501st Legion Midwest Garrison

The 501st Legion is an international costuming organization dedicated to celebrating STAR WARS™ through the creation and use of quality costumes that portray the villainous, morally ambiguous, or non-partisan characters from the STAR WARS™ universe. The Legion promotes interest in STAR WARS and facilitates the use of these costumes for STAR WARS-related events as well as contributes to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work. 

Andrew Trygstad

A longtime fan of all things Star Wars, Andrew has made it a life’s passion to learn how to teach and fight with weapons safely and effectively for the stage. He recently earned his Bachelor’s degree from Columbia College Chicago, where he studied stage combat extensively. 

Andrew will be hosting Jedi Training.

Anthony Mele

Spending over 20 years on the stage, and even more with a video game controller in his hand, Anthony is a big ol’ nerd. Literally. You’ll find him easily by looking up; he’s 6’5”.

Anthony will be hosting the Artemis Spaceship Bridge Simulator sessions. 

Claire Jolie Goodman

Claire Jolie Goodman is a Chicago-area performing artist and theatre educator with a passion for sharing stories through music. Known best locally for her iconic Disney Sing-Alongs, Claire is also a Broadway World Award Winner for her solo musical comedy, Theatre Kid Rehab, which was originally produced for Elgin Fringe Festival in 2023. When she’s not performing or otherwise creating, you can usually find Claire with her friends or little siblings, or maybe at a local karaoke night. 

Claire will be hosting Disney Sing-Along.

Dalek Asylum Milwaukee

Dalek Asylum Milwaukee are the United States’ oldest and largest cooperative building club, having assembled double digits of Daleks in the last few years. Dalek Asylum Milwaukee calls the Milwaukee Makerspace home. 

Gina Venable

Gina Venable is an artist known for her hundreds of self-made imaginative cosplays. Along with her two sons, she loves learning about new fandoms and games. She has spent the last five years performing for numerous charity organizations to spread love through her performance art.

Gina will be in the Character Storytime and Character Meet & Greet. 

Joe Tinaglia

Joe The Tinman Tinaglia is a multimedia artist known for his cosplay, comic books and movie making. He studied illustration and fashion at the Art Institute of Chicago before becoming an art teacher at Northeastern Illinois University. He has spent the last 20 years publishing books and the last decade running cosplay clubs that travel the world.

Joe will be in the Character Storytime and Character Meet & Greet. 

Kelly Guentner

Kelly Guentner-Edwards has too many hobbies, much to her long-suffering husband’s chagrin. She is an author, a cosplayer, a podcaster, and the chairwoman of the Multiverse FunRaiser. She will talk your ear off about Black Canary or the role of comics in American history if you’ll let her, and lives in southern Wisconsin.

You can find more about Kelly at www.phoenixsistersentertainment.com

Kelly will be in the Character Storytime and Character Meet & Greet. 

Michael Averett Jr.

Michael will be in the Character Storytime and Character Meet & Greet. 

Olivia Artistries

A passionate artist and educator, Olivia taught elementary art in Chicago Public Schools before working in libraries. Her love of the arts transferred to her role in Youth Services creating signage, facilitating programs and now as a special guest at FanCon. Check out the Olivia Artistries catalogue of workshops to foster creativity in your community today with Fandom Chalk Prints. 

Raks Geek

Named "Best Dance Troupe" runner-up by the Chicago Reader, Raks Geek is the premiere bellydance, flow arts, circus, and fire company by geeks for geeks. They're based in Chicago, but their cast has performed from Germany to Costa Rica; they've made waves nationally and internationally on MSN, WGN-TV, UK Channel 4 TV, and the Chicago Tribune through their commitment to blend a high degree of artistic and technical mastery with fun, creativity, and favorite themes from nerd culture.   

Rough Magic Games

In 2019, Rough Magic was founded with one mission: to help those who wanted to play tabletop role-playing games but lacked the time to take on the role of a Game Master. Today, Rough Magic runs regular in-person/online events all over Chicagoland and beyond. Rough Magic’s team loves nothing more than guiding diverse players with varying areas of experience to collaboratively create thrilling adventures and forge unique bonds of friendship that will last for a lifetime. 

Sea Beast Puppets

Kat Pleviak is the founder and Artistic Director of Sea Beast Puppet Company and holds an MFA in Youth Theatre and Puppetry from the University of Hawaii at Manoa (2009). Most recently her piece “Last Call” was featured in the 2025 Chicago International Puppetry Festival and the 2024 National Puppet Slam. Her work has been featured at a variety of intuitions including the Field Museum, the Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois Wesleyan University and at numerous puppetry festivals in the US, Canada, and Australia. She currently works at the Puppeteers of America as the Membership Administrator. 

 For more info visit https://www.seabeastpuppetry.com 

Sean Sharp

Sean will be in the Character Storytime and Character Meet & Greet.