Ice and Fire Conference 2023 Recap
Introduction
I attended the Ice and Fire Conference 2023 at Mt. Sterling, Ohio, from April 28 to April 30, 2023. I originally had a ticket for the Ice and Fire Con 2020, but they canceled it because of COVID-19. They focus the conference on the works of George R. R. Martin. Especially the Game of Thrones series, including his other works in the world of Westeros. The HBO series called House of the Dragon is an example and the first season released on August 21, 2022. I did attend the 2022 conference. In 2023, I attended two panels, the musical named Queens, and the closing ceremonies. This year’s theme was Ten Years Ago, since the first conference was held ten years before this conference.
This is a link to the Ice and Fire Conference website.
The 2023 Logo for Ice and Fire Con 2023.
This is my badge for Ice and Fire Con 2023, Ten Years Ago.
Summary
Ice and Fire Conference 2023 Recap
Friday, April 28th at 7 PM
Musical: Queens: A Dream of Endings:
In 2018 and 2019 conventions they presented Westeros: a parody musical featuring the Game of Thrones story and lyrics, with the music from the Broadway musical Hamilton. Link below.
https://www.youtube.com/@WesterosMusicals/videos
In 2022 they presented Queens: a parody musical featuring the Game of Thrones story and lyrics, with the music from the Broadway musical Six (The six wives of Henry the VIII). Link below.
In 2023 they presented Queens: A Dream of Spring: an update of the 2022 show.
[Note: Parody songs in quotes and original songs in parentheses.]
It started with The Targaryan succession song with Bloodraven as the narrator.
All six Queens with Euron as the DJ. “Queens” (Ex-wives)
The six queens are Cersei, Margaery, Asha (Yara), Arianne, Danerys, and Sansa.
Cersei singing “No Shame” (No Way)
Margaery singing “Don’t Blow This Up” (Don’t Lose Your Head)
Asha singing “Seastone Throne” (Heart of Stone)
Arianne singing “Haus of Blackfyre” (Haus of Holbein)
The Young Griff sidebar singing “Swipe Left”
Arianne singing “Unbowed” (Get Down)
Daenerys singing “I was Born to Rule” (All You Wanna Do)
Sansa singing “I Don’t Need Your Throne” (I Don’t Need Your Love)
The Six Queens Finale sing “A Dream of Endings” (Six)
They held the panel in the Grand Ballroom with about 180 attendees.
Saturday, April 29th at 12 PM
Behind Queens Panel with most of the performers from the musical from Friday:
The panel talked about the ideas that led to the musical. They wanted to do another musical to follow Westeros which was performed in 2018 and 2019. Their first idea was The Night King Cometh. Then they saw the Broadway musical named Six, about the six wives of Henry VIII on March 1, 2000. The first idea coming from Six was to use the six wives of Maegor, but that didn’t seem right. Then COVID happened and postponed everything. They came back after COVID with the idea of using six the Queens of Westeros. That led to the musical performed in 2022 and 2023.
They held the performance in the Grand Ballroom with 20 attendees.
Sunday, April 30th at 12 PM
What to Expect from HotD Season 2 Panel with four panelists:
Two panelists were from the Radio Westeros podcast, and two panelists were from the History of Westeros podcast.
The panelists did a quick recap of season 1 and wondered if four seasons would complete the show. They wondered if they were going to do the Jace and Sarah Snow plotline in Winterfell at the beginning of season 2. They mentioned the new cast members, Blood and Cheese, Alys Rivers, Gwayne Hightower, Simon Strong, and Alyn of Hull. Since they announced there were only 8 episodes this season and no cast information for Daeron Targaryan, they suspected that they were cutting out the Western storyline this season.
They wondered how and when these plot points would be used in the season; Daemon takes Harrenhall, the fight between the Brackens and the Blackwoods at the Burning Mill, and Alys Rivers use of magic. Where would the Rook’s Rest battle be inserted. Were they putting the Battle of the Gullett in episode 7 or 8? (actually, they moved it to episode 1 of Season 3)
They wondered about what the show would do about Alicent and Rhaenyra going forward in the show since their involvement declines as the source material continues.
They held the panel in the Scarlett Oak Room with 40 attendees.
Sunday, April 30th at 1 PM
Closing Ceremonies with the con runners and guests:
They talked about the winners of the costume parade, the performance contest and the Tourney of Champions. Not every winner was there, but the awards were appreciated. Tara the conference chair said that she was moving out of state and couldn’t spend the time necessary running the conference in 2024. She hoped that someone would continue the conference in 2025
They held the ceremonies in the Scarlett Oak Room with 50 attendees.
Recommendation – Conclusion
Ice and Fire Conference 2023 was fabulous. My star of the con was the musical performance of Queens (a parody of the Broadway show named Six). All six queens sang wonderfully, and all the other characters performed well. I haven’t seen the Broadway show named Six, but that didn’t lessen my enjoyment of this show. At the time it was expressed that there would not be a conference in 2024. There was none in 2025 and I haven’t heard about 2026. I’m sad to see this con go, especially since House of the Dragon Season Three and Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season One are due to be released in 2026. The legacy of Game of Thrones continues, and I wish this conference had as well.
Links
My post about the SF conference Ice and Fire 2022 Conference on Apr 23 and 24. The theme was A Dream of Spring. My stars of the con were The Manimals Band and the Guest of Honor David J. Peterson.
ConFusion Detroit was a con I attended this year that is like the Ice and Fire Con. I attended the SF conference named ConFusion at 21111 Haggerty Road Novi, Michigan at the Sheraton Detroit Novi from January 21, 2022, to January 23, 2020. ConFusion Detroit 2020 was the last in-person con I attended. I have attended only virtual cons in the last two years. ConFusion 2022 was my next in-person con after that.The Ann Arbor Science Fiction Association sponsored ConFusion Detroit 2022. I attended the opening ceremonies, three panels, two lectures, one reading, and one interview. This year’s theme was rising confusion. Like the phoenix rising from the ashes, the con returned from a two-year absence.
The last in-person conference I attended before Confusion Detroit 2022 was Confusion Detroit 2020. They canceled the con in 2021. They held it in the same place in 2022, with strict masks and vaccination policies in effect. I felt the con went well and enjoyed my attendance. I have two stars of the con. Author Guest of Honor Jim C. Hines gave a spirited reading of his short story, The Creature in Your Neighborhood, and an insightful interview by Black Gate Magazine. My other star of the con was Dr. Jordan Steckloff for the two lectures and the panel I attended he participated in.