SHADOWGRAM
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An Internet Publication of SHADOWGRAM
ShadowGram@aol.comNumber 192. February 24, 2009.
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Hello, Dark Shadows Fan,
ShadowGram (SG), The Official Newsletter & News Source for Dark Shadows (DS), announces the following breaking news.
**** NEW SHADOWGRAM # 114 PRINT ISSUE BEING BEING MAILED NOW ****
The latest published ShadowGram is being sent to all current postal-mail subscribers. As always, these Official DS Newsletter editions have exclusive pictures, specific announcements, and full details for all the DS-related news, far more than the brief SG Online DS News Updates "bulletins."
Following are SG # 114 highlights.
*** JONATHAN FRID LOOKS BACK AT THE DS FESTIVAL – BURBANK, CA – JULY 2008 (SG Exclusive)
SG is honored: Jonathan shares his own thoughts about the most recent Fest convention: Excerpt: "I keep reminding myself of the three recent and coming happy years involving my planning and presence at Dark Shadows festivals.... For this coming Festival next August I hope to participate in the events with other actors. " He comments on his feelings as he prepared for the Burbank event and for his previous Fest appearances (2006 and 2007). He also considers the coming Fest this summer...and he has plans....
*** UPDATING: 2009 DS FESTIVAL CONVENTION – Newark, NJ, Aug. 14-16, Marriott Airport Renaissance Hotel, 100 Spring St., Elizabeth, NJ 07021. 908-436-4600.Elizabeth (Newark), NJ.
SG Online Update #191 premiere-announced the convention and our confirmed guests: Jonathan, Lara Parker, John Karlen, Kathryn Leigh Scott, Marie Wallace, and additionally, Donna Wandrey. More guests to be announced.
SG #114 notes Fest plans: The general schedule; some planned programming activities; membership fees and reservation information for the traditional Banquet with the Stars; and much more. The latest confirmed plans will be announced and updated in the next SG #115 print edition and in the SG Yahoo Group.
The hotel offers sleeping rooms at a special reduced per-night rate. You must mention "Dark Shadows Festival" to get the discounted rate. Fans are encouraged to make their reservations soon. Call the hotel's direct reservations line: 866-234-7535.
For the membership registration form, plus information about volunteering at the Fest or contacting potential hotel roommates, send a SASE to Dark Shadows Festical, P.O. Box 92, Maplewood, NJ 07040. DarkShadowsFestival.com
*** UPDATING: NEW DS MOVIE PLANS
The long-awaited Warner Brothers feature film to star Johnny Depp as "Barnabas Collins" is still very much in the works, despite rumors to the contrary that have appeared in print and online. Scriptwriter John August has been hard at work and Depp's frequent collaborator Tim Burton (SWEENEY TODD, SLEEPY HOLLOW) plans to direct. If all goes well, the movie will hopefully go before cameras before year's end. However, it would not be released to theaters before late 2010 at the earliest. The next SG # 115 will announce confirmed casting and filming details.
*** UPDATING: HOUSE & NIGHT OF DARK SHADOWS ON DVD
With the new Warner Bros. DS film on the horizon, Warners Home Video intends to release HODS (1970) and NODS (1971) on dvd close to the time the new movie hits theaters. This means the dvd could appear as soon as Halloween 2010, if not slightly earlier. There also is the continuing hope that NODS will be represented by a restored version featuring approx. 30 minutes of outtake footage.
*** SG #114 PHOTOS & NEWS HIGHLIGHTS:
--- Numerous casual and candid pictures of our 2008 Festival guests:
Jonathan, Lara, David Selby, John, Kathryn, Marie, Jerry Lacy, Robert Rodan, Chris Pennock, Roger Davis, Robert Cobert, and Sy Tomashoff.
A report on the Burbank Fest details the guest Q&A talks, live onstage performance of the "lost" 1968 DS script, annual Banquet With the Stars, and more. The highlight of the weekend was Jonathan's introduction: John Karlen, as "Willie," stepped onstage holding a lit candleabra and discovers a chained coffin as the room echoes with Barnabas' commanding "Willie!" He opens the casket, a hand shoots up from inside, grasping at his throat – and John then assists Jonathan out of the coffin, to the roaring delight of the standing-room-only audience.
--- DAVID SELBY is portraying "Abraham Lincon" at the historic re-opening of Ford's Theater in Washington, DC – the place where Lincoln was shot in April, 1865. The theater restoration and world premiere play "The Heavens Are Hung In Black" are part of celebrations for the Bicenettial of Lincoln's birth. David is pictured in the role and – in character – greeting President Barack Obama at the 2-11 official re-opening event.
David was keynote speaker at the 275th Anniversary of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Salem, MA 9-18 He also was a guest speaker at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, 2-22. David is pictured from his Sept. readings/book signings.
--- MARIE WALLACE stars as "Beverly Carstairs" in the world premiere comedy THE CHISELERS 2-27/3-8 at the Emerging Artists' Theatre (E.A.T.) Group. The play is at the TADA Theatre, 15 W. 28th St., NYC. 866-811-4111. Marie asks SG to tell fans she "is looking forward to seeing a number of DS fans in the audience."
Marie shares about her 2 weeks in Oct. in Greece. She "came back with great memories and some wonderful photographs," adding "every mment of our time was filled with joy."
She's also featured in thr Sondheim Review Magazine, Winter 2009 in a detailed article about the "The Gypsy Stripper Christmas Tree" – Marie's own Broadway debut. She helped provide information, resources, and contacts with some of the people involved in the unique holiday production number.
--- PAUL MICHAEL and his lady love MARION ROSS starred in Overland Park, KS, in the premiere of a play written for them THE LAST ROMANCE. Paul's program book biography is in SG #114, as is their Christmas card.
--- STUART GOODMAN is an executive producer of A&E's new real-life series MANHUNTERS.
--- MARY McKINLEY-HAAS showed her paintings at a Jan. NYC art exhibit.
--- DONNA McKECHNIE will choreograph GUYS & DOLLS IN CONCERT for the iconic Hollywood Bowl this summer.
--- JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT stars in the romantic comedy 500 DAYS OF SUMMER, screened at the Sundance Film Festival in Jan.
--- ELAINE HYMAN's film ONCE MORE WITH FEELING screened at the Sundance Film Festival in Jan.
--- MARSHA MASON & MICHAEL T. WEISS are in the debut play IMPRESSIONISM at Broadway's Schoenfeld Theatre; previews begin 2-28..
--- BARBARA STEELE provides commentary for the new dvd release of her starring role in 1966's THE SHE-BEAST. Barbara is pictured from her appearance at the Chiller convention in NJ in Oct.
--- BLAIR BROWN plays a powerful, mysterious corporate executive in Fox's new drama FRINGE.
--- MARLEY SHELTON stars as a seasoned FBI agent investigating unusual crimes in CBS' ELEVENTH HOUR series.
--- ALSO: KATE JACKSON, CHRIS PENNOCK, SUSAN SULLIVAN, LYSETTE ANTHONY, BARBARA BLACKBURN, and other DS actors were in recent plays and films. See their sections.
**** SAD DS LOSSES:
--- DS director JOHN SEDWICK died 7-3.
--- MARY COOPER (1841 Parallel Time Josette) passed away 10-22.
**** NEW DS MERCHANDISE
--- MPI's new "exclusive DS merchandise": a cell phone lanyard, mouse pad, bistro mug with spoon, and the "limited edition collectors plates" pictured in SG #113. Also available now is the "DS Bobblehead Collection, complete with all the characters! Pick up Angelique, Barnabas, Quentin, Josette, and Werewolf today! Each doll is one in a series of 5." MPI, 16101 S. 108th Ave., Orland Park, IL 60467. 800-323-0442.
www.darkshadowsdvd.com--- SG #114 reports on the new audiodramas from Big Finish Productions. These original stories are recorded by some of the DS actors.
The newest releases are: "The Skin Walkers" – In 1899 New York City, a supernatural group seeks Quentin's powers to build their own future. "The Path of Fate" – Quentin steps onto a mysterious new stairway through time" and must ally with Angelique to help escape its swirling influences. The focus is on the characters of Quentin and Angelique, played by Lara Parker and David Selby."
"The Wicked and the Dead" stars Jerry Lacy and John Karlen – Rev. Gregory Trask is trapped in utter dark desperation behind the solid brick wall of Collinwood. Then "a stranger appears to him with an intriguing offer."
These new audiodramas and previous releases are available from the Dark Shadows Festival, P.O. Box 92, Maplewood, NJ 07040.
www.DarkShadowsFestival.comMore information about all the audiodramas is found on Big Finish's special website: darkshadowsreborn.com
*** SG #114: DS IN THE MEDIA – DS FILMING LOCATIONS
--- An interesting major article from the Chicago Tribune about DS, the Fests, the planned Johnny Depp film, and more.
--- DS has been featured recently in TV Guide and several publications, on-the-air programs, online genre sources, etc. Details and excerpts are in SG #114.
--- Evocative photos (taken this month) of Seaview Terrace/Carey Mansion Collinwood) and the Black Pearl (DS' Blue Whale) coated in snowy winter white.
*** SG # 114 details all the above and much more.
*** COMING SOON !!!!!
THE OFFICIAL SHADOWGRAM WEBSITE: SHADOWGRAM.COM
This will be your main online source for the SG online update announcements, plus a range of photos, background information, current events, and much more.
The site presently is under construction, but please visit in a few days. As always, SG welcomes your pictures of the DS personnel, media references to DS, and more.
NOTE: SG #114 contains the current confirmed, official news relating to DS, its personnel, merchandise, and more. It has a different look because we still are working on the "bugs" in the new formatting process. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
NOTE: Individual news sections for the 2004 WB Pilot DS version are not included in this issue but will be available on the SG website soon.
Since last summer, I've had a number of unexpected, ongoing demands at home, at my fulltime job, and with other matters. These have been and continue to fill much of my time and attention. As always, everything I do for SG/DS must fit in around my daily life, and I regret that my fannish time has been severely limited of late, leading me to postpone this issue. Now it's finally ready for all SG readers and I hope everyone enjoys it. I appreciate all your understanding and patience with the issue and my delays in correspondence, etc.
*** Fans attending play performances, personal appearances, and the Fest are encouraged and invited to send SG their photos, reports, local publicity references, etc. In this way, fans who cannot attend can enjoy the events through your experiences. Please also share with SG any DS mentions you find.
You will be named as a Contributor in the SG published issue(s). A complimentary Contributor's Copy SG print issue is given in appreciation for major contributions.
Please send all photos/images via email in high resolution jpeg format to
ShadowGram1@yahoo.com Or you can send photos/articles in hard-copy by postal-mail to
Marcy Robin / ShadowGram
P.O. Box 1766
Temple City, CA 91780-7766.
Thank you in advance for sharing!
**** Subscription information for the ShadowGram Newsletter print issues follows. When your order arrives, I will send you the new SG #114 to begin / renew your subscription. The next SG #115 and subsequent issues will be sent to you and all postal-mail subscribers as they are published..
Thank you.
Marcy Robin
ShadowGram Editor / Publisher
P.O. Box 1766
Temple City, CA 91780-7766
ShadowGram@aol.com
