"Out of all the amazing talents we've wanted, but have not been able to get to appear at Creation Entertainment's Official Star Trek Conventions over the years, one person was always at the top of the list, Whoopi Goldberg," Creation co-founder and co-COO Gary Berman told StarTrek.com. "Not only is Whoopi Goldberg an international show business treasure with incredible film, theater and TV work that has stood the test of time, but we've been following her career since her incredible one-woman Broadway show in 1984, which led to her casting in The Color Purple."
"For huge fans like us, it was fantastic news when she landed on TNG and created such a beloved character like Guinan there," he continued. "The fact that she, too, was a Trekker, a huge movie star, and wanted to be on the series, became part of Star Trek legend. We are really looking forward to hearing, on our stages, all the details of how that casting occurred from her perspective, to say nothing of the fact that this will no doubt be the most hilarious on-stage appearance we've ever had."
Berman recalled that years ago thousands of fans signed a petition seeking Goldberg's attendance at a convention. "No one wanted her there more than us, and we're really grateful that it is happening in the 50th anniversary year at a convention that is going to be the best ever, especially with this new exciting announcement," Berman said. "We can't think of a better way to thank all our fellow fans that have sold out the convention this early. The support we've always gotten in Las Vegas for the convention has always been phenomenal, but this year is breaking all the records."