If you've attended an Archon in the last twenty years, you know what to expect from an Archon Masquerade - a unique blend of theatre and talent show, a bit of old-time burlesque, with a bit of Saturday morning cartoons thrown in for good measure. The stage is large and well-lit, the sound system rocks; the M.C. is author Victor Milán, a long-time crowd favorite who keeps things moving with good humor and grace, and the occasional bad pun. Well, okay, more than occasional... really, he's very punny! Anyway, we've seen all manner of costumes cross our stage, representing every aspect of science fiction and fantasy media, books, and artwork. Historical reproductions, role-playing characters, and the odd... well, let's just leave it at "odd".

What makes the Archon masquerade any different from any other con masquerade, you may ask? The answer, my friend, is in the details- the little things that, when put together, make the show run so smoothly. Our tech team provides total support for the costumer, whether experienced or not, and makes each contestant feel like a star. We rehearse for hours to produce a show that is slick, entertaining, and fun for both the costumers AND the audience. What the audience sees on our stage is the product of a lot of people working very hard to showcase the art of each individual costumer, and to make it appealing to the crowd, as well.

The Archon Masquerade has drawn contestants from both coasts, as well as Canada. They come the first time to see for themselves what the fuss is about - they come back each year after that because they know that they are welcomed here like nowhere else.

While many convention masquerades have faltered in the last decade, the Archon Masquerade has grown steadily. One of the reasons may be because of the Best Anime Costume Award we offer. We've seen some wonderful new talent cross our stage as a result.

If you decide to enter a costume into the Archon Masquerade, here’s what you can expect from us:

1) A fun, positive experience. If you're not happy, we're not happy - period.

2) A tech rehearsal where you will get to walk the stage, hear your music, find the best lighting, check your props, etc.

3) Staff and crew people that want to make you shine, and have the toys to make it happen.

4) An exclusive no-cost Post-Masquerade party for costumers and crew. Where you can relax and enjoy hot food and cold drink while watching the video replay of what the audience saw.

If you would like to find out more about the Archon Masquerade, check out the website at: http://www.archonmasq.org. You can also contact the Masquerade Directors, Sheila Lenkman and Scott Corwin, at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Or, if you prefer the non-electronic way, at: Archon Masquerade, PO Box 4191, Ballwin, MO 63022.