Wealth of talent expected at this year’s event
Emily Expo talks ultimate guests, expanding fan culture — and sensible shoes
Lindsay Thomas has a secret wish list of guests for Calgary Expo, a set of standing invitations extended each year for dream attendees.
Thomas is the VP of communications and guest acquisitions and, as alter ego Emily Expo, the face of Calgary Expo. She doesn’t want to give specifics about who is on the list, but will say that they tend to have one thing in common.
“I have standing invitations for all the gigantic celebrities who don’t do shows,” Thomas says with a laugh. “I’m hesitant to say names because I don’t want to start a rumour that there is even a possibility of certain people coming, because it’s not going to happen.”
Still, while Thomas may say “It’s not going to happen” publicly, she also admits that she never really accepts the notion. For the dozens of guests who will be appearing at Calgary Expo from Thursday to Sunday at Stampede Park, there are dozens more who are contacted each year, including the holdouts. Thomas attended 15 expos through the world, including one in Shanghai, to get inspiration for this year’s lineup.
It’s a never-ending process but the “never-say-never” approach can occasionally yield impressive surprises. The surprise appearance of Neil Patrick Harris last year is a case in point. He was, presumably, on the always-welcome list but Thomas was told the TV and stage star didn’t do these sorts of shows.
“I had been told by some sources that it was impossible, that I can’t make that happen,” she said. “And I don’t accept that. I can’t tell the fans I’m doing my best if I’m not doing my best.”
Whether a last-minute addition pops up this year remains to be seen. The list is always fluid, a direct result of the sheer number of guests involved and the often unpredictable nature of production schedules.
For those paying attention, the list of Calgary Expo talent spends a good deal of time in flux. Harry Potter’s Michael Gambon cancelled early. Nearly the entire contingent of Walking Dead stars who were scheduled to appear — Alanna Masterson, Lennie James, Steven Yuen — shambled out of the picture a few weeks back. Adrianne Palicki, from Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., was announced on April 19 and cancelled a week later.
But in the same time period, it was announced X-Men and Goldeneye Bond girl Famke Janseen would be making her first appearance in Calgary. Battlestar Galactica’s Tahmoh Penikett and Katee Sackhoff have been added. Orphan Black’s Kristian Bruun, Kevin Hanchard and creator John Fawcett are now scheduled to be on hand for a special screening of the series.
The list doesn’t lack in genre or comic-book heavy hitters. William Shatner is on board. Jason Isaacs and Tom Felton, father-and-son baddies Lucious and Draco Malfoy from the Harry Potter series, are scheduled to be on hand for a panel on Sunday. Stan Lee, the 93-year-old creator of Spider-Man, The Hulk, Iron Man and general living god among superfans, will also be making an appearance that is reportedly part of a final tour of Canuck expos. The latter, Thomas is happy to acknowledge, also has a standing invitation.
“If he were to change his mind in the future, of course we are going to bring you back Stan!” she said.
Booking guests for the show is a year-long job.
Now in its 11th year Expo continues to grow each year. Last year, attendance records were broken with more than 104,000 attendees taking in the sights and sounds, up from 97,000 in 2014. Ticket sales were on track to be roughly the same if not better this year.
With more people comes an added responsibility to scour all corners of fandom to finds guests. This year for instance, Thomas is bringing in Lea DeLaria and Jackie Cruz from the Orange is the New Black, the gritty Netflix dark comedy set in a women’s prison. It’s a high-profile show, but not one that is usually associated with the Hobbit-lovers, Trekkies, superhero and boy-wizard aficionados who frequent the Expo.
“Orange is the New Black has become instantly ingrained in our pop culture,” Thomas said.
“And I think bringing them out to a show is a little bit of a different twist on what you would normally see at a convention.”
So having an open mind is a good start for full Expo enjoyment, both about the type of guests who show up and the last-minute circumstances that cause some to cancel.
Other than that, Emily Expo’s standing advice addresses more practical matters: stay hydrated, be careful of the sort of “weapons” you brandish as part of a costume (check out the “weapons check and compliance” page at props.albertaexpo.com), be sure to check out the many vendors on site and, if possible, wear sensible footwear.
“I very much like comfort over style,” she says.
“It is a fight to get me into high heels. I’m all about the comfortable shoes.
“If you are going to be in cosplay that involves uncomfortable shoes, more power to you. I totally admire you for that. I can’t do it.”