British actor Christopher Lee dies at 93: played Dracula, Saruman

...and Silas Clarney

 

Yea, that's odd, unless you've seen Kelly Hu's  sexy commercial for Viagra that began airing last month.  But if not...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOl--Vkj6Rs

On last night's Madam Secretary, the penultimate episode of the season, Marsha Mason (nice casting!) made an appearance as the title character's therapist.

Photo:  http://2paragraphs.com/2015/04/whos-the-ptsd-therapist-on-madam-secretary/

**** DAVID SELBY IN THE HISTORIC “THE LINCOLN TRIBUTE”
**** MICHAEL CAVANAUGH IN NEW PLAY
**** DS EVENT IN CONNECTICUT JUNE 2015
 
SHADOWGRAM NEWS UPDATE   # 355
April 19, 2015
 
Hello, Dark Shadows Fan,
 
ShadowGram (SG), The Official Newsletter & News Source for Dark Shadows (DS), announces the following key breaking news in this Official Dark Shadows News Online Update "bulletin."
 
 
**** DAVID SELBY IN THE HISTORIC “THE LINCOLN TRIBUTE”
**** MICHAEL CAVANAUGH IN NEW PLAY
**** DS EVENT IN CONNECTICUT JUNE 2015
 
 
**** DAVID SELBY’S PARTICIPATION IN HISTORIC COMMEMORATION
 
ShadowGram Official Online Update #354 (4-13) detailed that David (Quentin) would be part of the 4-14/15 “Lincoln Tribute,” commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln on 4-14/15, 1865. Events were held inside and outside of the actual locations, Ford’s Theatre and the Petersen Boarding House in Washington DC
 
David was onstage several times during the powerful “Now He Belongs to the Ages” live program at Ford’s the evening of 4-14. The event was opened by former Secretary of State Gen. Colin Powell. Performances included recitations of eyewitness accounts, Civil War-era music, singer/songwriter Judy Collins leading the sold-out audience in “Amazing Grace,” and other presentations. Wearing a plain suit and tie, standing before a microphone, David quoted Lincoln’s own words that had been blended together from the President’s own writings and speeches. David’s voice carried a higher-pitched twang representative of what is known of Lincoln’s own voice. The various selections he spoke reflected Lincoln from birth until a few days before his death.
 
David also participated in the wreath-laying ceremony early the next morning, 4-15, held at the door, steps, and street outside the Petersen Boarding House, directly across from Ford’s. This was where the mortally-wounded President was taken after he was shot and where he died at 7:22am on 4-15-1865. Standing before the boarding house door, David, in his own voice, read the elegy – mourning poem – “O Captain! My Captain!” American poet Walt Whitman wrote this memorial to Lincoln days after the assassination. David then thanked all “for attending the ceremony of the laying of the wreath and for participating in this very special commemoration of President Lincoln.”
 
Video of David reading the poem: http://www.c-span.org/video/?c4534487/david-selby-150-year-lincoln
 
Video of the entire wreath-laying ceremony: http://www.c-span.org/video/?325070-1/fords-theatre-lincoln-assassination-150th-anniversary
(This video of the ceremony runs almost 50 minutes. David’s reading begins at approximately 25:15.)
 
David is a lifelong student of Lincoln’s life, presidency, times, and legacy. In the early-mid 1990s, he wrote and starred in his play “Lincoln & James,” based on the story of a National Park Service employee who helped maintain the iconic Lincoln Memorial and Lincoln Statue. David’s novel “Lincoln’s Better Angel” evolved from the play. He’s also been part of several seminars, panel discussions, and other events examining Lincoln’s life and impact.
 
With his participation in this 150th anniversary commemoration of Lincoln’s death, David now has the dual distinction of twice portraying Lincoln on the Ford’s Theatre stage. In acknowledgement of another Lincoln life milestone, he starred as the President in the play THE HEAVENS ARE HUNG IN BLACK in 2009 to commemorate Lincoln’s 200th birthday (2-12-1809). World-premiered at Ford’s the play is set in the middle of his Presidency and explores his thoughts, feelings, actions, and personal experiences as he prepared the Emancipation Proclamation to abolish the slavery of 4 million African American in the nation.
 
David also returned to Ford’s as Lincoln in 2012 in NECESSARY SACRIFICES, also a world premiere. This play explores 2 documented White House encounters between Lincoln and the African-American social reformer and abolitionist, Frederick Douglass, during the crucial period of 1863-64, as both men seek to envision a post-emancipation, united American nation.
 
 
**** MICHAEL CAVANAUGH IS MYSTERIOUS “STRANGER” IN NEW PLAY
 
Michael (1991 DS Sheriff Patterson, Andre DuPres) stars as “The Stranger” in the one-act “contemporary comedy-drama” play TEN SECONDS at the Actors Forum Theatre in North Hollywood, CA. Opened 3-27, it runs to 5-9.
 
Publicity description: “It’s 8:30 on a weekday morning in Founders Square, GA. At the local watering hole, the Floodlight Bar & Grill, 2 work-shy regulars are already a pitcher-full of beer into a typical day. A typical day that suddenly turns into an extraordinary Ten Seconds when a well-dressed stranger steps into the room. A stranger who speaks in metaphorical jargon and poetic phrases…and claims to be a ‘Buyer of Time.’”
 
This is 1 of 3 different one-acts comprising “Outta My Head – Part 6,”a series of plays by award-winning playwright Eugene Butler. Performances are Fri. and Sat. evenings at 8:00. Tickets are $20, with senior and industry discounts available.
 
Please Note: The theatre website lists different dates; the opening was delayed and thus the run was extended an extra week to 5-9.
 
The Actors Forum Theatre is at 10655 Magnolia Blvd., N. Hollywood, CA 91601. Box Office: 818-709-3530. 818-506-0600. http://www.actorsforumtheatre.org/
 
Program notes: Michael “started out doing theater and also had the good fortune to do much work in movies and television as well as continuing to enjoy doing theater.”
 
 
**** DS EVENT IN CONNECTICUT JUNE 2015
 
The organizer of this event asks SG to announce the following gathering. (Note: This event is not a Dark Shadows Festival event, though some online posts by people not associated with either event have confused the two events).
 
Friends of 91 DS/Cast Reunions are excited to announce “CAST REUNIONS II” fundraising event for Lockwood-Matthews Mansion in Norwalk, CT. (A filming location for House of DS - HODS); At the Double Tree by Hilton Norwalk, 789 Connecticut Ave, Norwalk, CT, 06854
 
Book your reservation by calling 800 4927148 or 203 853 3477 mention group Dark Shadows Reunion to get discount rate from Thursday June 25, 2015 through Sunday June 28, 2015. Special rate is $99 a night + tax. Extremely limited – so book right away.
 
DS GUESTS APPEARING IN PERSON
Sharon Smyth-Lentz - Sarah Collins             
Donna Wandrey – Roxanne Drew               
Bobbi Ann Woronko - Nurse Pritchett   
Nick Besink – Video Engineer                         \
Henry Plimack – Sound Engineer                 
Jim Fyfe – 1991 Willie Loomis                       
Joanne Dorian – 1991 Nurse                         
Many More Guests to come……………………..
                                                         
DS DAY IN COLLINSPORT
On 6-26: Take an exclusive bus tour of Essex, CT. Site of many of the original DS filming locations. See The Collinsport Inn, The Collinsport Police Station and Maggie Evans Cottage as well as other sites. This is a limited offer so order your seats right away. You can have lunch at THE COLLINSPORT INN!!!  Tickets are $20 and non-refundable. Send a SASE (self-addressed stamp envelope to with payment).
6-26 evening: Enjoy Q&A panels as well as autograph sessions with the guests. There will be memorabilia for sale and much more. Plus, there will be a raffle with a Grand Prize chance to win a special Lockwood Matthews Mansion Tour of closed off sections of the mansion.
 
HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS TOUR
6-27 morning: There will be mini tours of Lockwood Matthews Mansion.  This is a filming location from HODS movie. The cost at the door is $5.00.  Transportation from hotel will be available.
6-27 afternoon & evening: There will be more Q&A panels as well as autograph and more fun events at the hotel, including another Grand Prize Raffle Drawing.
 
Cost for The Cast Reunions weekend hotel events is $40. This is an extremely limited seating event. Tickets are on a first come first serve basis. THIS WILL SELL OUT QUICKLY-so don’t be left out. The weekend will be an intimate atmosphere with the guests and NO LONG LINES for autographs. Please send your checks or money orders/cashier checks to:                                                                                                                                                                                                           
 
FRIENDS OF 91 DARK SHADOWS/CAST REUNIONS, PO BOX 469, WHITE MARSH MD 21162.  We will also be launching our new website soon. Sign up for our email blasts as well by emailing: FO91DS@yahoo.com
 
The organizer adds: As a Shadowgram exclusive, a limited number of seats have been held for SG subscribers. This is going to be a very limited ticket event (under 250 seats). So all the SG subscriber has to do is mention SG on registration form and they will be guaranteed a seat at the event as long as its postmarked by 5-1. After that it is first come first serve. The hotel is also limited and should be booked by 5-26 or sooner as they is a limited amount of discounted rooms available.