A new space opera with old tropes! Do you miss simple space stories? Flawed superheroes? Saber battles in space? Long, expository dialogue? Evil villains intent on taking over the galaxy? Well, you're in luck if you come to this lively author reading! Participants: Dave Walbridge
Astrisoni is a filk duo whose songs explore complex topics via sci-fi and fantasy. Expect vengeful unicorns, D&D metaphors, tragic robots, ghost pirates, and songs to hunt Bigfoot to. Their music can be found at https://astrisoni.bandcamp.com/ Participants: Heather Estelme, Nate Wulver
An old-timey comedy radio show, just like your grandparents told you about! Come laugh at jokes with only your ears! Participants: Windy Bowlsby, Christopher Jones, Dawn Krosnowski, Jerry Stearns, Tim Wick
Beth Kinderman's Pegasus Award-winning prog-filk songs explore transformation, philosophy, and myth through a sci-fi/fantasy lens. Together with her bandmates, she will present music from her most recent album, "Sisyphus: Ten Songs About Hope." Participants: Justin Hartley, Beth Kinderman, Dave Stagner
Watch several victims, um VOLUNTEERS, try sodas of mysterious origins. Will they suffer? Can they choke it down? Might they even like it?! Find out! Our misery loves your company. Now with youthful suffering! *pointing-while-laughing optional Participants: Kelly Murphy (mod), Espn Amos, Geoffrey Benson, Mike Benson, FLipsiDE, Steve Sylvestre, Lee Taylor, Viga
Rian Vellichor is a recovering emo kid singing about queer relationships, mental health, and Renaissance festivals in an attempt to make you laugh. Tune in as they release long performed but never before recorded original music to the world! Participants: Rian Vellichor, Saffron McGinn, Drew Kelly
Victuals get vicious as our culinary connoisseurs contemplate which faux foods flourish or fail in the arena of annihilation! Participants: Tim Wick (mod), Barb Abney, Birdchick, Kelvin Hatle, Christopher Jones, Melissa Sue Kaercher, Nur-D, Tim Uren, Duck Washington
Come see a panel of (hopefully) funny people compete in Jackbox Quiplash games, where the prompts are all CONvergence/nerd themed. Join the audience and answer silly questions while the panelists are working. Participants: Nikki Armstrong (mod), Arthur Ray Armstrong, Molly Glover, Stephanie Hammon, Eric Knight, Ad Surmak, Eric Thompson
Love. Loss. Limerence. An exploration and deeply past-due arrival in rhythm and self-acceptance. Come explore with Me, MELoDEE, as I introduce myself on stage with some home-grown Minneapolis hip-hop. I look forward to showing you who I am! Participants: Dee Quinn
Guests of Honor past and present return to the stage for a robotic quest in the distant future, the year 2000 AD, to fight evils and solve mysteries! DM Kyle Dekker returns with more mayhem and madness! Participants: T. Aaron Cisco, Catero Colbert, J.R. Dawson, Kyle B Dekker, Colette Feehan, Arif Kinchen, John Kovalic, Nur-D
As clips of strange movies play on screen, a team of voice actors and musicians create a whole new soundtrack...without ever seeing the movies before! It's film, improv comedy, and live music all in one, plus a 75% chance of rubber-suit monsters! Participants: Jerry Belich, Molly Glover, Nick Glover, Kelvin Hatle, Melissa Sue Kaercher, Caly McMorrow, Duck Washington
Kiki Joy is a live vocalist and host blending nostalgic hits, nerdy charm, and campy charisma. With powerhouse vocals and playful energy, every performance feels like a concert and a hangout you won't forget. Instagram: lovekikijoy Participants: Kiki Joy Latham
Welcome to a live recording of the "Not Your Mother's Mahabharata Podcast". Satish Jayaraj will tell another chapter of the Indian epic "The Mahabharata" to his wife Azure and our special guest. "The Mahabharata" is a living, grand, and truly powerful epic! Participants: Azure, Satish Jayaraj, Aaron King
A panel of comedians compete to complete the strange tasks set forth by a megalomaniacal game show host and their assistant. Based on the British game show. Participants: Maren Aalgaard, Jerry Belich, Molly Glover, Lee Harris, Melissa Sue Kaercher, Gregory Parks, Rian Vellichor, Tim Wick
An all-bard adventuring party bringing bardcore and joyous takes on classics, along with some original works. Featuring vocals, drum, harp, violin, and guitar. Participants: Laura Arvidson, Ben Flood, Meredith McLinn, Ben White
Mousetraps, blindfolds, marshmallows, and sound effects!? We gathered up the weirdest improv structures we could think of, and now it's time to make some Questionable Choices! Participants: James Fairbairn, Stephanie Hammon, Ad Surmak, Eric Thompson, Duck Washington
Birds of a Feather is a two-piece family band, primarily performing Irish/Scottish/English folk and traditional songs and tunes, but with sprinkles of Americana, Canadian Folk, and whatever else the kid likes enough to want to learn. Participants: Nightingale, Wren
Double-Blind Improv is a short-form improv show where the games and performers are drawn at random, so you never know what might happen because neither do we! Participants: Eric Thompson (mod), James Fairbairn, Stephanie Hammon, Ad Surmak, Duck Washington
Teams of "literary experts" compete to describe the plot of a book, judging only from its cover art! Participants: Jerry Belich, Birdchick, Molly Glover, Nick Glover, Lee Harris, Melissa Sue Kaercher, John Kovalic, Tim Wick
Blues, ballads, originals, and instrumentals using 6-string and 12-string guitars, 6-string and 8-string baritones, and a new pedal board. Playing old songs, new songs, and the Chicken One. Participants: Jay William Koelsch
Five "experts" must each give a PowerPoint presentation with slides they have never seen before, and the slides make no sense! Participants: Tim Wick (mod), Birdchick, Windy Bowlsby, Charles Hubbell, Melissa Sue Kaercher, Ad Surmak
Sherlock Says is a locally-produced podcast covering all things Sherlock Holmes: from Victorian history to modern adaptation. For our CONvergence debut, we're joined by special guests to discuss the influence of Holmes in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Participants: Rachael Dosen, Angela Fox, Ansel Johnson, Kamela Lise
Join us for a new cirque-style show filled with fandoms and cosplays inspired by your favorite robots, cyborgs, and androids! Featuring aerialists, dancers, jugglers, and more. It's an AI-free combination of circuits and circus! Participants: Shadowcat Sophie
Join puppet Herman the Dinosaur for a lively variety hour of comedy, fan fiction, and playful chaos. Cheeky humor, nerdy mashups, improv, and delightfully naughty storytelling for adults. Participants: Angela Fox, Charles Hubbell, Jena Young
Come enjoy an hour of music on harp and guitar that will range from depressing traditional ballads to robots in space and everything in between. From raucous drinking songs to sappy love songs, Tanya will keep you laughing and crying the whole time. Participants: Tanya Brody
Bad September is the Twin Cities' premiere retro-futurist rock band. Our three albums are filled with songs about technological revolution and cultural rebellion, but with a steampunk edge. Participants: Charles Borchert, Elizabeth Borchert, Michael Borchert, John Heimbuch, Keith Prusak, Rob Prusak
A hodgepodge of folk tales and fairy tales in a new original production and design. Hear about the process and story and see a brief sneak peek. Participants: Joel Fischer, Suzan Gray, Todd Pioske, Kenny Simon, Dirk Ykema
Join Wyldwolf's professional game masters for a live D&D one-shot adventure! As part of the audience, you'll influence choices, spark chaos, and shape the story. Will you steer our heroes to glory? Take a seat and get ready to roll. Let the mayhem begin! Participants: Gary Dombrowski, Kelsey Ebbert, Hunter Goetzman, Jake Rafter, Ben Stoddart
Dance with the dinos as they groove through the Hyatt Regency! Starting on 4F (Gaming Area), they'll parade down 2F & 1F before ending on 4F (gaming area) for photos & hugs. No stops until the finale--so get ready for a roaring good time!
AK Sherlock is high-voltage Industrial Rock for anyone who's been silenced, erased, or told their survival was a mistake. We don't apologize for taking up space; we claim it with volume. Debut EP, EXHIBIT A, coming June 2026. @AK_Sherlock on Instagram Participants: AK Sherlock
Join Miss Shannan Paul and her special guests as they turn life's chaos into comedy gold with hilarious, heartfelt, and geek-approved tales that celebrate fandom, resilience, and the joy of embracing the unexpected. Participants: Miss Shannan
Four authors write complete flash fiction stories in five minutes based on topics suggested by the audience. Participants: Lee Harris (mod), Jerry Belich, Nick Glover, Melissa Sue Kaercher, Dawn Krosnowski, Jeremy Stomberg
See back-to-back readings of two one-act plays by Sam L. Landman. Con is a tale of comic book conventions, and Near Mint portrays the death of a comic book store. Participants: Sam Landman
Nur-D and his friends bring you a TTRPG experience where they play through a famous movie and let dice determine the outcome! Participants: Nur-D (mod), Steph Hanson, DJ Hayes, Nathan Hirsh, BJ Johnson, Betty Kay Merkle, Ro Lorenzen, Gabrielle Pearson, Aaron Sexton
Vilification Tennis makes a triumphant return to MainStage! Why is it triumphant? Because they can't believe they have been invited back! **mature content** Participants: Tim Wick (mod)
With 50 years of musical experience, Wilson Parc's music ranges from classics and mash-ups to originals with influences from metal, folk, bluegrass, and jazz. Participants: Annette Larson, Jac Martins, Eric Neuville, Ren Riga
Letters! Numbers! And Conundrums! Can you make longer words and get the numbers faster than our panelists? Most likely! Participants: Filima, Nathan Gerber, Lee Harris, Philip D Henry, Melissa Sue Kaercher, Dawn Krosnowski
Friday July 3, 2026 11:30pm - Saturday July 4, 2026 12:30am CDT Hyatt 2, Greenway FG
I'm sorry, Dave.... It's getting hot in here. Nerdlesque returns with a late-night celebration of dangerously intelligent temptations. From space oddities to machine fantasies, it's burlesque with a glitch--glamorous, cheeky, and just a bit unhinged. **mature content** Participants: Curvee B, Opiumm Hayze, Kiki Joy, Mona Montague, Juniper Nightshade, Sinasaurus Vex
Friday July 3, 2026 11:30pm - Saturday July 4, 2026 12:30am CDT Hyatt 2, Regency Room
Fiction and friendship collide as the cohosts of the supernatural comedy podcast Quest Friends find themselves trapped in a romance-themed D&D game, with their very souls on the line. Can you help them escape the panel room? Participants: Kyle Decker, Hallie Koontz, Ariadne Peñalva Tena
Will you...come to our Space Cottage late at night? Don't go to bed. Come to our rave! We will have so much fun. It is so perfect, everyone will glow. We can have a dance or even two. We will be completely obsessed...together! **mature content** Participants: dj starfive
A short taiko tasting for fans of the acoustic mayhem that is Harisen Daiko. Can't wait for the Sunday MainStage show? Need more taiko in your weekend? We've got you. Participants: Holly Johnson
Join puppet Herman the Dinosaur as he shares fun, kid-friendly stories about robots and imagination. With friends Angela the Paleontologist and Gregory the Clown, this lively hour brings laughter, learning, and playful storytelling for young audiences. Participants: Angela Fox, Charles Hubbell, Gregory Parks
Ravenscroft presents a concert of acoustic instrumental music from cyborg and robot related movies, shows, and games. Come in cosplay or your PJs, and bring your coffee or knitting. Ft. violins, viola, bassoon, recorders, guitar, saxophone, and percussion. Participants: Megan F, Chris M, Kathleen O, Kerry P, Eve Z
On the 250th anniversary of American Independence, listen to the words of those who were there! Adapting for the first time 18th-century combat medic, historian, and POW David Ramsay, this reading is fully AI-illustrated. Participants: phillip andrew bennett low
Anita Kelling and Jay William Koelsch have been performing together for over 20 years. Their music ranges from the British Isles folk to original compositions all with their unique moody flair. https://facebook.com/BriarFolkMusic Participants: Anita Kelling, Jay William Koelsch
Your favorite godless geeks are back again, and somehow it's been 14 years since this thing started?! Tim, Nick, and Molly will record an episode live with an audience! Come sit with like-minded folks for geeky atheist nonsense. Participants: Molly Glover, Nick Glover, Tim Wick
Four panelists are given subjects on which they must speak for one minute without deviation, repetition, or hesitation. Participants: Lee Harris (mod), Windy Bowlsby, Molly Glover, Tim Wick, Matthew Kessen, Angela Fox, Nick Glover
This "internet meme cover band" is actually pretty original, with gender-neutral love songs full of heart and sass that can span multiverses or survive the zombie apocalypse, songs from and about video games, and other geeky surprises! Participants: Reverend Rebecca Nathaniel Elfprincess, Grenevic Sharladanel Stremski
Friends & Lovers is a new full-length polyamory rom-com for the stage written by John Heimbuch and directed by Kassy Skoretz. When Frankie and Avery meet at a convention panel about monsters, their attraction is instantaneous. (Staged reading) Participants: John Heimbuch
Who is Santa's favorite Doctor? Which snack food does Captain America prefer? Does Sailor Moon think Star Wars or Star Trek is better? A panel of improvisers tackles fun and geeky debate topics as a persona based on a prop or costume piece! Participants: Eric Thompson (mod), Alison Anderson, Mike Dee, Garrick A Dietze, Angela Fox, Jason Kruger, Andrea Ropella, Megan M Slawson
We've chosen your time period to travel to, as you are statistically the most receptive to our weird noise. Also, guitars, keyboards, basses, and drums were banned around 2035. Enjoy them while they last! Participants: Jenny Case, Reynold Kissling, Keith Lodermeier, Mitch Miller
Watch as talented artists are given impossible challenges! Could you create a CONvergence-themed amusement park in thirty minutes? How about designing a new Doctor Who costume in five minutes? These artists create the impossible! Participants: Jerry Belich, Christopher Jones, Melissa Sue Kaercher, John Kovalic, Tim Wick
More exhilarating than reaching the summit of the Aggro Crag, more pleasing to the ear than a dial-up signal, with more hits than your favorite Slammer, Fistful of Datas is the Twin Cities' foremost '90s cover band. Participants: Maya Burroughs, Reynold Kissling, Mackenzie Lahren, Keith Lodermeier, Liz Lodermeier
Vladimir & Estragon took a terrible job in a dungeon in the hopes of facing off against the legendary hero Gygax. Will they find glory or despair? A staged reading of the 2017 Minnesota Fringe Festival hit! (Staged reading) Participants: Kyle B Dekker, Colette Feehan, Molly Glover, Matthew Saxe
burnunit puts weirdo punk/folk and queer, singalong-friendly country bangers in a big, earnest blender and pushes the "CRUSH ICE" button. Check out her socials @burnunit or @yesjostark, and be sure to check out the GIRLFRIEND mixtape. Participants: Johanna Stark
Vogon poetry. Bilbo's Walking Song. Nevermore. The CONvergence Poetry Slam is here to celebrate words and nerds in an exciting competitive format! Show up, sign up, and if the lottery gods are kind, you may be drawn to read two three-minute poems. Participants: Kyle B Dekker, Cole Sarar
Come laugh and cry with the MN Ren Fest's Gothmost musical act! Give your sadness some stiff opposition! Participants: Chad Dutton, Aiden Milligan, Matt Schrampfer
Splounge’s resident DJ is ready to bring you another specially curated set to get your antennae waving, your pulsars vibrating, and refill your life meter to full hearts. Participants: DJ Macchines
The Dregs combine folk music, original songs, and comedy to create a unique blend of entertainment that will have you laughing and tapping your toes. **mature content** Participants: Susanne Becker, Trevor Hartman, Paul Score, Rian Vellichor, Tim Wick, Molly Zupon
Saturday July 4, 2026 10:00pm - Sunday July 5, 2026 12:00am CDT Hyatt 2, Regency Room
Wanna play a goofy end-of-the-world dating sim? Better yet, wanna voice one of the ridiculous characters? Pop your name in and see if you get drawn! If doing a voice isn't your jam, no worries. You can join us in the audience for a perfectly silly time. **mature content** Participants: Filima, Nathan Gerber, Philip D Henry, Dawn Krosnowski
Saturday July 4, 2026 11:30pm - Sunday July 5, 2026 12:30am CDT Hyatt 2, Greenway FG
We are Harisen Daiko. Our drummers bring you a selection of pounding visceral rhythms including original compositions. Step inside the blast radius this Sunday, and get a taste of the power, energy, and emotions that taiko ignites.
The continuing adventures of the second-best Galaxy class starship in the Federation fleet: The USS Intrigue! Join the cast for a completely new and totally improvised episode performed in the style of The Next Generation. A show that truly goes where no one has gone before!
