Itzacon

Infobox Convention
name = Itzacon


caption =
status =
genre = Multi-genre
venue =
location = Dallas, Texas
country = United States
first =
last =
organizer = Phoenix Entertainment
filing = For Profit
attendance = 540 in 2001
website = http://phoenix-entertainment.net/itzacon/

Itzacon is a one- or two-day science fiction convention held occasionally in the Dallas, Texas area, mostly on Thanksgiving weekend. The organizers describe Itzacon as "an occasional event meant to serve as a party, a mini-con, a chance to hang out, and just have fun, a multi-genre relax-a-con with programming and night-time dance." Itzacon is produced by Phoenix Entertainment, organizers of the A-Kon anime convention.

This event is unrelated to the ongoing and similarly-named [http://www.itzaconeire.com/ Itzacon Eire] held annually on the National University of Ireland, Galway campus.

Past conventions

Itzacon 3 - November 2001

:Itzacon 3 was held November 24-25, 2001, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel-DFW Airport located by Terminal C at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. [Blum, Dawn, [http://boards.theforce.net/lubbock_tx/b10148/4741029/p1/?0 "ItzaCon3 - With Peter Mayhew"] , Jedi Council Forums, November 14, 2001] This event was hurriedly put together when UncommonCon 2, a large multi-genre event scheduled for this weekend, failed unexpectedly due to financial difficulties. [ [http://www.locusmag.com/2001/Future/Cons2001.html#novcons "Locus" Online convention listings - November 2001] ] [Anime News Network, [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2001-11-15/itzacon-3-replaces-uncommoncon "ItzaCon 3 replaces UncommonCon"] , November 15, 2001] The event "inherited" a number of guests from the UncommonCon roster who had already completed travel plans for this Thanksgiving weekend. Featured guests included actors Peter Mayhew, Marjorie Monaghan, Richard Chevolleau, and Julia Nickson, authors P.N. Elrod, Melanie Fletcher, Lee Martindale, Roxanne Longstreet Conrad, and Jana G. Oliver, plus artists Cat Conrad and Mike Trevino. Other guests included groups from Collector Times and Living Room Games. Programming included a dance DJed by Radio Free Oz, a dealers room, gaming, RPGA tournaments, Battletech, live-action anime games, a writers programming track, autograph sessions, speakers' panels, author readings, artists' alley, millermuller ballet, and performances by storyteller Bearhugger McLain, musical act October Country, and magician Bizarro. Con organizer Meri Hazlewood later claimed a paid attendance of "about 540 people (not counting dealers and staff)."

Itzacon 4 - November 2002

:Itzacon 4 was held November 30-December 1, 2002, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel-DFW Airport located by Terminal C at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. [ [http://www.collectortimes.com/2002_10/cons_Tx.html "Cons - Texas"] , "Collector Times", October 2002] Organizers advertised the event with the slogan "When you can't stand any more Turkey, come share the rest of the weekend." Featured guests included Mike Trevino, Twisted Ink Productions, Living Room Games, Dark Talisman Productions, voice actor Kyle Hebert, authors P.N. Elrod, Roxanne Longstreet Conrad, Melanie Fletcher, Lee Martindale, Dusty Rainbolt, and Jana G. Oliver, plus artists Cat Conrad, Robbie Allen, Bruce Lewis, and costume designer Jennifer Wylie. Programming included gaming costume contest, a Lee Martindale writing panel, video room, dance, autograph sessions, dealers room, dance, webmasters panels, LARP panel, filk room, and Komik Market. [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20021214013828/http://phoenix-entertainment.net/itzacon4/ Itzacon 4 website at Archive.org] ]

Itzacon 5 - November 2003

:Itzacon 5 was held November 29-30, 2003, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel-DFW Airport located by Terminal C at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. [ [http://www.locusmag.com/2003/Conventions.html#nov03 "Locus" Online convention listings - November 2003] ] Organizers described the weekend as a "two day multi-genre mini-con of sci-fi, gaming, anime, fantasy, fun, and relaxation." Featured guests included Steve Bennett, Bruce Lewis, P.N. Elrod, Kyle Hebert, Lamia Nights Studios, Xero Reynolds, Mike Trevino, Doug Smith, Richard D. Weber, and Yuki. Programming included the first official GameWyze Southwest Warmachine tournament, a D/FW D&D Tough-Man Tournament, two-day anime art workshop, open call auditions for lead characters in a potential dystopian near-future science fiction television pilot called "Digital Burn", the "30 Seconds to Fame" costume contest, dealers room, live action and anime video room, Saturday night dance, autograph sessions, and a Komik Market. [ [http://www.animecons.com/events/info.shtml/472 Itzacon 2003 Information at AnimeCons.com] ]

Itzacon 6 - November 2004

:Itzacon 6 and Anime Day 2 were held jointly November 13-14, 2004, at Richardson Square Mall in Richardson, Texas. This event was billed as a multi-genre mini-con of sci-fi, gaming, anime, fantasy, fun, and relaxation. One unusual feature of Itzacon 6, thanks to the mall location, was a deal with Italia Express, the pizza place at the food court, for a special large pizza with unlimited toppings for $10. Featured guests included voice actors Kyle Hebert, Stephanie Nadolny, Caitlyn Glass , composer and artist Xero Reynolds, and animator Bruce Lewis. Programming included a video room, a HALO tournament, gaming, Makoto Arena, an origami class, dealers area, Saturday night dance, guest speakers, autograph sessions, artists alley, and the Misfits of Comedy. [ [http://www.animecons.com/events/info.shtml/732 Itzacon 2004 Information at AnimeCons.com] ] Due to insurmountable difficulties, previously scheduled RPGA module play was not available for play at Itzacon.

Upcoming conventions

While there has not been an Itzacon since 2004, this was originally structured as an "occasional" event instead of an annual one. The official website is still maintained by Phoenix Entertainment and a future Itzacon has not been ruled out by Phoenix Entertainment management.

External links

* [http://phoenix-entertainment.net/itzacon/ ItzaCon official site]
* [http://phoenix-entertainment.net/ Phoenix Entertainment official site]
* [http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=43;t=001906;p=0 discussion of UncommonCon cancellation with convention organizers]

References