by Denise Gary
Photos © Eric Fiallos, Robert Gary, Project Hero, Duct’d by Cayci, Joe Abbruscato, and Bruce Matsunaga
Fifth Annual Kids Need to Read Geek Prom
Sponsored by Bookmans
Hosted by Phoenix Comicon
Friday, June 6, 2014
9:00 PM–Midnight
Phoenix Comicon
Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel
Valley of the Sun Ballroom
Phoenix, AZ
PURCHASE TICKETS
($15 Now, $20 at Phoenix Comicon)
All Proceeds Benefit Kids Need to Read
We have A LOT of exciting news to report about the Kids Need to Read Geek Prom! The event has been moved to the Sheraton Valley of the Sun Ballroom on Friday evening of Phoenix Comicon to provide more space for the event. The move will enable us to improve upon the already Geekerrific experience of the past four years. We will now be able to keep the music and dancing going in the ballroom with minimal interruption, while providing fun activities in the HUGE wrap-around lobby area, including a face painter (Blushing Peach Art), balloonist (The Geek Balloonist), and caricature artist (Steven Riley) whose creations will be Geek-themed! All door prize drawings, silent auctions, Fashion Geektacular judging, and Geek Arch photos will take place in various locations throughout the lobby, so as not to interrupt the music and dancing and prize toss-outs inside the ballroom. We will still have our special dance themes, so come prepared for fun! Oh, and NO beer garden this year! There will be three cash bars located throughout the cavernous ballroom and attendees will be able to roam the ballroom at will.
The theme this year is RETRO GAMING! Our friends at Project Hero have been busy creating a Geeknificent Geek Arch. Think Tetris meets The Legend of Zelda! We hear there just may be some props, as well. Photos at the Geek Arch are free, courtesy of Bookmans! (Thank you Bald Pirate Eric Fiallos for donating your photography skills all five years we have been producing the KNTR Geek Prom, as well as candid photographers Geekstraordinaire Bruce Matsunaga and Robert Gary!) Take a peek at the arch in progress:
We will be crowning our Geek Royalty at 11:20 PM in the ballroom. Judging runs from 8:30 PM–11:00 PM on the far side of the lobby. Costumer Wendy Trakes of Arizona Browncoats will direct the Fashion Geektacular judging. Judges this year are Costumer Rachel Ashley of Arizona Avengers, author/illustrator/joker Jeremy Brundage Owen, Costumer Pete Rivera of Justice League Arizona, and Costumer Charlotte Woodward of Project Hero. Any appropriate Geek attire may be modeled during the Fashion Geektacular, including the themes of CLASSIC GEEK (dweeb, nerd, etc.), CONTEMPORARY GEEK (superhero, video game character, etc.), or RETRO GAMING GEEK (Legend of Zelda, Pac-Man, Super Mario Bros., Space Invaders, etc.). Check out the Geeksome retro gaming crowns you will be vying for, created by Duct’d by Cayci:
Of course, our Geek Highnesses will also win prizes provided by Bookmans Entertainment Exchange and Kids Need to Read. Every attendee will receive a KNTR Geek Prom 2014 souvenir courtesy of Bookmans! Additionally, door prizes have been provided by:
Bookmans Entertainment Exchange
Hero Comics and Gaming (Phoenix)
Inari’s Whimsy
Pop Culture Paradise Comics and Games (Tempe)
PromShoes.com
As in the past, we will have Geeksages, Geekonnieres, and Geek Blinkies available for you to lavish upon your date or BFF.
We have more great news to report—original Geek Prom DJ Michael Dougherty is returning this year. Mike donates his time deejaying the Geek Prom and has been with us every year except last year. We are very happy to have him back! Thank you to everyone who made donations to help fly Mike to Phoenix . . . because he is THAT GOOD! We are still short $136 [Edit: $80], so please donate if you want to help. Just make a donation and comment it is for the “Geek Prom DJ Fund.”
Returning hosts are Denise Gary of Kids Need to Read and Gus Matos of Arizona Avengers. Other participants coming back to celebrate the greatness of Geek are Peter Steigerwald of Aspen Comics as Fashion Geektacular Announcer, actress/model Victoria Paege as Fashion Geektacular Geektress of Coronation, and author/illustrator Steven Riley as Geeks of America Crooner.
Would you like more information or to see pictures from past events? Visit the Kids Need to Read Geek Prom web page!
Don’t forget to purchase your tickets at Phoenix Comicon’s ticketing shop ($15 now, $20 at Phoenix Comicon) and come join us for boundless Geek Hijinks!!! Never-ending thanks to Bookmans and Phoenix Comicon for sponsoring this event so all funds raised benefit Kids Need to Read and the children who benefit from its literacy programs!
Geek on!!!
