SHADOWGRAM OFFICIAL ONLINE DARK SHADOWS NEWS
UPDATE # 304
 
December 27, 2013

 
Hello, Dark Shadows Fan,
 
ShadowGram (SG), The Official Newsletter & News Source for Dark Shadows (DS) announces the following key breaking news in this Official DS News Online Update "bulletin."
 
 
**** SG PREMIERE ANNOUNCEMENT:
2014 DS FESTIVAL WEEKEND THIS SUMMER: ANNOUNCING DETAILS
 
SG Update # 300 (Oct. 19) gave the first official word about the 2014 DS Festival Weekend event.
 
Here, SG premiere-announces our DS guests, guest performances and participation, behind-the-scenes and exclusive new screenings, and much more.
 
As noted in SG Online Upoate # 300, this “double event” DS Festival will be held in Tarrytown, NY, from June 28-29, 2014. The weekend marks the actual 48th anniversary of the original daytime series’ debut on ABC-TV (June 27, 1966). That opening episode showed Victoria Winters’ arrival in Collinsport, Maine.
 
**** SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014
 
All Fest activities will be at the historic Lyndhurst Estate, which served as “Collinwood” in the films "House of Dark Shadows" (1970)  (HODS) and "Night of Dark Shadows" (1971) (NODS). The buildings and grounds are part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Proceeds from the Weekend will benefit the restoration and maintenance of the estate.
 
Lyndhurst is located at 635 S. Broadway, Tarrytown, NY 10591. Tarrytown is 24 miles north of midtown Manhattan, on the eastern shore of the Hudson River, at the Tappan Zee Bridge.
 
Saturday programming at Lyndhurst will run from 12 noon to 9:00 pm.
 
--- Special Guest DAVID SELBY (Quentin Collins) makes his first return to the property since filming the NODS 4+ decades ago. He will present a special musical and dramatic performance that pays tribute to DS and its fans.
 
----Other guests from NODS: JAMES STORM (Gerard) and LARA PARKER (Angelique).
---- Guest from HODS: KATHRYN LEIGH SCOTT (Maggie)
---- Guests from both DS movies: JOHN KARLEN (Willie, Alex) and NANCY BARRETT (Carolyn, Claire)
The guests will present their memories of filming the DS movies at Lyndhurst..
 
Other guests to be announced. All guest appearances are subject to personal and professional commitments.
 
--- Programming Highlights:
 
The first-ever high-definition screenings of "House of Dark Shadows" and "Night of Dark Shadows" will take place.
 
The world-premiere video "Collinwood at the Cinema - Behind the Scenes" features previously-unseen material. There will be other surprises as well. 
 
There will be autographs, question-and-answer sessions, and photos with the stars, along with a charity auction of rare and unique DS items to benefit Lyndhurst. There also will be a DS Marketplace with a wide variety of memorabilia (some debuting) for sale at a range of prices. Available sale items include issues of the ShadowGram Newsletter, photos, books by several of our guests, DS collectibles, and much more.
 
These activities will be held in the Lyndhurst stables complex and tented courtyard – all with air-conditioning. Additionally, each attendee may tour the interior of the beautiful Lyndhurst mansion, featured so prominently in both DS movies. Fans also can explore the extensive grounds, which include the massive greenhouse and other structures. The famed Sleepy Hollow Cemetery and Washington Irving’s home Sunnyside are within walking distance.
 
 
**** SUNDAY, JUNE 29, 2014
 
All activities will take place a few hundred yards down the street from Lyndhurst Estate, at the Doubletree Tarrytown Hotel.
 
The hotel is located at 455 S. Broadway, Tarrytown, NY 10591
 
--- Programming Highlights:
 
The DS LUNCHEON & AFTERNOON WITH THE STARS takes place from 11:30 am - 5:00 pm. Each fan attendee will enjoy a 3-course meal, a DS gift bag of goodies, and door prizes will be awarded. After lunch, fans may receive autographs from, and take photos with, the DS actors in attendance, and purchase DS memorabilia
 
There will be other DS surprises, including a special stage performance by Marie Wallace (DS-TV Jenny Collins, Eve, Megan Todd), Lara Parker, & Kathryn Leigh Scott together!
 
 
---- DS FESTIVAL WEEKEND INFORMATION:
HOST HOTEL SPECIAL DISCOUNT DSF SLEEPING ROOM RATES
 
Tickets/Memberships for the Fest Weekend (Lyndhurst and Luncheon) are not yet available.  SG Online Updates and the upcoming SG #122 print issue will premiere-announce the specifics soon.
 
Fans now are encouraged to make their sleeping room reservations at the host hotel for the weekend, by directly contacting the Tarrytown DoubleTree Hotel
 
The hotel address is 455 S. Broadway, Tarrytown, NY 10591. Phone: 914-631-5700
 
There is a special DS Festival reduced sleeping room rate for those who call the hotel and mention the discount code: DSF
 
The same code – DSF – also may be used to receive the discount rate when making sleeping room reservations online at the Doubletree Tarrytown Hotel website:
http://doubletree3.hilton.com/en/hotels/new-york/doubletree-by-hilton-hotel-tarrytown-TERHIDT/index.html
 
The Fest sleeping room rate is $149.00 + tax (per night). It applies for stays over the nights of June 26-29, 2014.
 
For hotel room reservations, please be sure to mention the DSF discount code when you call the direct line: 914-631-5700.
 
The number of reduced rate rooms is limited. It is recommended that fans make their reservations as soon as possible.
 
---- GETTING TO LYNDHURST & TARRYTOWN
Lyndhurst Estate and the DoubleTree Hotel are easily accessible by car and bus via Route 9 North. Lyndhurst is one-half mile south of the Tappan Zee Bridge on Route 9; approximately 24 miles north of midtown Manhattan on the eastern shore of the Hudson River. The mansion can be seen from the northbound lanes of the bridge.
 
The closest national/international airports are La Guardia and Newark, then go by rail, taxi, or car to Tarrytown. To travel by train, take the Metro North-Hudson Line north to the Tarrytown station. Taxis are available at the station, and it’s about a 5-minute ride to the hotel and/or Lyndhurst.
 
---- ATTENDING THE 2014 DS FESTIVAL IN TARRYTOWN
 
As noted, the Fest membership rates and other information are not yet available. SG expects to premiere-announce the specific details in early January, in a SG Official DS News Online Update.
 
To receive an advance postal-mailing about registration for the 2014 Festival after all details are finalized, please send a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) to the Fest address. Please note postage goes up 3 cents to $.49 on Jan. 26.
 
Dark Shadows
P.O. Box 92
Maplewood, NJ 07040
 

---- LYNDHURST INFORMATION
 
The estate is part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and tours of the mansion will be available to attending fans. An acclaimed example of “19thcentury American Gothic Revival style architecture,” it was the elegant home of railroad magnate/Wall Street tycoon Jay Gould, who bought the estate in 1880 and added to it – inside and out. The rooms are filled with original and period furnishings, décor, and art collections.
 
Several rooms, with original contents, are prominently featured in both DS movies. The buildings are set comfortably in a spacious, open landscape laid out in a "gardenesque" style, with sweeping wide lawns, established trees, and a large variety of bushes, shrubs, flowers, and other plants. Fans can walk the grounds, but please be aware it is open sloping terrain with some dirt walkways, uneven lawn/plant patches, etc. All Fest programming activities on Saturday will be held in the courtyard and stables area, near the mansion. This area is fairly level with solid footing and easier access.
 
SG Online Updates and the upcoming new SG #122 print issue will announce and provide the latest complete and official Weekend details. The postal-mail SG published Newsletter editions are available by paid subscription.
 
Marcy Robin
ShadowGram Editor / Publisher

'91 series alum Rebecca Staab appears in the upcoming episode of Masters of Sex, which premieres Dec. 8 on Showtime. (I can feel the nuns glaring at me for starting that sentence with a number!)


I haven't watched the show but heard from Julia99 that it has a recurring female character who is somewhat reminiscent of another redheaded doctor. 

SHADOWGRAM OFFICIAL ONLINE DARK SHADOWS NEWS

---

Update Number 302
December 3, 2013

---

Hello, Dark Shadows Fan,
 
ShadowGram (SG), The Official Newsletter & News Source for Dark Shadows (DS) announces the following key breaking news in this Official DS News Online Update "bulletin."
 
 
**** DONNA McKECHNIE IN ONSTAGE INTERVIEW SHOW
**** CHRIS PENNOCK IN NEW PLAY PERFORMANCE
**** DARK SHADOWS' “BARNABAS” SCENE CLIP IN NEW PBS PROGRAM
**** NEW HISTORY OF DAYTIME SOAPS SPECIAL INCLUDES DS
 
 
---- DONNA  McKECHNIE IN PERFORMANCE & INTERVIEW
 
Donna (Amanda Harris, Olivia Corey) says, “I'm getting very excited to bring a new show to Birdland, Dec. 9. IN GOOD COMPANY is a variety-interview show with special guest, the Tony-Award winning director of KINKY BOOTS, Mr. Jerry Mitchell. Conversation, stories and a few songs along the way. Maybe I can get him to sing and dance with me! It's a Party, come and enjoy the fun!”
 
Donna has created a series of autobiographical cabaret shows exploring her life, career, and iconic musical plays, creators, performers, characters, and legacies. She will perform and discuss these at NYC’s Birdland Jazz Club this Friday, 12-9 at 7:00, and again on Mon., 1-6-14 at 6:30.
 
Birdland Jazz Club, 315 W. 44th St., NYC, NY, 10036.   http://birdlandjazz.com/
 
Tickets off sale: 212-581-3080 for reservations.
Tickets are $30 with a $10 food or beverage minimum (dinner is available).
 
For 12-9-13 show: http://www.birdlandjazz.com/event/411123-donna-mckechnie-in-good-new-york/
For 1-6-14 show: http://www.birdlandjazz.com/event/363655-donna-mckechnie-in-good-new-york/
 
Birdland publicity: The show “brings her conversational skills to the forefront, and provides a stage for unique, 1-time-only musical moments with Broadway’s most celebrated and iconic artists.” Donna is “regarded internationally as one of Broadway’s foremost dancing and singing leading ladies.”
 
Donna’s cabaret show SAME PLACE, ANOTHER TIME opened 1-3-13 at the 54 Below Club in NYC. A recording of the show is due 1-1-14 on Jay Records.
 
 
---- CHRIS PENNOCK ONSTAGE IN NEW SHORT PLAY
 
Chris (Jeb, Cyrus/John, Sebastian, Gabriel) reports he’s in TOMORROWLAND, a new short play to be presented the weekend of 12-13/15.
 
Publicity: The Lost Studio is “a teaching theater and one of LA’s leading acting schools. (It) offers intensive training and production workshops for beginning through advanced actors, writers, and directors.”
The Lost Theater is at 130 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles 90036. (323) 933-6944.
http://theloststudio.com    https://www.facebook.com/theloststudio   Email: theloststudio@gmail.com
 
 
---- “BARNABAS MAKES A CAMEO ON PBS”
 
The new PBS fund-raising/pledge special CLASSICAL REWIND: MY MUSIC began airing on PBS stations nationwide 11-30 and continues for the next few days at various times and dates in different cities. It also will air in future pledge months such as March, 2014. Please check your local listings.
 
One segment begins with a scene of Jonathan Frid as Barnabas Collins from the original DS series, when the character returns to the Old House for the first time in 1967.
 
The program is “an overview of favorite classical compositions…set to a variety of visual images.” Indications are that the DS scene is approximately 8 minutes into the 1½ -hour show, during the “Bach Toccata & Fugue in D Minor.”
 
Program press release: CLASSICAL REWIND “takes viewers on an incredible journey to explore the music of the masters. This visual and auditory joyride offers a fanciful look at the classical masterpieces, providing spectacular video…to accompany each composition…. Viewer contributions are an important source of funding, making PBS programs possible. PBS and public television stations offer all Americans from every walk of life the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content.”
 
 
--- DS INCLUDED IN NEW HISTORY OF DAYTIME SOAPS SPECIAL
 
ShadowGram is asked to announce: DS is featured in “a look at the history of daytime soap operas” called WHO SHOT THE DAYTIME SOAPS? The special debuts on the TV Guide Network 12-18 at 8:00pm, with a sneak preview earlier that day at 2:00pm for daytime fans. It includes an interview with Kathryn Leigh Scott.

Thank you.

Marcy Robin

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-24852681

Anyone up for making a Barnacake?