Geek powers, activate! We’re weeks away from the city’s ultimate annual geek gathering: Fan Expo Vancouver. For its third outing, the show expands to three days, during which costumed fans will converge to buy merchandise from their favourite sci-fi, fantasy, videogame, comic book, anime and manga franchises — as well as meet and greet with genre actors and personalities. Guests include Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead), Karl Urban (Star Trek), Stephen Amell (Arrow), Billy Boyd (Lord of the Rings), Bruce Boxleitner (Babylon 5), and Eliza Dushku (Dollhouse). April 18-20 at Vancouver Convention Centre. More at FanExpoVancouver.com.
Bravo has renewed 19-2 for a second season. The Montreal-shot crime procedural — which stars Vancouver actor Adrian Holmes as a hard-edged street cop — smashed Bravo’s records for original series debuts when it premiered in January.
The Reel 2 Real International Film Festival for Youth kicks off April 4 with a screening of If I Had Wings, an inspirational feature directed by, produced by, and starring members of the Harmon family. In addition to the screenings (all of which are appropriate for youth), the fest also offers a talent lab, filmmaking workshops, and a youth media lab and showcase. Families with young children will want to check out the Saturday morning pajama party and program of family shorts. Until April 11 at Vancity Theatre, Roundhouse Community Centre, and SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts. R2Rfestival.org
Hugh Laurie is celebrated for his acting work on stage and screen (House; Jeeves and Wooster; the locally shot Tomorrowland), but he’s a man of many other talents, including those of the musical variety. The British thespian is a master pianist with a couple of blues albums under his belt. On May 20, he’ll tickle the ivories with the Copper Bottom Band at the Orpheum Theatre as part of a month-long international tour. Tickets at LiveNation.com.
