Superman Celebration | Superman Celebration |
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Superman Returns’ star Brandon Routh headlines 2011 Superman Celebration
 Other Special Guests:Superman Returns' Sam Huntington Smallville's Alaina Huffman Superman IV's Mark Pillow Superboy's Tracy Lewis Just when everyone thought that the celebrity line-up was finalized, there was a big surprise announcement! The actor who portrayed the Man of Steel in Superman Returns, Brandon Routh, decided to fly in to Metropolis to meet fans during the 33rd annual Superman Celebration June 9-12.
Superman co-chairman Karla Ogle explains that Routh had expressed interest in being a part of the Metropolis Celebration, but was unsure if his current filming schedule would allow him to make the trip. “Once we learned he could indeed travel in early June, we began finalizing the details to add him to our line-up,” Ogle said. “We are so excited that he will be here in Metropolis!”
Prior to Routh's casting as Superman and Clark Kent in the 2006 film, Superman Returns, Warner Bros. had spent over a decade developing a plan to relaunch the franchise with possible stars including actors Nicholas Cage, Brendan Fraser, Ashton Kutcher, Keanu Reeves and Will Smith. When director Bryan Singer came aboard the project, however, he insisted an unknown actor be cast in the part, in the tradition of the casting of the best-known film Superman, Christopher Reeve.
Singer was impressed by Routh’s resemblance to the comic book icon and found the actor's humble mid-western roots perfect for the role. At the age of 24, Routh reminded the director of Christopher Reeve and was recognized for his "combination of vulnerability and confidence".
In addition to Routh, Metropolis’ most famous son shared the spotlight with Sam Huntington, Alaina Huffman, Mark Pillows and Tracy Roberts.  Since 1996 Sam Huntington has appeared in thirteen feature films and seven television shows. Of these he is perhaps most recognized for his role as the Daily Planet cub reporter, Jimmy Olsen, in Bryan Singer’s 2006 take on the Man of Steel, Superman Returns.Canadian film and television actress Alaina Huffman portrays Dinah Lance/Black Canary on Smallville. She is also a regular cast member in the TV series Stargate Universe.  Huffman was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada as Alaina Kalanj. At the age of 13, Huffman went to her first audition for a Fox Family Channel pilot. Despite the competition, she was offered the main role. However, a model scout recruited Huffman and she was set to model in high fashion runways in Europe and Japan for the following years.
 Pillow’s sole movie role was as “Nuclear Man” in Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. In the 1987 superhero film, the last of the Superman theatrical movies starring Christopher Reeve as the Man of Steel, Superman battles Lex Luthor and his creation, a solar-powered evil clone of Superman called Nuclear Man. Tracy Roberts Lewis portrayed “Darla”, one of Lex Luthor’s partners in crime on the television series, Superboy, starring Gerard Christopher. Fans of the show may agree that her most memorable episode was Darla Goes Ballistic. Roberts took a haitus from acting to raise her two daughters, but has recently revived her career. According to web reports, Lewis recently auditioned for CBS’s popular series, Survivor.------------ The Superman Celebration is a long standing festival and a must see event for people of all ages, especially comic book lovers. Superman fans travel from all over the globe to visit the small southern Illinois town that is the Official Home of Superman. The real life Metropolis, with a population of 6,500 residents, welcomes approximately 30,000 people over the four-day celebration. Metropolis features a 15-foot bronze statue of the Man of Steel and a Super Museum located on the town’s Superman Square and a life-size statue of Noel Neill just down the street. There are other interesting super-hero related attractions located throughout the city including a giant rock of kryptonite. Complete with an Artist’s Alley, Man of Steel exhibitions and contests, amusement park, live music and $1000 Superhero Costume Contest, the Superman Celebration provides fun for the entire family. For more information about the Superman Celebration visit www.supermancelebration.net or call 800-949-5740. For information about Metropolis attractions and lodging, visit www.metropolistourism.com or call 877-424-5025.
Metropolis Hotels fill up fast!
2011 Schedule 12:00 PM Information and Souvenir Booth opens at Metro Tent 5:00 PM Sonshine Amusements opens -500 E. Fifth ST. 5:00 PM Opening Ceremony & Skit at Superman Statue with special guest: Miss Illinois, Whitney Thorpe-Klinsky 5:30 PM Lois Lane Award & Helping Hands Award at Metro Stage 5:30 PM Sign-in for window painting contest at Man of Steel Tent 6-6:30 PM Meet Superman at Superman Statue 6:00 PM Gospel Music with Cross Harmony on Metro Stage 6:30 PM "Super Friends" Meet, Eat, & Bowl at Bob's Bowling Alley 7:00 PM Color Superman Posters at Smallville Tent 7:30 PM Kids Karaoke at Smallville Tent 7:00 PM Gospel Music with Brian Free and Assurance
Friday, June 10 7:00 AM First half of Autograph session tickets available in front of Chamber, 1 per person. 10:00 AM Meet Superman! At Superman Statue 10:00 AM Artist Alley & Writer's Way open to public 10-12 PM Meet "Darla" Tracy Lewis & "Nuclear Man" Mark Pillow at Artist Alley 10:30 AM Superman Homepage Meet & Greet at Hardees 11:00 AM Superman Radio Show at Metro Tent 11:00 AM Cartooning for Kids with Lin Workman at Artist Alley 11:00 AM Freestyle Connection BMX Bike Stunt Show- Man of Steel Area 11:30 AM Supersilly Games at Smallville Tent 11:30 AM 2nd Annual Superman Super Site Meet & Greet at Dippin Dots 12:00 PM Part 1: "Breaking Into the Business of Comics" Seminar with Martheus Wade and Andrew Chandler at The Carpenters Union Hall, across from Noel Neil Statue. 12:30 PM "Kryptello" eating contest at Man of Steel Tent 1:00 PM Q & A with Tracy Lewis and Mark Pillow at Metro Tent 1:30 PM Freestyle Connection BMX Bike Stunt Show - Man of Steel Area 1:30 PM Hooked on Science with Jason Lindsey at Smallville Tent 2:00 PM DC Comics Q & A with special guest Jamal Igle & Freddie Williams II 2:30 PM Super fan Baseball game at Metropolis Sports Park (must sign release) 2-5 PM Meet "Darla" Tracy Lewis & "Nuclear Man" Mark Pillow at Artist Alley 2-9 PM Supercity Slugfest, baseball tournament at American Legion ballpark 2:30 PM Superman Trivia with the Rinaldi's at Metro Tent 2:30 PM Muley and Friends - Puppet Show at Smallville Tent 3:00 PM 60 Seconds to be Super! Fun contest at Man of Steel Tent 4:00 PM Kids Superhero Costume Contest at Smallville Tent 5:00 PM Costume Parade for all ages! Starts at Smallville tent- ends at Superman Statue 5:00 PM Sonshine Amusements Carnival opens - 500 E. Fifth Street 5:30 PM Unveiling of "Walk of Heroes" at Superman Statue 5:30 PM Freestyle Connection BMX Bike Stunt Show - Man of Steel Area 6:00 PM Meet Superman! At Superman Statue 6:00 PM Eddie Pennington at Metro Tent - Award Winning Guitarist 6:00 PM OMEGA FORCE - Christian Strength Team Exhibition- Man of Steel Area 6:00 PM Artist Alley & Writer's Way Closes 7:00 PM Kids Superhero Gameshow at Smallville Tent 7:00 PM Bluegrass music with Kati Penn & Newtown at Metro Tent 7:00 PM Doors reopen at Artist Alley for Movie nite $3.00 admission 7:30 PM Movie Nite- Adventures of Superboy- Darla Goes Ballistic with special introduction by Tracy Lewis - Artist Alley 8:30 PM Movie Nite - Superman IV: Quest for Peace with special introduction by Mark Pillow at Artist Alley
Saturday, June 11 7:00 AM 2nd half of Autograph Session tickets available in front of Metro Chamber. 1 ticket per person 8:00 AM Kiwanis Super Bike Trek- Starts at Fort Massac State Park 9:00 AM Autograph Session A at Banterra Bank. Ticket required. See autograph info in schedule book. Alaina Huffman, Brandon Routh, Sam Huntington 10:00 AM Artist Alley & Writer's Way opens to public 10:00 AM ZUMBA with Michelle & the Metropolis Z-Crew at Superman Square 10-12 PM Meet "Darla" Tracy Lewis & "Nuclear Man" Mark Pillow at Artist Alley 10:00 AM Hooked on Science with Jason Lindsey at Smallville Tent 10:00 AM Autograph Session B at Banterra Bank. Ticket required. See autograph info in schedule book. Alaina Huffman, Brandon Routh, Sam Huntington 10:00 AM Washer Pitching Tournament at Metropolis Girl Scout House 10:00 AM Superman Challenge - Man of Steel Area with Metropolis Fire Dept. 10 - 9PM Supercity Slugfest Baseball Tournament at American Legion ballpark 10:30 AM Freestyle Connection BMX Bike Stunt Show- Man of Steel area 11:00 AM Meet Superman! At Superman Statue 11:00 AM "Digitally Drawing Comics" with Freddie Williams II at Artist Alley 11:00 AM Weigh-in for SLP Superman Classic Deadlift & Benchpress Comp. Man of Steel area 11:30 AM Q & A at Metro Tent - Alaina Huffman, Brandon Routh & Sam Huntington 12:00 PM Super Silly Games at Smallville Tent 1:00 PM Superman Trivia with the Rinaldi's at Metro Tent 1:00 PM "Reading with Pictures" program with Josh Elder at Artist Alley 1:00 PM Color a Cape with Metropolis Planet on the Courthouse lawn 1:00 PM SLP Superman Classic Deadlift & Benchpress Competition -Man of Steel area 2:00 PM SuperDog Show at Smallville Tent 2:00 PM Part II "Breaking into the Business of Comics" seminar with Martheus Wade and Andrew Chandler at Carpenters Union Hall, across from Noel Neil Statue. 2-5 PM Meet "Darla" Tracy Lewis & "Nuclear Man" Mark Pillow at Artist Alley 2:30 PM VIP Autograph Session at Banterra Bank. VIP ticket required. Alaina Huffman, Brandon Routh & Sam Huntington 3:00 PM Metropolis Citizen Swearing-in Ceremony at Superman Statue 3:00 PM Sign-in for Beautiful Baby contest at Smallville tent 3:30 PM Freestyle Connection BMX Bike Stunt Show- Man of Steel area 4:00 PM Autograph Session C at Banterra Bank. Ticket required. See info in schedule book. Alaina Huffman, Brandon Routh, & Sam Huntington. 4:00 PM Sound Check for WMOK Country Showdown at Metro Tent 4:00 PM Beautiful Baby Contest at Smallville Tent 5:00 PM Sonshine Amusements Carnival opens at 500 E. Fifth Street 5:00 PM Sign-in for Supergirl &Superboy Pageant at Smallville Tent. Must be pre-registered. 5:00 PM Freestyle Connection BMX Bike Stunt Show- Man of Steel area 5:00 PM WMOK Country Showdown at Metro Tent 5:00 PM Autograph Session D at Banterra Bank. Ticket required. See info in schedule book. Alaina Huffman, Brandon Routh, & Sam Huntington 5:30 PM OMEGA FORCE Christian Strength Team Exhibition - Man of Steel area 6:00 PM Supergirl & Superboy pageant at Smallville tent 6:00 PM Ohio Valley Car Show at Washington Park 6:00 PM George & Noel Awards and SuperAuction at Metropolis Community Center 6:30 PM Artist Alley & Writer's Way closes 7:00 PM Classic Rock & Blues with Crestview Kings at Metro Tent 7:00 PM Doors reopen at Artist Alley & Writer's Way 7:30 PM Fan Film Competition presentation and awards ceremony 7:30 PM Renegade Pro Wrestling- 2011 Superman Celebration Smack Down- Man of Steel area 10:30 PM After Hours Dance Party at Artist Alley & Writer's Way. Characters welcome!
Sunday, June 12 8:00 AM Rotary Club Car Show at Fort Massac State Park 10-12:30 AM Sign-up for $1000 Costume Contest at Metro Tent 10:30 AM Winners of Art Contests announced at Metro Tent 11:00 AM Stump the Superman Expert at Metro Tent 11:00 AM Kids Gameshow at Smallville Tent 12:00 PM Metropolis Citizen Swearing-in Ceremony at Superman Statue 12:30 PM Parade of Characters! $1000 Costume Entrants will parade down Market Street 12:30 PM OMEGA FORCE Christian Strength team exhibition - Man of Steel area 1:00 PM $1000 Costume Contest at Metro Tent 2:30 PM Kid's Karaoke and Color a giant comic at Smallville Tent 3:00 PM Kid's Scavenger Hunt at Smallville Tent 3:00 PM Renegade Pro Wrestling - 2011 Superman Celebration Smack Down at Man of Steel area. Admission is $10
4:00 PM Closing Skit
SC Sponsorships do have their advantages! Want VIP autograph passes? Be a 2012 Sponsor!
Man of Steel $2500
Kryptonite $1000
America's Hero $500
Superhero $250
Superfriend $100
Deadline for Sponsorships is April 10th! Call Metropolis Chamber of Commerce at 800-949-5740.
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