contents can be found at the end of this schedule. Items will be available for inspection during the KNTR Geek Prom.

Sunday, May 29

Star Wars Neighborhood Photo Booth (Benefiting KNTR)
11:00 AM-12:00 PM, Star Wars Neighborhood, Exhibitor Hall
Have your photo taken with Star Wars costumed characters for a small donation to KNTR.

Star Wars Smugglers Run (Benefiting KNTR)
11:00 AM-1:00 PM, Exhibitor Hall
Team up with Rebel Smugglers and Jedi as they evade Imperial Troopers and Mandalorian Bounty Hunters in an effort to save the galaxy from illiteracy! Donate $5 at the KNTR table to receive your game badge; then travel to the various booths to locate your assigned items. Mandalorian Bounty Hunters and Imperial Troopers can arrest you and place you in jail!  But do not fear . . . Jedi and Rebel Smugglers will be leading jail breaks! Receive a prize package upon finishing the game.

Browncoats: Redemption Check Presentation
11:30 AM, Film Festival Room 128
Director Michael Dougherty, star Heather Fagan, and crewmembers of Browncoats: Redemption present Founder PJ Haarsma and Executive Director Denise Gary with a ceremonial check in the amount their film project has raised to date for Kids Need to Read.

Alien Encounters of the Book Kind!
12:00 PM-1:00 PM, Room 124A
Kids Need to Read presents the fun side of science fiction with children’s author PJ Haarsma (The Softwire series, Rings of Orbis social media game, KNTR founder)! Kids will laugh out loud while “auditioning” for a movie, listening to the author’s gripping childhood alien encounter, and glimpsing an alien artifact!

Marisa Grieco Signing
2:00 PM-3:00 PM, Kids Need to Read Booth 301
Artist Marisa Grieco will be available to sign her art piece in your KNTR 2012 wall calendars and note cards. Be sure to also have your calendars and note cards signed by the following 2012 calendar artists at Phoenix Comicon:
Jon S. Lewis – Table 637
James A. Owen – Table 633
Tony Parker – Table 531
Steven Riley – KNTR Booth 303

Star Wars Imperial Cadet Training (Benefiting KNTR)
2:00 PM-5:00 PM, Room 129B
Lord Vader commanded the 501st to prepare the next generation of recruits to serve the Empire. Kids will be trained by experts and use their new skills to fight their way through Phoenix Comicon’s special combat course.

Anarchy Squared Creations Raffle (Benefiting KNTR)
2:30 PM, Table 855
Star Wars Blaster (Republic Commando DC-17) With Lights
Boba Fett Vacumed Formed Armor (Front Chest, Collar, Shoulder Armor, Boba Fett Gauntlets)

Star Wars raffles benefiting KNTR to be announced.


Contents of Kids Need to Read Geek Prom Live Auction Packages

Geektastic Star Wars Auction Package

From ThinkGeek

  • One (1) Adult Size Star Wars Tauntaun Sleeping Bag

From Private Donor

  • Anakin Skywalker Ep 3 Force FX Edition light saber

From Pop Culture Paradise

  • One (1) Star Wars Animated Luke Skywalker Limited Edition Maquette (8 inches tall, only 5000 made)

From Pop Culture Paradise

  • One(1) Star Wars Animated Darth Vader Limited Edition Maquette (9 ½ inches tall, only 7000 made

Geekerrific Kids Need to Read Founders Package

  • One (1) American Library Association READ poster featuring Nathan Fillion holding The Softwire: Awakening on Orbis 4, signed by Nathan Fillion and PJ Haarsma
  • One (1) copy of The Softwire: Virus on Orbis 1 (Signed by Author PJ Haarsma)
  • One (1) copy of The Softwire: Betrayal on Orbis 2 (Signed by Author PJ Haarsma)
  • One (1) copy of The Softwire: Wormhole Pirates on Orbis 3 (Signed by Author PJ Haarsma, Actor Nathan Fillion, and Actor Alan Tudyk)
  • One (1) copy of The Softwire: Awakening on Orbis 4 (Signed by Author PJ Haarsma)
  • Star Purse (Handmade by Carol Tabb)

Geektacular Mojo-Bone Software Studios Mega Auction Package

From Mojo-Bone Software Studios

  • A credited guest starring voiceover role in their upcoming game
  • One (1) free copy of game containing voiceover role (when released), signed by the cast
  • One (1) copy of the upcoming retail disc containing Brixter, Gadgetz, and Tilez
  • VIP invitation to panel of special guests being hosted by Mojo-Bone Software Studios at the 2012 Phoenix Comicon

From Technology Partners Incorporated

  • One computer system (specs TBA)

From Big Fish Games

  • 10 Free Game Credits

From Louis Lombardi (The Sopranos, 24, and Chuck)

  • Autographed picture from The Sopranos
  • Autographed picture from 24
  • Autographed and authentic “Edgar Styles” memorabilia card with set-used piece of shirt from 24.

From Taisa Valenza (Star Trek TNG, Space: Above and Beyond, Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Cartoon Network)

  • Autographed picture from Star Trek: TNG (as Vulcan)
  • Autographed artwork of Jedi Master Shaak Ti from season 3 premier of Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Cartoon Network)

From Jay Karnes (Star Trek Voyager, The Shield, CSI, and V)

  • Autographed limited edition book from The Shield. Made for cast and crew only. Very rare!

From Anthony Skordi (Flash Forward, Detroit 1-8-7)

  • Autographed pictures

From Michael Ironside (V: The Final Battle, Top Gun, Total Recall, Starship Troopers, Terminator: Salvation)

  • Personalized autographed DVDs or Blu-ray copies of Top Gun, Total Recall, and Starship Troopers (format to be chosen by the winner). This prize will be delivered to the winner between June 11 and June 16. Pictures of the signing (to prove authenticity) will also be included with the discs.
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