Special guests have just been confirmed as headliners of the 32^nd annual Superman Celebration June 10-13.  Smallville fans will be excited to see this year's celebrity line-up.

Laura Vandervoort, who portrays Supergirl/ Kara and Sam Witwer, also known as Doomsday, will be the Smallville actors headlining this year's Celebration.  And, the "First Lady of Metropolis" Noel Neill, is scheduled to make a return trip to the festival.  Fans will have the opportunity to meet the celebrities in person at autograph and question and answer sessions. 

Laura Dianne Vandervoort landed the coveted role of Kara, the cousin of Clark Kent on the hit CW series Smallville, playing the role of Supergirl where she became a main focus of the seventh season.  

Following her stint as a regular on Smallville, Vandervoort acted in the pilot for ABC's new series V. The pilot was picked up and she began shooting in August 2009 for the TV series which debuted in November.

Vandervoort was born in 1984 in Toronto, Canada and begin acting at the age of 13.  A tomboy for years, she was involved in several sports and earned a second degree Black Belt by the age of 16. After taking several classes and doing background work on Canadian shows such as Road to Avonlea and Harriet the Spy she got her first speaking role in Canadian children's series Goosebumps  and Are You Afraid of the Dark?

After commercials and guest stars in Mutant-X, Prom Queen, Twice in a Lifetime, Doc, Sue Thomas FBI, Troubled Waters, Dresdan Files and a few Disney movies of the week, she landed the lead role of Sadie Harrison on the CTV TV series  Instant Star. 

In 2006 Laura shot her first feature titled The Lookout with Jeff Daniels.  Several of her TV appearances, including CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, led Laura into the hands of the CW network and Smallville.

Following Smallville, Laura shot the sequel to the feature film Into The Blue titled Into the Blue 2: The Reef.  Following The Reef, Laura went directly into filming an independent production titled The Jazzman and then a TV movie titled Out of Control.  Since shooting a gritty independent film, Damage, Laura shot a science fiction miniseries, the SyFy channel's relaunching of Philip José Farmer's Riverworld. 

Sam Witwer grew up in Glenview, Illinois, outside of Chicago. He attended Glenbrook South High School, where he was involved in drama and theater classes, as well as being the lead singer of a high school band. He attended the Julliard School of Drama before heading to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career.  His first major film role was as Wayne Jessup in The Mist.  

In 2008, Witwer was cast to play Doomsday, the new rival of Superman on Smallville's eighth season after Michael Rosenbaum, who played the superhero's arch-enemy, Lex Luthor, left the show. He is also known to audiences for his recurring roles as Lieutenant Alex "Crashdown" Quartararo on the popular series Battlestar Galactica and Neil Perry on the Showtime series Dexter.   A sci-fi fan growing up, he was happy to have landed a minor guest roll on Star Trek: Enterprise. His other television credits include guest appearances on Bones, Star Trek: New Voyages, Navy NCIS, Dragnet, Cold Case, TAG, and ER.

A lifetime Star Wars fan, Sam appeared as Darth Vader's secret apprentice, Starkiller/Galen Marek and as Darth Sidious, in the massively successful multimedia project Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.  Witwer provided both his voice and likeness to the lead characters across all of the mediums. He reprised his role as Galen Marek in the video game: Soulcalibur IV. There is also speculation that he will reprise his role of Starkiller for the Star Wars live-action TV series.

Witwer says that his first love is music and he is consequently the lead singer of his own band, The Crashtones.  The bank released its first CD entitled "Colourful of the Stereo" in 2006.  Witwer has since assembled a live line-up consisting of professional musicians and others in the industry, including Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia's Glenn Howerton, with whom he performs whenever time allows.

Though she first played Lois Lane in the 1948 movie serial, Superman, with Kirk Alyn, Noel Neill is best known for playing the iconic character on television in The Adventures of Superman with beloved legendary actor George Reeves from 1953 to 1957.  So identified is she with this role that her portrayal of the "girl reporter" set the standard for all Lois Lanes to follow. 

Metropolis has become such a fan of Neill that the Chamber of Commerce will unveil a statue of her likeness at 10am Friday, June 11 during the Superman Celebration.  Engraved bricks are currently being sold for the base that will hold the life-size sculpture of the actress. 

With the unveiling drawing near, the engraved bricks have arrived for the construction.  Bricks may still be ordered to add to the base at a future date.  More information about the statue and a brick order form can be found at http://www.noelneillstatue.com/.   Orders may also be placed by calling the Chamber of Commerce at 618-524-2714 or emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Click here for story about statue artist.

Ilya Salkind, whose movie productions include Superman, Superman II, and Superman III, will be a special guest at the Superman Celebration in Metropolis, Illinois on June 10-13.

Salkind initiated the blockbuster Superman franchise, starring Christopher Reeve, Marlon Brando and Margot Kidder, which became one of the most successful film franchises history.  The Academy Award winning Superman: The Movie also has the distinction of being the first major comic book film adaptation ever made. Under his supervision, this film and its first two sequels became worldwide blockbusters. Salkind also produced, Supergirl, starring Helen Slater.

Mr. Salkind's first venture into television, Superboy , also proved successful, lasting four seasons for a total of 100 episodes and is now a huge hit on DVD.   In the years following the success of Superboy, Salkind focused his energies on the youth oriented feature, Young Alexander the Great.  During that period Salkind also executive produced, the Richard Donner cut of Superman II.

Salkind has been described as a "mega-producer" whose hallmark career highlights strong commercial creative vision and the skilled business acumen to deliver film and television production on-time and on-budget.  He ranks among an elite group of producers whose films have generated more than $3 billion in adjusted worldwide revenue, with an adjusted average of $250 million per movie.

Born in Mexico City in 1952, Salkind grew up in the world of motion pictures. His grandfather, Michael Salkind, was one of the pioneers of silent films and produced Joyless Street (1925), featuring Greta Garbo in her first major role. Afterwards Michael and his son, Alexander, were responsible for many successful films of artistic achievement, including Orson Welles The Trial (1962).  Ilya Salkind then took the reins and became the third generation of these successful filmmakers.  He has worked out of Paris, Rome, London, Madrid, New York and Los Angeles, and speaks fluent French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and English.

At a young age, Salkind started his career as a producer and has accumulated a stunning filmography. He produced, with his father and grandfather, the tremendous worldwide box office hits The Three Musketeers and The Four Musketeers, among many other films. The production of these two films was the first time in the industry a film and its sequel were shot simultaneously.

Now based in Los Angeles, Salkind and The Ilya Salkind Company, Inc. are on the fast track with a slate of Epic Motion Pictures ahead of them.

During the Metropolis Superman Celebration, Salkind will speak about his unique experience with the Superman movies and will be available to answer questions from fans.

Comic writers and artists are always a popular attraction at the Superman Celebration, and this year's featured artist, Carmine Infantino, is sure to be big hit with fans.  He will appear during the 32^nd annual event in Metropolis, Illinois June 10-13.  Since the early 1960's, Infantino has been regarded as one of the top 5 comic artists of all time.  He has received numerous awards and recognitions throughout his career which include several Alley Awards and a National Cartoonists Society Award as well as a special Alley Award given for being the person "who exemplifies the spirit of innovation and inventiveness in the field of comic art."

Infantino, born in Brooklyn, New York in 1925, is a comic book artist and editor who was a major force in the creation of the Silver Age of comic books. Infantino started his comics career in the 1940's drawing Airboy and The Heap for Hillman. He soon came to DC where he became a regular on the Golden Age Black Canary, Green Lantern, Justice Society of America and the Flash.

During the early 50's, he freelanced for Joe Simon and Jack Kirby's company Prize Comics, drawing Charlie Chan.  At DC, with the demise of most of the 40's heroes, Infantino drew within many genres, including westerns, mysteries and science fiction. Infantino developed his clean linear style of almost pure design, aka the Infantino touch - as though one were seeing a fresh blueprint for the future.

In 1956, Editor Julius Schwartz made the decision to bring back the Flash for DC's newest title Showcase and put Infantino in charge of finding the look for the new science-fiction based Flash with Robert Kanigher scripting the story. Infantino strived to keep the red & yellow uniform as simple as possible. He used the theme of blinding speed as a motif for the lightning bolts and wings on the cowl and boots. He relied upon his design abilities to create a new visual language to depict the Flash's speed, making the figure a red and yellow blur.

In 1964, Schwartz was handed the fading Batman titles and asked to try and bring them back to life. Tapped for the job were scripter John Broome and Infantino. In addition to Batman, he also worked on Elongated Man, Adam Strange and the Flash. By 1967, it became obvious that books with Infantino covers seemed to be selling better than others, he was charged with designing covers for the entire company.

When DC was sold to National, Infantino was promoted to Editorial Director. He started by hiring new talent, and promoting artists to editorial positions. Dick Giordano was hired away from Charlton Comics while Joe Orlando, Joe Kurbert and Mike Sekowsky became editors. New titles were started from new talents like Neal Adams and Denny O'Neil. Infantino was made publisher in early 1971.

Infantino attempted a number of changes including starting several new books in the late 1960's to early 1970's including new series like Bat Lash, the Secret Six, and characters like Deadman and The Creeper came upon the scene. In addition, older characters were revamped, such as Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Superman, Wonder Woman, & Batman. Sales were not there in the beginning which caused Infantino to cancel the books.

After working with writer Mario Puzo on the Superman movie, (Superman I), Infantino collaborated with Marvel on the historic company-crossover publication Superman vs. the Amazing Spiderman.  In the early 1980's, Infantino also did runs of Star Wars, Spider-Woman, Nova, and others for Marvel.  In the late 80's, he returned to the Flash at DC, where he was much more at home than in the executive offices.

These days Infantino is retired, but still does interviews and occasionally make convention appearances. He published an autobiography called The Amazing World of Carmine Infantino, co-authored by J. David Spurlock.

The Superman Celebration features an area entitled "Artist Alley and Writers Way" where Infantino and other artists can be seen.  Members of the Mid-South Cartoonist Association will run the programming at this popular site.  Hands-on workshops, discussion panels, mini-seminars, and question and answer sessions will take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Members of the Mid-South Cartoonist Association include: Lin Workman - Bushi Tales; Andrew Chandler - Moth & Ethan and Horatio the Half-Hoofed Horse;  Adam Shaw - Bloodstream and Dead in Memphis; Jay Chuppe - The Red Mullet; Trevor Hawkins and Jeffrey Breslauer.  The annual Artist Alley Fanfilm Competition will be run by Tim Brown of Inked Monkey Productions.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

The Superman Celebration is a long standing festival and a must see event for most anyone, especially comic lovers.  Superman fans travel from all over the globe to visit the small southern Illinois town that is the Official Home of Superman. 

Metropolis features a 15-foot bronze statue of the Man of Steel and a Super Museum located on the town's Superman Square.  A life-size statue of Noel Neill will grace the landscape soon.  There are other interesting super-hero related attractions located throughout the city, such as 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 http://www.supermancelebration.net/  or call 800-949-5740.

Schedule of Events:
Learn more about individual events at http://www.supermancelebration.net/
See map of Superman Celebration area.
 

Thursday, June 10 
Noon - Information and Souvenir Booth open at Metro Tent
5pm - Opening Ceremony & Skit on Superman Square - Meet Superman!
5pm - Sonshine Amusements Carnival opens at 500 E. Fifth St.
5:30pm Sign-in for Window Painting Contest at Man of Steel Tent
5;30pm - Lois Lane Award presentation, Helping Hands Award Presentation at Metro Tent
6pm - Gospel Music with Cross Harmony at Metro Tent
7pm - The Kingsmen Gospel Concert in the Metro Tent
7pm - Superman Road Race at Fort Massac State Park
7pm - Color Superman Posters at Smallville Tent
7:30pm - Kids Karaoke at Smallville Tent
7:30pm - Super Friends Bowling at Bob's Bowling

Friday, June 11:
7am- 1/2 of Tickets for Autograph Sessions available
          outside of the Chamber of Commerce, 607 Market St. 
          While supplies last.  Limit 2 tickets per person, limit one session per person.
10am - Noel Neill - Lois Lane Statue Unveiling with Noell Neil, the corner of 8th and Market streets.
11am- Noel Neill & Artist Gary Ernest Smith autograph and pictures at the Lois Lane statue.
11am- Artist Alley opens.  Watch for details soon about individual events and workshops.
11am - Superman Radio Show Live at Metro Tent
11am - Freestyle Connection BMX Bike Show at Man of Steel Area
11:30am - Superman Supersite Meet and Greet at Dippin' Dots
11:30 - Program TBA at Artist Alley & Writer's Way
11:30am - Super Silly Games at Smallville Tent
Noon - "The Making of Superman The Movie" and Question and Answer session with Producer Ilya Salkind at Metro Tent
12:30pm - Cheetos Eating Contest at Man of Steel Tent
1pm - Superman Trivia Contest at Metro Tent
1pm - Q & A with independent comic creators: Beaty, Chuppe, Chandler, Shaw, Hawkins and Workman at Artist Alley & Writer's Way
1:30pm - Making Kryptonite with Jason Lindsey of Hooked on Science at Smallville Tent
1:30pm - Freestyle Connection BMX Bike Show at Man of Steel area
2pm - Superman Fan Baseball Game:  Metropolis Marvels vs. Smallville Meteors at Metropolis Sports Park
2-5pm - Artist and Editor Carmine Infantino at Artist Alley
2-9pm - Super City Slugfest - American Legion Baseball Tournament, at Legion Field
2-4pm - Meet Ilya Salkind, producer of the Superman movies, at Artist Alley
3pm - Josh Elder presents Reading With Pictures at Artist Alley
3pm - "60 Seconds To Be Super" Gameshow at Man of Steel Tent
4-6pm - Meet Gary Ernest Smith, Noel Neil Statue Artist, at the statue
4pm - Kids Superhero Costume Conest at Smallville Tent
4:30pm - SupermanHomepage Meet and Greet, on Courthouse Lawn, Superman Square
5pm - Sonshine Amusements carnival rides open at 500 E. Fifth St.
5pm - Meet Superman at Smallville Tent
5:30pm - Costume Parade for Everyone in Costume!  Meet at Smallville.
5:30pm - Freestyle Connection BMX Bike Show at Man of Steel Area
6pm - Omega Force Strength Team Exhibition at Man of Steel Tent
6pm - Music with Solid Rockit Boosters at Metro Tent
6pm - Artist Alley closes - reopen at 7pm
7pm - Bawn in the Mash at the Metro Tent
7pm - Superhero Gameshow for Kids at Smallville Tent
7:30 - Superman II Movie at Artist Alley and Writers Way - $3 admission
7:30pm - "Clean Water Concert" - Consumed with Thirst event near Man of Steel Tent.
8pm - Fabulous 50s Dance at Baymont Theatre. Tickets required - $25.

Saturday - June 12
7am - 1/2 of Tickets for Autograph Sessions available 
          outside of the Chamber of Commerce, 607 Market St. 
          While supplies last.  Limit 2 tickets per person, limit one session per person.
8am - Kiwanis Superman Bike Ride - Fort Massac State Park
All day - Carnival rides and games
9am - Celebrity Autograph Session A - with Laura Vandervoort & Sam Witwer.  At the Chamber.  TICKETS REQUIRED.  See 7am listings for Fri. & Sat.
9am - Noel Neill Appearance at Noel Neill/Lois Lane statue.
10am - noon - Meet Ilya Salkind, producer of the Superman Movies inside Artist Alley
10am-noon - Meet Comic Artist and Editor Carmine Infantino inside Artist Alley
10am- Making Kryptonite with Jason Lindsey of Hooked on Science at Smallville Tent
10am - Celebrity Autograph Session B - with Laura Vandervoort & Sam Witwer.  At the Chamber.  TICKETS REQUIRED.  See 7am listings for Fri. & Sat.
10am - Superman Challenge, sponsored by Metropolis Fire Department
10am - Washer Pitch Tournament, at Girl Scout House
10am - Artist Alley Opens - Watch for details on events and workshops to be announced
10am-9pm - Super City Slugfest American Legion Tournament - at Legion Field
10:30am - Freestyle Connection Freestyle BMX Bike Show at Man of  Steel area
10:30am - Q & A with Artist and Editor Carmine Infantino at Artist Alley
11am - Meet Superman at Smallville Tent - Photos and prizes!
11am - Weigh-in for Bench Press and Dead Lift Competition, Man of Steel Tent
11:30am - Celebrity Q & A Session with Laura Vandervoort and Sam Witwer at Metro Tent - open to public, no tickets required.
Noon - Super Silly Games at Smallville Tent
Noon - See a real life Man-of-Steel pull a firetruck - at Man of Steel Tent
1pm - Color-A-Cape with the Metropolis Planet staff, on courthouse lawn
1pm - Superman Trivia at Metro Tent
1pm - Superman Classic Bench Press & Deadlift Competition, Man of Steel tent
2pm- VIP Celebrity Autograph Session with Laura Vandervoort & Sam Witwer. TICKETS REQUIRED.  See 7am listings for Fri. & Sat.
2-4pm - Meet Ilya Salkind, producer of the Superman Movies inside Artist Alley
2-4pm - Meet Lois Lane Statue Artist Gary Ernest Smith at Artist Alley
2-5pm - Meet Comic Artist and Editor Carmine Infantino inside Artist Alley
2pm - Superdog Contest at Smallville Tent
2pm - Q & A with DC Artist Dave Beaty at Artist Alley
3pm - Noel Neill Autograph Session at the Metropolis Planet.
3pm - Honorary Citizens of Metropolis Swearing In Ceremony at Superman Statue
3pm - Sign-in for Beautiful Baby Contest at Smallville Tent
3pm - Meet Wrestler Handsome Jimmy Valiant at Man of Steel Tent
3:30pm- Celebrity Autograph Session C with Laura Vandervoort & Sam Witwer. TICKETS REQUIRED.  See 7am listings for Fri. & Sat.
3:30pm- Freestyle Connection BMX Bike Show at Man of Steel area
4pm - Beautiful Baby Contest - at Smallville Tent
4:30pm - Celebrity Autograph Session D with Laura Vandervoort & Sam Witwer. TICKETS REQUIRED.  See 7am listings for Fri. & Sat.
5pm- Sound Check for Colgate Country Showdown at Metro Tent
5pm -  Sign-in for Little Miss Supergirl and Superboy at Smallville Tent
5pm- Freestyle Connection BMX Bike Show at Man of Steel area
6pm - Colgate Country Showdown at Metro Tent
6pm - Omega Force Exhibition at Man of Steel Tent
6pm - George Awards and Auction at Baymont Theater.
   Hosted by Jim Hambrick, Super Museum owner,  For more info, visit www.supermuseum.com
6pm - Supergirl and Superboy Pageants - at Smallville Tent
6pm - Antique Car Association Poker Run, Classic Cars at Washington Park
6:30pm - Doors close at Artist Alley
8pm - Fan Films, Top Films shown with awards presented (doors open at 7:30)
8pm - Renegade Wrestling - at RPW across from Ft. Massac (doors open at 6pm.  Admission, children under 5 free) 
10:30pm - After Hours Costume Dance at Artist Alley

Sunday - June 13
8am - Rotary Club Super Car Show at Fort Massac
10am - Artist Alley opens - closes at 4pm
10-11am - Sign in for $1000 Costume Contest
10am-6pm - Super City Slugfest American Legion Tournament
10:30am - Winners for Comic Art Contest announced at Artist Alley
10:30am - Stump the Superman Expert contest at Metro Tent
11am - Noel Neill appearance at Lois Lane Statue
11am - Kids Superhero Gameshow at Smallville Tent
Noon - $1000 Superhero Costume Contest at Metro Tent
1pm  Kids Karaoke at Smallville Tent
1pm - Omega Force Exhibition at Man of Steel Tent
2pm - Color a Giant Comic at Smallville Tent
2pm - Swearing In Ceremony for Honorary Citizens of Metropolis
2:30pm - Character Karaoke at Main Tent
3pm - Superman Scavenger Hunt at Smallville Tent
4pm - Superman Celebration concludes with Closing Skit at Superman Statue

Schedule Subject to Change.
Updates will also be posted to www.supermancelebration.net.