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> August-September 2003
| DVD
Covers and News |
September
27 2003 |
MPI
Home Video have confirmed the extras for the upcoming
DVD Collection 8. Click on the cover graphic for
a larger version:
|
Dark
Shadows DVD Collection 8 ·
Released October 28
 ·
Episodes 495-535, presented on four disks
· Disc 1: Dan
Curtis interview
· Disc 2: Leonard Goldberg (ABC
network executive) interview
· Disc 3: John Karlen interview
· Disc 4: Jim Pierson (video producer
and publicist) interview
· Collectable postcard
· Region 0 Encoding/NTSC (Compatible with
players worldwide)
Order
now at a discount price from Amazon.com
|
|
Shown
right is a draft cover to November 25's release Dark
Shadows DVD Collection 9: Click on the thumbnail for
a larger view. We should have a final, full-size version
on the site soon. The release features episodes 535-574
and bonus interviews, taking viewers up to vampire Tom Jennings'
rampage through Collinsport. It
can be pre-ordered at a 25% discount with free shipping
from Amazon.com:
Pre-order
Dark Shadows DVD Collection 9 from Amazon.com
| Jonathan
Frid Performance Announced |
September
26 2003 |
Jonathan
Frid (Barnabas Collins) is to make a rare performance
of his acclaimed one-man show on Tuesday October 28th -
perhaps appropriately - in Collingwood, Ontario. Speaking
via his Official
Website, Jonathan comments:
"Another
'swan-song' from yours truly is being projected for around
the end of October... in Collingwood, Ontario, adjacent
to the ski resort, Blue Mountain, on Georgian Bay, approximately
two hours north of Toronto.
"A Canadian actor friend of mine, Dean Hollin - currently
manager of the town’s Gayety Theatre - has asked me to put
together a pot-pourri of stories from my readers’ theatre
collection, including two of Edgar Allan Poe’s chilling
masterpieces... It’s been a while. I hope some of you can
make it up here."
The
venue is located on 161 Hurontario Street, Collingwood,
Ontario. For reservations, phone (705) 444-0333, or toll
free on (866) 442-9389. Email: info@gayetytheatre.com.
October
1 Update:
The organisers of this event are now considering adding
a second date, Saturday November 1, if there is sufficient
demand. To register your interest, contact the theatre by
email or telephone.
With
thanks to Nancy Kersey
| People
News |
September
26 2003 |
•
Viewers of this week's Emmy
Awards were treated to an unexpected appearance from
John Karlen (Willie Loomis). Karlen accompanied his
Cagney and Lacey co-star Tyne Daly, who singled
him out when she collected her award for Best Supporting
Actress: "I have had very good luck with acting partners
in my lifetime as an actor. One of them is with me tonight
- Mr John Karlen, who played Harvey Lacey."
• Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans) will be
a guest at the New Jersey horror convention Chiller Theatre
from October 31 to November 2. For more information visit
chillertheatre.com.
With
thanks to Vera Marano and Fran Robert
| Selby
and Sullivan Perform Fundraiser |
September
17 2003 |
David
Selby (Quentin) and Susan Sullivan (Ghost of
Josette) are to perform a charity production of A. R. Gurney's
play Love Letters. The reading takes place in Martinsburg,
West Virginia on Friday, October 10, 2003 at 8.00pm. A reception
with with the actors will be held before the performance
at the Arts Centre in the Old Federal Building.
The production will raise funds for Main Street Martinsburg,
who are devoted to revitalizing the downtown area of Martinsburg,
West Virginia. Tickets are $25.00 for general seating, and
reserved tickets for the reading and the reception are $65.00.
To make a reservation, contact Shirley at the Historic Apollo
Theatre on 304-263-6766 (Tuesday-Friday).
The
theatre is located on 128 E. Martin St. Martinsburg, West
Virginia is on the eastern panhandle of West Virginia, approximately
90 minutes from Washington, DC and Baltimore, Maryland,
with easy access from Interstate 81 and Interstate 70.
With
thanks to Criseyde
| Diana
Millay's Power of Halloween |
September
15 2003 |
Actress
Diana Millay (Laura Collins) has written a new book,
The Power of Halloween, exploring the festival's
origins and celebration throughout history. From the publisher:
"Halloween
may be the most misunderstood holiday on the calendar, because
many people don’t realize the depth of its history. It has
tremendous power and purpose, which benefit all of mankind—those
who are with us now, and those who have moved into the hereafter.
Among
the dark shadows and foggy mist, the living have long searched
the night on Halloween. Some catch a fleeting glimpse or
vision of a loved one. Others are touched by the gift of
a telepathic message. In some mysterious way, the spirits
feel your every thought and hear your every word on this
mystical, magical night.
The
Power of Halloween draws on author Diana Millay’s
heritage: witches and witchcraft. It does not come from
history books but from stories passed on by generations
of a family of mystics who have made magic since the beginning
of time."
To
order the book from Amazon.com, click
here.
| Barnabas
& Company Book Released |
September
6 2003 |
The
lives and careers of the Dark Shadows cast
are celebrated with the publication of Barnabas &
Company, a new book from Craig Hamrick. The book includes
256 pages of biographies and trivia, with newly uncovered
facts and rare photographs. From the publisher:
"Barnabas
& Company tells the tale of the (mostly) marvelous
actors and actresses who came together in a tiny studio
in Manhattan to make magic—both on screen and off. Dark
Shadows innovatively broke all the daytime rules and
blazed a trail other soaps are still following. Featuring
sympathetic vampires and werewolves, decades before Buffy
made slaying cool, the show captured the nation’s attention.
In the actors’ own words read about how it happened, and
relive your own special memories of those Dark Shadows
in the afternoon. Plus, a special trivia section includes
information on the actors’ other roles—on TV, stage and
in movies."
To
order the book from Amazon.com, click
here. To read this site's review of the book, click
here.
| Return
to Collinwood Recording |
September
1 2003 |
Monday
September 1 saw the recording of the first new Dark Shadows
episode in over 12 years, as a host of original series alumni
reunited to Return to Collinwood. The new hour-long
audio drama is written by Jamison Selby and sees
a number of familiar faces reuniting in the present day
for the reading of Elizabeth's will.
The production stars David Selby, Lara Parker,
John Karlen, Nancy Barrett, Kathryn Leigh
Scott, John Karlen, Chris Pennock and
Roger Davis recreating past present-day characters,
with Donna Wandrey, Marie Wallace, Jim
Storm and Terrayne Crawford in newly created
roles. The debut stage performance was held the previous
day at the Dark Shadows Festival to an enthusiastic
audience.
Return
to Collinwood is due out on CD from MPI Home Video later
this year, possibly with additional enhanced features. The
drama establishes a new format for future audio dramas,
with more stories already under consideration.
Comment:
What a thankless task a Dark Shadows reunion story
must be to produce - so many departed personalities and
twisted stories to make sense of, with the sprawling soap
format offering no easy solutions. Jamison Selby's script
made deft work of a seemingly impossible task, rekindling
many happy memories, whilst confidently sketching out a
convincing new Collinsport community which begs to be revisited.
Pitched
on just the right side of camp, it offered some stand-out
dialogue and a nice sense of irony - the result managed
to evoke the show's most absurd excesses, while simultaneously
tipping a wry wink to so many of its classic cliches. And,
like any good soap, the characters - both old and new -
left the audience with plenty of questions and possibilities
for the future.
Nancy
Barrett flawlessly created an older Carolyn Stoddard, whilst
David Selby gave Quentin a more careworn, sardonic quality
that befitted his new role as head of the household. Meanwhile,
Willie Loomis and wife Jessica (a superb sitcom creation
from Marie Wallace) have settled (mostly) into domestic
bliss at the Old House, while an older and wiser Maggie
Evans discovered some new fire - hearing her spit out the
word "bitch!" at Angelique was a gleeful standout moment.
Lara Parker loaned Angelique the hip quality of someone
who almost regards villainy as a vocation, while Donna Wandrey
delivered a scene-stealing performance as housemaid Mrs.
Franklin, by turns simpering and malevolent.
Return to Collinwood was everything Dark Shadows
should be: witty, scary, absurd and - most importantly -
invested with a genuine sense of heart. And as the characters
learned of a devastating revelation concerning an old friend,
it was both deeply moving and a great reminder of what made
Dark Shadows such a special show.
With
thanks to Jim Pierson. Photographs © 2003 Ben Martin,
reproduced with permission
| 2004
Festival Plans |
September
1 2003 |
After
months of speculation about the future of the Dark Shadows
Festival conventions, the event director Jim Pierson
has announced plans for their new format. Speaking to this
site, Jim comments: "I thought, after 20 years, we could
retire the Festival and do some different events - though
it's still viable to have a convention as well. It doesn't
need to be a three-day hotel-bound marathon like we've always
had."
Jim also revealed tentative plans for the first new-format
gathering in 2004: "We've been to Tarrytown before for bus
trips and I thought it would be nice to have a weekend there
- at least a couple of days, maybe three." Tarrytown provided
locations for the two MGM Dark Shadows movies and
plans include a trip to the Lyndhurst estate, which represented
Collinwood in both films. A full announcement is anticipated
shortly.
Last weekend's 2003 Dark Shadows Festival proved
one of the most heavily attended conventions of recent years,
with a peak of over 3000 fans. Questioned about the long-term
future of the Festival's projects, Jim assures fans: "If
the support is there, there will be more events."
With
thanks to Jim Pierson
| DVD
Collection 8 Cover |
August
22 2003 |
Shown
right is the cover to October's release Dark Shadows
DVD Collection 8. We should have a bigger version on
the site soon. The release features episodes 495-535 and
bonus interviews with creator Dan Curtis, former
ABC network executive Leonard Goldberg, actor John
Karlen (Willie Loomis) and video producer and publicist
Jim Pierson. It
can be pre-ordered at a 25% discount with free shipping
from Amazon.com:
Pre-order
Dark Shadows DVD Collection 8 from Amazon.com
| Commercial
Release for Return to Collinwood |
August
19 2003 |
ShadowGram
reports that MPI Home Video will be releasing the
2003 Festival's reunion stage play Return to Collinwood
later this year. The story reunites a number of past performers,
reprising familiar characters. It is not yet known if this
will be a recording of the Festival presentation or a separate
performance, nor what format the release will be presented
in.
With
thanks to ShadowGram
| News
in Brief |
August
19 2003 |
•
The
Dark Shadows Festival have begun working on plans for
future event formats, with their next project planned for
Summer 2004.
• MPI Home Video's
next Bobblehead releases will be Angelique, followed
by Quentin.
With
thanks to ShadowGram
| Lysette
Anthony Joins The Bill |
August
18 2003 |
Lysette
Anthony (1991 Angelique) has recently joined the cast
of ITV1's police soap The Bill, one of the UK's top-rating
dramas. Lysette appears in the recurring role of Rachel,
a glamorous widow setting her sights on romance with DCI
Meadows.
| Festival
Events Schedule |
August
13 2003 |
The
Dark Shadows Festival have issued a tentative schedule
of events for August's "farewell" event, which
can be seen below. The September 1 bus trip to "Collinwood"
in Rhode Island is now sold out, with no waiting list. Places
for the closing celebrity banquet are still available, but
reservations must be received by August 22. Website: www.darkshadowsfestival.com.
Friday August 29
16.00: Registration Opens
18.00: Opening Ceremonies and Skit
19.00: Remembering Dennis Patrick
19.30: Guests: John Karlen, Diana Millay, Kathryn Leigh
Scott, Roger Davis
20.00: Chris Pennock's Dark Shadows Comic Tales
20.30: Dark Shadows Novel Preview with Lara Parker
21.00: Autographs and Festival Highlights
23.00: Movie - House of Dark Shadows
00.00: Late Night Horror Movies
Saturday August 30
10.00: Dark Shadows What's New Panel
11.00: 1991 Dark Shadows Screen Tests
11.30: Joan Bennett Television Interviews
12.00: The Flatboatman with David Selby
13.00: The Collinsport Players Skit
14.00: Charity Auction
15.00: Jim Storm Sings Live on Stage
15.30: Behind the Scenes Panel
16.00: Cast Reunion
17.00: Autographs and Dan Curtis' Burnt Offerings
19.00: Dark Shadows Documentary
20.00: Costume Gala with Free Refreshments
22.00: Movie - Night of Dark Shadows
00.00: Late Night Horror Movies
Sunday
August 31
10.00: Dark Shadows Fan Videos
10.30: Make-up Artist Dick Smith Interview
11.00: Stella Crozier with Diana Millay
12.00: Dark Shadows Reunion
13:30: Donna McKechnie Greeting and Song
14.00: Charity Auction
15.00: Video Tribute to Dan Curtis
15.30: Profile on Music Composer Robert Cobert
16.00: Dark Shadows: Return to Collinwood Stage Drama
17.00: Final Words
17.30: Autograph Session
20.00: Banquet with the Stars
With
thanks to the Dark Shadows Festival
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