James Marsters Q&A, Reception, Seminar, ‘Harry Potter’ Panel With Tom Felton, Disney ‘They Spoke Out’ Screening Highlight Wizard World Big Apple Comic Con Programming

Morena Baccarin, Chandler Riggs Q&A’s, Evening ‘Drink & Draw,’ ‘Wizard School,’ and Costume Contests Also On Tap For May 21-22 at Penn Plaza Pavilion

Wizard World Big Apple Comic Con today announced its diverse programming schedule, featuring unique celebrity Q&A’s, music, screenings, artist schools and more for the event, set for Saturday and Sunday, May 21-22 at Penn Plaza Pavilion.

Some of the highlights include:

* A trio of events with “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” star James Marsters, including a Q&A, cocktail reception and Shakespeare seminar
* “Harry Potter” discussion with Tom Felton, who portrayed “Draco Malfoy” in the hugely successful film series
* Rare Q&A sessions with Morena Baccarin, discussing her roles in “Firefly,” “Stargate SG-1” and “V,” and Chandler Riggs, star child actor in “Walking Dead”
* Special screening of Disney’s “Messenger from Hell,” the first episode of the important new Stan Lee/Neal Adams motion comic “They Spoke Out: American Voices of Protest Against the Holocaust”
* Wizard Art and Writing School and Q&A’s featuring leading creators like Christos Gage, Matt Kindt, Brian Wood, Kevin Colden, Greg Horn, Luke Ross, Jim Cheung and Kaare Andrews
* The famed Kubert School’s “How to Make A Comic from Script to Print”
* The popular adult costume contest and fun kids costume contest with great prizes

Unless noted, Big Apple Comic Con programming will take place in the panel room at Penn Plaza Pavilion, and is included with admission to the event. Seating for panels is strictly limited and available on a first come first serve basis and each room will be cleared between panels. The full schedule is available at http://www.wizardworld.com/programming-nyc.html and listed below:

Saturday

11:00-11:45AM
Comic Book Club Panel

12:00-12:45AM
Digital Art School With Greg Horn
Superstar Marvel and DC artist Greg Horn (“Blackest Night”) leads a discussion on digital art and takes you through his creative process.

1:00-1:45PM
Wizard World Writing School With Christos Gage, Matt Kindt, Brian Wood And Kevin Colden
Get your questions together for this all-star writer’s panel, with Christos Gage (“X-Men,” “Superman”), Matt Kindt (“Revolver,” “Pistolwhip”), Brian Wood (“DMZ,” “The New York Five”) and Kevin Colden (“Fishtown,” “I Rule the Night”).

2:00-2:45PM
James Marsters Q&A
Best known for his role as Spike, the platinum blonde vampire on hit shows “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel,” James Marsters answers questions about everything from his evolution from acting to music and back, and the projects he plans to conquer in the next few years.

3:00-3:45PM
Moca Panel

4:00-4:45PM
Tom Felton Q&A
Best known for his portrayal of “Draco Malfoy,” the villain and arch-nemesis of Harry Potter in the series of blockbuster films, Tom Felton makes a rare appearance at Big Apple Comic Con for a special Q&A session to answer all of your fan questions.

5:00-5:45PM
Morena Baccarin Q&A
Whether you know her as Inara Serra in “Firefly,” Adria in “Stargate SG-1,” or Anna in the newest remake of “V,” Morena Baccarin is undoubtedly one of the female superstars of sci-fi. Join her for a special Q&A session with fans, as she answers all of your questions and shares her thoughts on the future of sci-fi television.

6:00-8:00PM
Wizard World Adult Costume Contest
Get your best costume together and come on down to Wizard World’s Big Apple Comic Con costume contest for fun prizes and some of the craziest outfits you’ll see this weekend.

7:00-9:00PM
Wizard World Drink & Draw
Wizard World’s original Drink & Draw is back! Join some of your favorite comic artists for a fun-filled night as they drink and draw for a cause. (Jack Demsey’s @ 36 West 33rd St. between 5th & 6th Ave.)

7:30-9:30PM
Cocktail Reception With James Marsters
Be one of 85 lucky guests to mingle with James Marsters and enjoy small group and one-on-one conversations in a private setting. James will rotate around the room throughout the two hour cocktail reception. Event is held exclusively for James Marsters Saturday VIP Ticket Holders. Photography will be allowed. (Location TBD)

Sunday

10:00AM-12:00PM
Bard Seminar With James Marsters
James Marsters will conduct a seminar on one of his favorite subjects – Shakespeare. He will perform some of Shakespeare’s sonnets and discuss his interpretations. This will be an open forum where the audience may also ask questions and share their thoughts. Event is held exclusively for James Marsters Sunday VIP Ticket Holders. (Location TBD)

12:00-1:00PM
Special Presentation: Stan Lee, Neal Adams And Disney Take On The Holocaust
Comic book legends Stan Lee and Neal Adams have teamed up with Disney Educational Productions and Holocaust historian Dr. Rafael Medoff to create “They Spoke Out: American Voices of Protest Against the Holocaust,” a series of motion comics that are changing the way the Holocaust is taught in the United States. Dr. Medoff and Neal Adams will present the first episode of this remarkable new series, narrated by Lee and illustrated by Adams. “Messenger from Hell” tells the amazing story of a Polish courier who smuggled himself into a Nazi death camp, and then made his way to the U.S. to alert Americans about the genocide.

1:00-1:45PM
Wizard World Kids Costume Contest
Bring kids 10 and under for this special event with fun prizes just for families and the youngsters.

2:00-2:45PM
Chandler Riggs Q&A With “Walking Dead” Behind-The-Scenes Footage
AMC’s ambitious horror series, based on Robert Kirkman’s ultra-hot zombie series from Image, now comes to life from director Frank Darabont (“The Green Mile”)! Check out amazing behind-the-scenes footage and extended clips along with a Q&A with star Chandler Riggs.

3:00-3:45PM
Breaking Into Comics With Luke Ross, Jim Cheung And Kaare Andrews
Superstar artists Luke Ross (“Captain America,” “Amazing Spiderman”), Jim Cheung (“Avengers,” “Uncanny X-Men”), and Kaare Andrews (“Astonishing X-Men,” “Iron Man”) assemble to give their tips on refining your art, pitching to Marvel and DC, and any other advice they can give on breaking into comics.

4:00-4:45PM
How To Make A Comic From Script To Print
The Kubert School presents “How to Make a Comic From Script to Print.” Archie Comics artist and Kubert School instructor, Fernando Ruiz, walks you through the process of making a comic – from story, to pencils, inks, colors and then finally lettering – this a great introduction to all the different disciplines that go into creating a comic.

The Penn Plaza Pavilion is located at 401 Seventh Avenue at 33rd St., in the historic Hotel Pennsylvania. Big Apple Comic Con Spring Edition is the fifth stop on Wizard World’s 13-city 2011 North American tour. Hours are Saturday, May 21, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.; and Sunday, May 22, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tickets are available in advance online at http://www.wizardworld.com/newyorkcity.html at up to a 15% savings over tickets purchased at the door. Advance adult single-day tickets are $20; two-day weekend tickets are $35, and tickets are free for children age 10 and under when accompanied by a paid adult (limit two children per adult). VIP packages with special entry and exclusive items are also available.

About Wizard World:
Wizard World is a producer of pop culture and multimedia conventions across North America that markets movies, TV shows, video games, technology, toys, social networking/gaming platforms, comic books and graphic novels. It has the rights to the names, marks, domains, customer lists and production rights for a portfolio of pop culture and multimedia conventions.

For the most recent event information please visit www.wizardworld.com and become a Big Apple Comic Con Fan on Facebook.

***** SAVE THE 2011/12 DATES *****
May 21-22 – Big Apple Comic Con
June 17-19 – Philadelphia Comic Con
August 11-14 – Chicago Comic Con
September 17-18 – New England Comic Con
September 24-25 – Los Angeles Comic Con
October 22-23 – Mid-Ohio Comic Con
October 28-30 – Central Canada Comic Con (C4)
November 11-13 – Austin Comic Con
January 28-29, 2012 – New Orleans Comic Con
March 23-25, 2012 – Toronto Comic Con
April 27-29, 2012 – Anaheim Comic Con
December 8-9, 2012 – Miami Comic Con