Home"The AZ Insider" with Kathy Shayna Shocket › AZ Insider: Star Trek Celeb in Scottsdale
 
 
 

Kathy Shayna Shocket has the inside scoop on the stories that make headlines. 

 george takei

Kathy takes us behind the scenes. 

  George Takei is Star Trek royalty, but he wasn’t in Scottsdale for any comic book or Trekky convention. You see George, who often plays himself now on the Howard Stern show these days, (not to mention starring in “To Be Takei”, one of the best documentaries of the year) is a powerful and outspoken activist. 

 While promoting the film, he was also a special guest at a private fundraiser to support Democratic candidate Fred Duval for Arizona governor. Guests gathered into the private room at the Saguaro Hotel for a chance to meet the actor, who along with his husband Brad Takei, are popular advocates for marriage equality.  Tickets ranged from $100 to $2,500 per person. “I’m proud to endorse Fred Duval because of his passionate support for equal rights for all Arizonans,’ he said, in that distinctive, deep voice.

george takaei

Equal rights are also at the forefront of the “To Be Takei” film, masterfully directed by Jennifer Kroot of "It Came From Kuchar" fame. Goerge, 77 has spoken out for years for survivors of the Japanese American internment camps. Including  his beloved project - the musical "Allegiance," set during the Japanese American internment of  World War II. 

In the "To Be Takei" film, he candidly recalls the dark journey and the struggles of being in the closet when he was a young actor in Hollywood. The film will also make you laugh, as Jennifer Kroot captures George and Brad’s uncanny sense of humor and close relationship.  george useCollage Fotor

Hundreds of George’s Arizona fans had the rare treat to meet George and Brad, one evening, following  the movie at Harkins Shea. The Scottsdale theatre was packed with a standing room only crowd as the couple sat for a classic Q and A.  Picutred above with George and Brad are Mark Ishikawa and Iris Ishikawa, Brian Ishikawa and Nancy Ishikawa and Jim Keppell and Linda Keppel. The Takei's also talked about their hopes to bring the musical "Allegiance" to Broadway.

Stay tuned. 

kathy-shayna-shocket 

Kathy Shayna Shocket is a freelance writer and TV- Field Producer based in Phoenix, AZ. She’s a former TV  Reporter who’s also written for such national publications as  TIME Magazine, MONEY Magazine, PEOPLE Magazine, the Hollywood Reporter and the NEW YORK TIMES