‘Squares’ conspire to party at Stamford Innovation Center

The Geeks & Nerds Summer Gala at the Stamford Innovation Center in the historic Stamford Town Hall, 175 Atlantic St., is Thursday, from 6 to 10 p.m.

Promotional literature has a “Star Trek” theme, urging would-be attendees to “get their dance on” and “be there and be square.”

Norwalk-based Priceline.com is an event sponsor. “This means that we’ve been able to create a $40 ticket for those who want to come but could not float the full gala rate,” the SIC said in a statement. (There is still a full-price ticket for those who can afford to give more.)

Costumes are optional, but the invitation artwork features Captain James Tiberius Kirk and company dancing in the manner of “Bandstand,” suggesting outfits with a science fiction theme may be in order. In a weird twist, William Shatner, who played Kirk, is the Priceline spokesman, a pitch role also once held by his first officer, Mr. Spock, played by Leonard Nimoy. Spock”™s pointed ears and bearing made him a hip nerd decades before Harry Potter and the cast of “Big Bang Theory” did the same.

“Bring your date, your friends and your costume (optional) for the first annual Geeks and Nerds Summer Gala at the Stamford Innovation Center,” reads the invitation. “Let your inner awesomeness come out to play, and join the party!”

Music will be provided by The Parker Avenue Band and by DJ Ojala & DJ Raf. Cocktails, dining, dancing and games are on tap.

Besides Priceline, sponsors include Fairfield County presences Sikorsky, Connect, Pitney Bowes and law firms Shipman & Goodwin L.L.P., McCarter & English and Robinson & Cole L.L.P.

Partners include The Stamford Tech Meet-Up, CoWork CT, CT Next and Connecticut Innovations.