Stars trek to experience

Friday, Jan. 2, 1998 | 8:47 a.m.

Star Trek The Experience is the latest marriage between Hollywood and Las Vegas, which means something special for the attraction's grand opening: movie star appearances.

Executives at the Las Vegas Hilton and Paramount Parks, developers of the attraction, have kept quiet about who will be present for the weekend opening. Packets sent to guests planning to attend a special fan preview carry a disclaimer that there are no assurances that stars from the production will be present at the event between midnight and 9 a.m. Sunday.

However, the guest list for the black-tie VIP gala planned in one of the Hilton ballrooms Saturday night is filled with names from the four "Star Trek" television series, as well as other Hollywood luminaries. Those who say they plan to be there:

* From the original "Star Trek" series: James Doohan (Scotty), Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura) and Grace Lee Whitney (Yeoman Janice Rand).

* From "Star Trek: The Next Generation": LeVar Burton (Lt. Cmdr. Geordi LaForge), Michael Dorn (Worf), Jonathan Frakes (Cmdr. William Riker), Marina Sirtis (Counselor Deanna Troi) and Majel Barrett Roddenberry (Lwaxana Troi, and also Nurse Chapel from the original series).

* From "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine": Rene Auberjonois (Security Chief Odo), Terry Farrell (Dax), Cirroc Lofton (Jake Sisko), Armin Shimerman (Quark) and Alexander Siddig (Dr. Julian Bashir).

* From "Star Trek: Voyager": Roxanne Dawson (B'Elanna Torres), Ethan Phillips (Neelix), Tim Russ (Tuvok), Jeri Ryan (Seven of Nine) and Garrett Wang (Harry Kim).

* "Star Trek" executives Rick Berman (co-creator and executive producer of the two current shows), Herman Zimmerman (production designer for all "Star Trek" properties), Rene Echevarria (writer-producer for "Deep Space Nine") and Ken Biller (writer-producer for "Voyager").

* Other film and television celebrities: Rosa Blasi and Kristin Detillo ("Hitz"), Lara Flynn Boyle ("The Practice"), John Daly ("Real TV"), Stacey Dash and Sean Holland ("Clueless"), Bob Goen ("Entertainment Tonight"), Jackee Harry, Tia and Tamera Mowry ("Sister Sister"), Jamie Luner ("Melrose Place"), Christopher McDonald ("Veronica's Closet," "Flubber" and "Leave It to Beaver"), Costas Mandylor ("Players" and "Picket Fences"), Heather Medway and Joe Napote ("Viper"), Terry Murphy ("Hard Copy"), Jerry O'Connell ("Scream 2," "Sliders" and "Jerry McGuire"), Patricia Richardson ("Home Improvement"), Fred Savage ("Working"), Jonathan Silverman ("The Single Guy") and Montel Williams.

The Las Vegas Hilton reported more than 2,000 tickets have been sold to the fans-only preview. Packages ranging from $25 to $100 were made available to fans who wanted to be the first to experience The Experience. Included in the $100 package were an admission ticket to the attraction, a special opening-day souvenir ticket, a commemorative poster, a limited-edition Franklin Mint coin and a display folder autographed by Frakes and Burton, who star in the film that is a part of the simulated voyage.

The Hilton also offered a $30 room rate to Trekkers visiting Las Vegas for the opening.