LOS ANGELES —"The Pitt” castexplored a strange new world with“Star Trek” to celebrate the iconic sci-fi franchise’s 60th anniversary.
WithNoah Wyle
leading the ensemble as Captain James T. Kirk, Katherine LaNasa playing Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy and Taylor Dearden playing the half-Vulcan Spock, the cast gave a spirited reading of “The Man Trap,” the first “Star Trek” episode broadcast on television, on Sept. 8, 1966.During the Aug. 30 event, Fiona Dourif took on the dual role of McCoy’s former love Nancy Crater and the deadly salt vampire masquerading as her, while Shabana Azeez played Enterprise helmsman Hikaru Sulu. Ayesha Harris stepped into the role of communications officer Nyota Uhura.
60-year spoiler alert! The episode ends with Spock slapping
around the identity-shifting salt vampire before love-struck McCoy finally comes to his senses and finishes the deadly monster off with his phaser.
Dourif, who plays Dr. Cassie McKay on “The Pitt,” went full-on vamp as the dying salt vampire, writhing dramatically as the creature met its end.
The phasers were fully in on the fun in the inaugural “Retro Reads” event, hosted by the Writers Guild Association, which also turns 60 this year. Gene Roddenberry, who created "Star Trek," served as a member of the foundation’s board in its early years.
The event even featured the original Salt Vampire costume from “The Man Trap,” created by legendary “Star Trek” creature and prop designer Wah Chang.
The entire sold-out "The Pitt" reading at Los Angeles' Lodge Room on Aug. 30, is still available for streaming on the WGA website.
“The Pitt” cast's attendance at the charity event comes amid a break from shooting Season 3 of HBO's hit medical show. The cast will descend on the Sept. 14 Emmys with 25 nominations, including outstanding drama series, and best actor for Wyle.
Before "The Pitt" crew took the stage, a gold “Star Trek” shirt-wearing Nathan Fillion voiced Kirk during a reading of an animated “Star Trek” episode script.
Fillion, 55, gave a William Shatner-esque performance so uncanny that Rod Roddenberry, son of “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry, raved about it from the stage.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'The Pitt' star Taylor Dearden goes off as Spock at wild 'Star Trek' event
