Chicago TARDIS 2024: Full Schedule

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11:00am CST

Why Do I Keep Going Back to the Classic?

Friday November 29, 2024 11:00am - 11:55am CST

Tertiary Program Room | Grand Ballroom B

We've now had six new Doctors (seven if you count Paul McGann) and fourteen full seasons of new-era Doctor Who (plus specials). But for many fans, whether we enjoy the new stuff or not, we keep returning to the original series... maybe for sentimentality, or maybe because it spoke to us in a way the new one didn't. We'll take a look at the enduring appeal of the classic era of Doctor Who, and our panelists will discuss the seasons and stories that keep them coming back for more.

Moderators

Shaun Lyon

Program Director & Co-Founder, Gallifrey One Conventions

Raconteur; bon vivant; cupcakeaholic.

Speakers

Matthew Kresal

Author; Co-host, Police Box in the Junkyard Podcast

Matthew Kresal is a Sidewise Award winning author, critic, and podcaster with many and varying interests. He's written about and discussed topics as wide-ranging as the BBC's Doctor Who, Cold War fact and fiction, and the UFO phenomenon. He has appeared on podcasts including Police... Read More →

Annie King-Dennis

Jeremiah Hall

Rick Taylor

Robert Wetendorf

Friday November 29, 2024 11:00am - 11:55am CST
Tertiary Program Room | Grand Ballroom B

Panel, Friday

12:00pm CST

Best Films You've Never Seen

Friday November 29, 2024 12:00pm - 12:55pm CST

Tertiary Program Room | Grand Ballroom B

Our annual panel on movies in which our panelists share some interesting movies that many people have never even heard of!

Moderators

Steven Warren Hill

Program Director, Chicago TARDIS

Owner of Gallifrey Base, BroaDWcast, and the Doctor Who Cuttings Archive. Author of the books "Silver Scream" Vols. 1 and 2, and "Red White and Who: The Story of Doctor Who in America." Program Director and host for Chicago TARDIS. Creator and leader of Mysterious Theatre 337.Objects... Read More →

Speakers

Robert Warnock

Nick Seidler

Chicago TARDIS

Founder and Co-owner of the Earthbound TimeLords page to include the Doctor Who Scripts Page, the Doctor Who Fanzine Preservation Project, the Diary of Doctor Who Role-Playing Games page, as well as the first archive of academic articles on Doctor Who. Author and contributor to the... Read More →

Friday November 29, 2024 12:00pm - 12:55pm CST
Tertiary Program Room | Grand Ballroom B

Panel, Friday

12:00pm CST

Big Finish Friday

Friday November 29, 2024 12:00pm - 12:55pm CST

Main Program | Grand Ballroom E & F

Ringleader Jason Haigh-Ellery brings his cohorts to the stage for the first of three Big Finish discussions this weekend!

Moderators

Jason Haigh-Ellery

Jason is an award-winning producer (recipient of an Olivier Award, three Whatsonstage Awards, a Chicago International Television Drama Award and two BBC Audio Drama Awards) with many companies in the entertainment space, including the world’s largest independent audio drama production... Read More →

Speakers

Daisy Ashford

Daisy is a professional actress, and trained at LAMDA (the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art), having previously studied English at Manchester University – something her actor parents advised, knowing the precarious nature of the business.She has recently worked at the RSC... Read More →

Jaye Griffiths

Best known in the Doctor Who universe for her roles as Jac in the 12th Doctor Era’s “The Magician’s Apprentice” and “The Zygon Invasion” and Lady Audacity Montague, companion to the 8th Doctor, in several Big Finish audios, Jaye Griffiths has also starred in several major... Read More →

Safiyya Ingar

Safiyya Ingar is an actor and VO artist from London, UK. After graduating from their alma mater in 2017, they have nurtured their career and skills in theatre whilst always maintaining a passion and drive for voice acting and gaming.In 2020 they were given the opportunity to be mentored... Read More →

Jo Martin

(Appearing Friday and Saturday only.)Jo Martin is a celebrated British actress. She made television history on Doctor Who as the Fugitive Doctor, becoming the first Black Doctor in the series, a role that added fresh depth and resonance to the iconic character. Jo continues to explore... Read More →

Sonny McGann

Sonny McGann has most notably, he has portrayed the Doctor's great-grandson, Alex Campbell, as part of Big Finish Productions in the Eighth Doctor Adventures stories “An Earthly Child”, “Relative Dimensions”, “Lucie Miller/To the Death” and reprised the role as part of... Read More →

Sadie Miller

In April 2016, Miller published her debut novel as the first book of the second series of the Lethbridge-Stewart novels, Moon Blink, under the publishing house, Candy Jar Books. She explained her comeback from her association with Doctor Who, as an author: "...I feel that the time... Read More →

Friday November 29, 2024 12:00pm - 12:55pm CST
Main Program | Grand Ballroom E & F

Panel, Friday

12:00pm CST

Whovian Writers

Friday November 29, 2024 12:00pm - 12:55pm CST

Secondary Program Room | Grand Ballroom C

Doctor Who fandom is full of writers: professionals, fans, scholars, authors, journalists, critics, publishers, scriptwriters, and countless new prospective writers. What can we learn about writing from Doctor Who? With decades of tie-in novels and fan works, there is always more to learn from the Whovian writing community. This panel looks at new perspectives that can help your writing grow and discusses the differences and similarities between pro- and fan- writing. Fandom is full of people who can help and support your work and dreams, and the purpose of this panel is to encourage writers to think about where their writing can take them through time and space. Suggested by Sarah Urbank.

Moderators

Sarah Urbank

She/her. Second generation Whovian. Studying pop culture, television, comics, and literature. Writer, cosplayer, and dog lover. Zine credits: TARDIS, Celestial Toyroom, and The History Between Us. Appearances: An Awful Lot of Running podcast guest. Professional: BG Ideas, MAR, As... Read More →

Speakers

Jay Besemer

author, artist, cursebreaker, fool

Poet and artist Jay Besemer is the author of numerous poetry collections, including [Your Tongue is as Long as a Tuesday] (knife|fork|book, 2023); Men & Sleep (Meekling Press, 2023); the double chapbook Wounded Buildings/Simple Machines (Another New Calligraphy 2022) and Theories... Read More →

Rich Marin

Friday November 29, 2024 12:00pm - 12:55pm CST
Secondary Program Room | Grand Ballroom C

Panel, Friday

1:00pm CST

Doctor Who Home Media History & Future

Friday November 29, 2024 1:00pm - 1:55pm CST

Tertiary Program Room | Grand Ballroom B

It is a widely held opinion that Doctor Who is blessed with THE finest home video releases of any television programme, with the ongoing Blu-ray sets. Jam-packed with additional content and new ways to enjoy old episodes, these marvels of technology are just as exciting as new episodes. We'll discuss the Blu-ray sets and their content, as well as a little history of Doctor Who on home video, going all the way back to the first edited videocassette releases on VHS and Beta.

Moderators

Ross Ruediger

Producer/Manager, Unassuming Pictures

Producer and co-director and writer of the documentary "inDoctornated." Covered "Doctor Who" in-depth since its return to TV screens in 2005 for New York Magazine and numerous other outlets. Fan since '84 via KETC in St. Louis.

Speakers

Erik Gulbrandsen

Host, Police Box in the Junkyard Podcast

I am a writer and podcaster. I am the co-host/co-creator of the Police Box in the Junkyard Podcast and the Video Junkyard Podcast. I am the managing editor of the Vanishing Point, an annual sci-fi/horror literary anthology. My critical work has been featured in multiple volumes... Read More →

Larry VanMersbergen

Host and Producer of The Doctor Who Collectors Podcast and Director of Direction Point, a Dr. Who Podcast Network., The Doctor Who Collectors Podcast

Larry VanMersbergen is the host and producer of The Doctor Who Collectors Podcast. He started watching Dr. Who in 1975. He founded the Dr. Who Store “Bundles from Britain” in 1984 and in 1985 became partners with Gene Smith. Larry was a dealer at Tardis 22 in 1985. Larry has been... Read More →

Steven Warren Hill

Program Director, Chicago TARDIS

Mark Ayres

With a lifelong interest in film, music, and electronics, Mark took an eccentric joint degree and therefore holds a BSc (Hons) in Electronics and Music. He started his professional life as a sound engineer at UK breakfast television station TVam before turning freelance five years... Read More →

Friday November 29, 2024 1:00pm - 1:55pm CST
Tertiary Program Room | Grand Ballroom B

Panel, Friday

1:00pm CST

Gender Fluidity in the Whoniverse

Friday November 29, 2024 1:00pm - 1:55pm CST

Secondary Program Room | Grand Ballroom C

Sci-fi always presages the future, but what happens when your show runs so long that said future arrives? In the classic series, the idea of non-gender-conforming aliens like Alpha Centauri was a wild concept. Fast forward several decades, and the Doctor and the Master have both swapped in and out of genders. This panel will discuss gender fluidity in Doctor Who, past and present, as well as discussing why this is particularly suited to our favourite show. [Note: For this panel we would strongly prefer panelists to be trans or nonbinary.] Suggested by Stacey Smith?

Moderators

Stacey Smith?

Stacey Smith? (the question mark is part of her name) is a professor of disease modeling at the University of Ottawa in Canada. Using mathematics, she studies infectious diseases such as HIV, malaria, human papillomavirus, COVID-19, influenza, neglected tropical diseases... and zombies.She’s... Read More →

Speakers

Jay Besemer

author, artist, cursebreaker, fool

Sai Dagli

Eirnin Mahoney

Kai Stuive

Friday November 29, 2024 1:00pm - 1:55pm CST
Secondary Program Room | Grand Ballroom C

Panel, Friday

2:00pm CST

Second Chances with Big Finish

Friday November 29, 2024 2:00pm - 2:55pm CST

Tertiary Program Room | Grand Ballroom B

Big Finish has been giving second chances and continuing stories for many underappreciated or "ended too soon" Doctors and Doctor Who storylines for 25 years. Many Classic Doctors, and now the Fugitive and Thirteenth Doctors, have benefitted from Big Finish's embracing of their characters and the hunger Doctor Who fans have to see more from "their" Doctors and companions. Let's talk about how Big Finish has carried the torch for all these years and what you hope to see from them in the future! Suggested by Taylor Deatherage.

Moderators

Matthew Kresal

Author; Co-host, Police Box in the Junkyard Podcast

Speakers

Nadia Asfar

Friday November 29, 2024 2:00pm - 2:55pm CST
Tertiary Program Room | Grand Ballroom B

Panel, Friday

2:00pm CST

LGBTQ Who (2 hr)

Friday November 29, 2024 2:00pm - 3:55pm CST

Secondary Program Room | Grand Ballroom C

A discussion about LGBTQIA representation throughout the years of Doctor Who, and what it means to have a Queer actor playing the Doctor. Traditional and suggested by several people. (Due to this panel being scheduled for 2 hours, be aware that some panelists may not be present during the whole panel.)

Moderators

Andrew Anderson

ChicagoTARDIS: Director of.Customer Support

Advocate for LGBTQIA+ and Mental health among the nerd community. Nerdy and Proud (literally have nerdy on my arm). Queer since the list of things is a lot. Jack Harkness inspired. They/He

Speakers

Taylor Deatherage

Convention Planner, Chicago TARDIS

Convention planner and Social Media Manager/Communications for Chicago TARDIS.Marketing & Comms for fan-run conventions in the Midwest, nerdy small biz owner, cosplayer, and (sometimes) writer.Queer & non-binary (they/she).

Ross Ruediger

Producer/Manager, Unassuming Pictures

Safiyya Ingar

Cristina Nunes

Stephanie Miller

Friday November 29, 2024 2:00pm - 3:55pm CST
Secondary Program Room | Grand Ballroom C

Panel, Friday

4:00pm CST

Steven Moffat's "Press Gang"

Friday November 29, 2024 4:00pm - 4:55pm CST

Tertiary Program Room | Grand Ballroom B

For the past 2 years we have hosted a panel on Steven Moffat's first ever TV show "Press Gang," which is full of Doctor Who references and timey-wimey storytelling before his time on Doctor Who. Join us as we chat about this great series. We will share our thoughts about it and hope to hear if some of you have been watching it as well. And if you haven't heard about it, this panel is a great place to start.

Moderators

Nick Seidler

Chicago TARDIS

Speakers

Jason Haigh-Ellery

Sue Cowley

Friday November 29, 2024 4:00pm - 4:55pm CST
Tertiary Program Room | Grand Ballroom B

Panel, Friday

5:00pm CST

Doctor Who's Latest Series + The Future

Friday November 29, 2024 5:00pm - 5:55pm CST

Secondary Program Room | Grand Ballroom C

We examine the episodes that have aired since last Chicago TARDIS, focusing mostly on Ncuti Gatwa's episodes and what he brings to the role, and what the future holds in store.

Moderators

Rachell Montgomery

Host, The UltimateTV

Rachell Montgomery has an endless love for music and entertainment. That passion led her into the world of broadcasting and landed jobs at heritage radio stations including WGCI FM, WXRT-FM and many more. During a brief stint at The Jenny Jones Show, Rachell was bitten by the television... Read More →

Speakers

Larry VanMersbergen

Host and Producer of The Doctor Who Collectors Podcast and Director of Direction Point, a Dr. Who Podcast Network., The Doctor Who Collectors Podcast

Stacey Smith?

Jeevan John

Friday November 29, 2024 5:00pm - 5:55pm CST
Secondary Program Room | Grand Ballroom C

Panel, Friday

8:00pm CST

30 Years: The Missing Adventures

Friday November 29, 2024 8:00pm - 8:55pm CST

Tertiary Program Room | Grand Ballroom B

Thirty years ago, Virgin Publishing decided to open a new range of their Doctor Who novels line with "The Missing Adventures" featuring past Doctors. At last, completely new stories could be told with past Doctors and companions. We'll turn the clocks back to discuss what was going on in Doctor Who in 1994 and why the Missing Adventures were created, we'll talk about what we think worked best about them and what didn't. We'll also discuss the enduring legacy of the range and our favorite stories out of it. Suggested by Nathan Laws.

Moderators

Nathan Laws

Host, The 42cast

I am the host of The 42cast your Ultimate Answer to Fandom, Geekiness, and Everything. I've also recently started Timestreams, a podcast where my friend Juliette and I are watching all of Doctor Who from the beginning. She's never seen any of it, and I've been watching since I was... Read More →

Speakers

Stacey Smith?

Matthew Kresal

Author; Co-host, Police Box in the Junkyard Podcast

Hunter O'Connell

Friday November 29, 2024 8:00pm - 8:55pm CST
Tertiary Program Room | Grand Ballroom B

Panel, Friday

8:00pm CST

Mental Health for Nerds (2 hr)

Friday November 29, 2024 8:00pm - 9:55pm CST

Secondary Program Room | Grand Ballroom C

A open conversation about being a part of the nerd culture and the value it can have as we wade the waters of mental health. Talks on what things helped through rough times, what value therapy has, and potential tips on how to care for one's self, all in a calm, open conversation. Suggested by Andrew Anderson. (Due to this panel being scheduled for 2 hours, be aware that some panelists may not be present during the whole panel.)

Moderators