Trekkies in the Permian Basin will have a chance to unite at the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center next week and listen to Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner.
The famous actor will be hosting a special viewing of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan where Shatner will be giving a commentary of the movie.
Following that will be an audience Q&A session with Shatner, hosted by Odessa Arts Executive Director Randy Ham.
The event will take place at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12.
For a lifelong trekkie such as Ham, being able to sit next to his childhood idol is a dream come true.
“My enthusiasm for this event is boundless,” Ham said. “I grew up watching Star Trek when I was a kid. I still watch the films. The fact that this fell into my lap is way too exciting. To be able to sit across the stage from William Shatner and ask all the questions that I wanted to ask when I was 10 years old.”
It only took a simple phone call from Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center Stephanie Rivas to get Ham on board.
“Stephanie from the Wagner Noël called and asked if I was coming to the event and I said of course I am and she asked if I wanted to do the interview,” Ham said. “(Shatner’s) management asks for a local moderator at each stop which I think is a really great thing. It helps tie in the community. Of course, I jumped at the chance. Anyone that knows me knows I’m not that shy. Being able to do this is so exciting.”
The event will provide many background details from the making of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
Of course, Shatner has been known for more than just playing Captain Kirk as the Canadian actor has also done many other shows and movies and went into space most recently on SpaceX.
“That movie is my favorite,” Ham said. “We get to talk about the behind the scenes and the making of it. But for me, I think Mr. Shatner has had such a storied career. I want to talk about Boston Legal. I want to talk about his recording career. I want to talk about his equestrian, philanthropic efforts. Yes, he’s Captain Kirk but he’s more than that. He’s done so many things. And of course, he went into space. I want to hear about that.”
Rivas said Thursday’s event is one of the highlights to kick off the new year at the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center.
“Who wouldn’t be excited to see William Shatner?” Rivas asked. “He’s an icon. He’s a legend. To be able to screen a film of his and we’re all familiar with a pop-up video and being able to read tidbits that we didn’t know about a film as we watch it. This is with William Shatner himself so being able to get some insight views and opinions and thoughts on that film and just him as an actor and a person, it’s always nice to have those individuals that you think you’ve known your whole life and still learn some new things about them.”
Rivas said the event is a unique opportunity to view the film from a different perspective even for those who haven’t watched Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
“What’s fun is that a lot of our patrons have watched that film. You have Trekkies that have watched it a number of times and know it inside and out. To be able to have an opportunity to have a moderated Q and A and to be able to get inside his mind of when they were filming that movie, I think he gives everyone a fresh perspective so even though you may have seen it a hundred times, you’re getting a new sense of the film. And if you’ve never seen it, it’s a great way to see a film for the first time and a great way to get inside the film.”
For more information or tickets, go to tinyurl.com/yxht5wwy.
