Edward Scissorhands resembled a statue as he prepared for his walk across the stage. Optimus Prime climbed into his multi-piece 9-foot costume. Pan danced around in merriment.

The audience was riveted as Daffy proclaimed “I am Duck Dodgers in the Twenty-Fourth-and-a-Half-Century!” But the Masquerade was not fully launched until a brigade of imperial storm troopers and a battalion of rebels marched through the ballroom. C3PO threw off his Jedi cloak in a tantalizing strip tease, and voila, emcee of Dragon*Con, Anthony Daniels, began the show.

This year’s Masquerade was truly a panorama of creativity, originality, and chese. Best in Show, Cat Woman (Sandra Frazer) was swept away as her buff stud-muffin popped the question. The Blue Meanies of Yellow Submarine, Chris Brown and Evita Smith, claimed Best in Show, Master category. A fleet of Michael Jacksonian shambling undead took the Best Skit award for their Babylon 5/Star Trek incident.

George Metz received Best Sci-Fi for his Battlestar Galactica Cylon costume. Garry N. Heedick took Best Historical for his rendition of medieval knight Sir Williams Symonds. The audience was impressed by Joey Phillips’ terrifying Best Horror rendition of the “Exorcist.” Leah Levin spewed smoke, flexed her wings, and won Best Original Creation as the fabulous Dragon Woman. Best Cartoon was rightly claimed by Don Sowers, aka Optimus Prime. “Purgatory” captured hearts of the male audience and award for Best Fantasy. “Awws” rippled through the crowd during the children’s presentation. Quincy Newkirk, resplendent as Queen Amidala’s decoy, took the prize.

As for the cheese, what’s bigger than a pixie stick, smaller than a torpedo, and winks its neon-green eye at Anthony Daniels? Give up? Here’s a hint: it wiggles, it jiggles, it thrusts in the night. Still don’t know? Well, we ain’t gonna tell you. It didn’t win an award but it hypnotized the crowd, although honestly, so did most of the costumes.

Hall Contest Winners:

Best in Show:
Mischief – Cat with Wings

Best in Show:
Ana Grief

Best Villian:
Sith Vixen

Best Cartoon:
Heidi – Daphne of Scooby Doo

Best Drag (soft of):
Kim McFarland – Dr. Frankenfurter

Best Couple:
Kenton & Sarah Henry

Best Male:
Keith Arbeeny – NY Giant Stormtrooper

Best Group:
Mystery Men

Most Requested:
Cassie the Unicorn

Best Historical:
Legio I Italica – Roman Soldiers

Honorable Mention:
Kayla Watson
Crystal Suit
Virginia Gross
Gwenniver Reardon