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Boldly going with Captain Kirk; bar crawling with TCHS

Tonight I get to be first officer for Capt. James T. Kirk and boldly go wherever the conversation takes us.

William Shatner is coming to Packard Music Hall for a screening of the 1982 film “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.” Following the movie, which starts promptly at 7:30 p.m., I’ll be doing an on-stage Q&A with the actor, author and director, who not only played a space traveler for decades over different incarnations of the science fiction franchise but actually got a chance to venture into space in 2021.

Those in attendance will play a role in shaping how the post-movie journey goes. Audience members will be asked to submit questions before the movie starts, and those questions will be a significant portion of the Q&A.

Come up with some great ideas, so I don’t sound like Chris Farley in that recurring “Saturday Night Live” sketch from the early ’90s — “Remember that time when you were in ‘Star Trek’? … Yeah, that was awesome.” In turn, don’t make the questions so esoteric that Shatner feels the need to re-create his own famous “SNL” sketch from his 1986 appearance on the show.

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and at the Packard box office before the show.

Shatner frequently does these movie / Q&A appearances, but the Warren event will have something those other events didn’t.

On display in the lobby at Packard Music Hall before and after the event will be several props from “The Wrath of Khan” that were created by Warren native John Zabrucky and his company, Modern Props. The props are among about 500 pieces Zabrucky donated to the Trumbull County Historical Society, and they will be an integral part of the Museum of Science Fiction and Fantasy Arts that is planned in the city.

The items will include one of the handheld communicators used by Kirk and other crew members of the Starship Enterprise, one of “Bones” McCoy’s medical devices, storage pods and a computer desk.

“We wanted to bring a mix of hand props and larger set pieces,” said Ryan MacLennan, TCHS director of operations and outreach. “For the first time, the public gets to see some of John Zabrucky’s artwork up close, and honestly, I can’t wait to see the reaction from fans. We will have an email sign up list at the table via a QR code that will help us to connect with fans and keep them in the loop with exciting MoSFFA news.”

On Friday, TCHS is planning a Wrath of Khan Bar Crawl in downtown Warren. The adventure starts at Urban Tap at 6 p.m. and will venture to West and Main at 7 p.m., Darlene Lounge (with Babcia’s Lunchbox food truck) at 8 p.m. and ending at The Underground Lounge at 9 p.m.

“The Wrath of Khan” will be shown at all four locations, and “Star Trek”-themed drink and food specials are planned. Prizes will be available for those who reach all four destinations.

“I wanted to do a themed bar crawl as a fundraiser for TCHS and as a way to encourage people to come downtown and support our local bars and restaurants, but I didn’t know what the theme would be or really what it would look like,” MacLennan said. “After talking with Emily Cheeseman, event coordinator at Modern Methods, we started brainstorming about a themed crawl and with William Shatner coming to Warren and answering questions from fans about ‘Wrath of Khan,’ it felt like a good opportunity and theme. I felt that it would also bring attention to our collection of props that have appeared in so many ‘Star Trek’ productions.”

The cost is $20. Tickets are available in advance through Eventbrite or by calling 330-394-4653. They also can be purchased at the sites on Friday.

Andy Gray is the entertainment editor of Ticket. Write to him at agray@tribtoday.com.

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