Sasquan Masquerade: Celebrating Cosplay Artistry and Performance
The Sasquan masquerade—a competitive showcase of costume design and performance—took place on the evening of Friday, August 21. The event was hosted at the First Interstate Center for the Arts (formerly known as the INB Performing Arts Center), located on the same campus as the Convention Center. Under the direction of Sharon Sbarsky, the event featured 45 entrants vying for ten major awards.
The evening was guided by master of ceremonies Kevin Roche. A distinguished panel of judges evaluated the entries, consisting of Brad W. Foster, David Gerrold, Sandy Pettinger, Kathy Sanders, and Syd Weinstein. To ensure technical precision, workmanship judges Tanglwyst de Holloway and Michele Weinstein focused specifically on the construction and quality of the garments.
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Key Facts
- Total Entrants: 45 competitors.
- Venue: First Interstate Center for the Arts.
- Judging Criteria: Divided into Workmanship (construction) and Presentation (performance).
- Experience Levels: Competitors were categorized into Young Fan, Novice, Journeyman, and Master divisions.
- Top Honors: "Roll for Initiative" won Best in Show for workmanship, while "Victorian Justice League" took Best in Show for presentation.
Competition Divisions and Winners
The masquerade utilized four experience-based categories to ensure fair competition across different skill levels.
Young Fan Division
The youngest competitors showcased impressive creativity across comic and media categories:
- Best Comic: "Ms. Marvel" by Sashti Ramadorai
- Best Media: "Arya Stark" by Alexis Davis
- Best in Class: "Emma Swan" by Melinda Kilbourne
Novice Division
The Novice division highlighted emerging talent, with a strong emphasis on material innovation and accuracy.
- Workmanship Highlights: Jason Giddings swept the category with "We Are Groot," winning both the Rising Star and Best in Class awards. Other notable wins included Casandra Friend (Best Use of Traditional Materials for "San") and Claire Stromberg (Best Use of Recycled Materials for "Immortan Joanna").
- Presentation Highlights: Robert Mitchell earned the Dead Ringer Award for "The Captain" (Captain Kangaroo), while Jason Giddings again secured Best in Class.
Journeyman Division
The Journeyman division featured advanced techniques, including the use of non-traditional materials and complex patterning.
- Workmanship Highlights: Lesli Jones' "Blood Dragon Lord" dominated with both the Rising Star and Best in Class awards. Other awards included a tie for "Worst Infection of the Beading Disease" between the "Doctor Who Time Lords" and the "Victorian Justice League."
- Presentation Highlights: Debi "7 of Eowyn" Schwartz won Most Beautiful for "Marian Keiffer," while Lesli Jones took Best in Class.
Master Division
The Master division represented the pinnacle of the craft, featuring highly specialized skills such as light refraction and professional dyeing.
- Workmanship Highlights: Richard Miles won Best in Class for "Professor R. Miles Levell, Gentleman Time Traveler." Other unique awards included the "Go Big or Go Home Award" for Lance Ikegawa's "Princess Marshmallow" and Best Use of Shower Accessories for Orchid Cavett's "Rainbow Jellyfish."
- Presentation Highlights: Jonnalyn Wolfcat, Melissa Quinn, Alita Quinn, and Anita Taylor won Best Critter for "Roll for Initiative," while Richard Miles secured Best in Class.
Summary of Major Awards
| Award Category | Winning Entry | Artist(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Best in Show (Workmanship) | Roll for Initiative | Jonnalyn Wolfcat et al. |
| Best in Show (Presentation) | Victorian Justice League | Barbara Hoffert et al. |
| Master Best in Class | Professor R. Miles Levell | Richard Miles |
| Journeyman Best in Class | Blood Dragon Lord | Lesli Jones |
| Novice Best in Class | We Are Groot | Jason Giddings |
| Young Fan Best in Class | Emma Swan | Melinda Kilbourne |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between workmanship and presentation awards?
Workmanship awards focus on the technical construction, material choice, and sewing quality of the costume. Presentation awards focus on the performance, stage presence, and how the costume is brought to life during the show.
Who were the judges for the Sasquan Masquerade?
The general judges were Brad W. Foster, David Gerrold, Sandy Pettinger, Kathy Sanders, and Syd Weinstein, while the specialized workmanship judges were Tanglwyst de Holloway and Michele Weinstein.
What was the "Worst Infection of the Beading Disease" award?
This was a Journeyman division workmanship award given to entries with extensive beadwork. It was a tie between the "Doctor Who Time Lords" and the "Victorian Justice League."
Where was the event held?
The event took place at the First Interstate Center for the Arts, which was known as the INB Performing Arts Center at the time of the event.
How many people competed in the masquerade?
There were 45 entrants competing across the four experience-based divisions.