2010 Festival Announced

I'm back from last weekend's Dark Shadows Festival in Newark, NJ. It was wonderful to meet so many of this site's readers, so thanks to anyone who said hello. I didn't manage to take any photos, but if you attended and have pictures from the event that you'd like to share, get in touch and I'll post the best here.

The Festival returns to the west coast for 2010's event, which will take place on July 16-18 at the Burbank Marriott Hotel. Look out for registration information and more details soon.

Dark Shadows Festival This Weekend

The Dark Shadows Festival takes place this weekend in Newark, NJ, at the Newark Renaissance Hotel. Guests include Jonathan Frid (Barnabas), Lara Parker (Angelique) and Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie). A full schedule of events for the weekend's activities can be seen here and for more information, visit the Festival's official website.

I'll be there to promote my work on the Big Finish audio dramas CDs, so please stop by our stand and say hello. Also, don't miss the stage panel on the dramas on Sunday afternoon, which will include Jerry Lacy (Reverend Trask) performing a brief sneak preview from the first script of the new full-cast dramas, Kingdom of the Dead. Hope to see you there!

Audio Author Interviewed

The latest issue of Big Finish's magazine Vortex features an interview with writer Stephen Mark Rainey, discussing his Dark Shadows audio dramas The Path of Fate and the upcoming Curse of the Pharoah. Check it out by clicking here.

In other Big Finish news, Echoes of Insanity, the latest in the ongoing series of Dark Shadows dramatic readings has just been released on CD and digital download. The story stars John Karlen (Willie) and Lara Parker (Angelique), and can be purchased here.

New DVDs Update

MPI's two new Dark Shadows compilation DVDs are on track for release in August, and here's a sneak look at the full covers, confirming special features for the discs. Both run approximately 210 minutes long and retail at $19.98.

Curse of the Vampire, compiling Barnabas' finest moments has been retitled The Vampire Curse, and features a new interview with Jonathan Frid, a Dark Shadows promo hosted by Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie) and a bonus episode. The Haunting of Collinwood condenses Quentin's possession of David and Amy, with a new David Selby interview and promo spot, plus a bonus episode.

Order The Vampire Curse from Amazon at a discount price

Order The Haunting of Collinwood from Amazon at a discount price

Tim Burton Speaks

MTV's Movie Blog has interviewed Tim Burton on his upcoming Alice in Wonderland film, where he touches on the upcoming Dark Shadows movie project, which he is attached to direct. "That’s something that [Johnny Depp and I] both love and are excited about. When I’m done with this [Alice in Wonderland] I’ll definitely focus on that."

Speaking about his plans for the film, Burton commented, “It’s... [a] challenge because it was such a weird soap opera. Part of the energy of it was the tone and weirdness of it. That’s our challenge, to try to capture that vibe." Shooting on Dark Shadows is currently slated to begin in 2010.

Kathryn Leigh Scott at Comic Con

Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie) writes in with news that she's appearing at the San Diego Comic Con. Kathryn will be signing autographs on Thursday July 23 from 3-7pm. Adrian Paul (1991 Jeremiah) will also be signing at the same time, returning for an additional session on Sunday from 11am-2pm. For more information on the event, click here. 

Kathryn also reports: "I am thrilled that Opera News has published my piece The Star and the Stalker in the August 2009 issue, available now on newsstands... My story was given nine pages, the most they've assigned to a feature article." For more information on the piece, click here.

David Selby's Symphony

David Selby (Quentin) is to narrate an upcoming San Luis Obispo Symphony production of A Lincoln Portrait, following on from his recent acclaimed stint as Abraham Lincoln on stage in The Heavens are Hung in Black. The performance takes place on November 14 at 8.00pm. For more information, click here.

Audio Dramas Update

Big Finish Productions' series of Dark Shadows audio dramas continues apace, with several new CDs due out in the coming months. In addition to the previously announced Echoes of Insanity, released later in July, Curse of the Pharaoh, starring Nancy Barrett (Carolyn) and Marie Wallace (Eve) will follow in August. More details will be released soon, but in the meantime, here's a sneak peak from the recording, showing Marie, Nancy and director Joe Salvatore in studio.

The latest issue of Big Finish's online magazine Vortex features an interview with Dark Shadows sound designer Nigel Fairs, discussing his work on the new stories. Download it for free by clicking here.

Out of Print Books on Kindle

Amazon have begun offering a selection of out-of-print Dark Shadows reference books as digital editions, available for viewing on their Kindle handheld reader. The titles available are The Dark Shadows Companion: 25th Anniversary Collection, the Dark Shadows Almanac: Millennium Edition and Dark Shadows Memories: 35th Anniversary. To order, click on the hyperlinked titles.

New DVD Releases for September

TVShowsonDVD reports that MPI Home Video are to release two new Dark Shadows compilation DVDs, showcasing the classic scenes from two of the show's most popular characters, Barnabas and Quentin. The Curse of the Vampire features material from the introduction of Barnabas and 1795, while The Haunting of Collinwood condenses the ghost of Quentin's possession of David Collins. Both releases are due out on September 15. Here's some advance information and cover graphics:

The Curse of the Vampire

Cursed by the scorned witch Angelique, Barnabas Collins returns to Collinwood as a creature of the night. The character of Barnabas Collins, a sympathetic vampire, turned the Dark Shadows series into a must-see event for over 20 million viewers. In this special release, the story of how Barnabas was cursed as one of the living dead is detailed in a selection of scenes from the most popular episodes. pecial features include a new interview with Jonathan Frid (Barnabas).

Pre-order The Curse of the Vampire at a discount price from Amazon.com

The Haunting of Collinwood

High atop Widows' Hill, off the stormy Maine coast, sits the foreboding Collinwood, home for centuries of the wealthy Collins family. An exorcist is summoned after the children a Collinwood are possessed. In this special release, the story of how the ghost of Quentin Collins haunted the eerie estate of Collinwood is detailed in a selection of scenes from the most popular episodes. Special features include a new interview with David Selby (Quentin).

Pre-order The Haunting of Collinwood at a discount price from Amazon.com

Dark Shadows Movie Delayed Until 2010

Collider.com reports that filming on the upcoming Dark Shadows feature film, starring Johnny Depp, has been delayed until 2010. As previously announced, Depp will star as Barnabas Collins, and Tim Burton, Depp's long-time collaborator, is pencilled in to direct. Speaking at a press conference for his new movie Public Enemies, Depp gave an update on the project:

"Dark Shadows is happening. Tim is working on Alice in Wonderland which is obviously quite a large piece of work there. So when Tim is done with Alice and we get the script, which is very, very close, in order we’ll probably attack it next year. It’s exciting... very exciting. It’s like a lifelong dream for me. I loved the show when I was a kid. I was obsessed with Barnabas Collins. I have photographs of me holding Barnabas Collins posters when I was five or six. I’m very excited to do it.”

Audio Dramas Offer

Amazon are offering a great deal on the latest batch of Dark Shadows audio drama reissues. For a limited time, The Skin Walkers and The Path of Fate, starring Lara Parker and David Selby, plus The Wicked and the Dead, starring Jerry Lacy and John Karlen, are all available at a 32% discount from their retail price. Each CD contains an original hour-long story, with sound effects and music. To order, click on the linked titles.

David Selby in Mad Men

David Selby's (Quentin) official website reports that he's just filmed an appearance for AMC's acclaimed 1960s drama Mad Men. The unplaced episode, titled The Greatest Generation, sees David guest starring as Horace Cook, Sr. No airdate is set yet, but the new season begins airing from August 16.

Echoes of Insanity

Big Finish productions have announced the final title in their current series of Dark Shadows dramatic readings, which is due out in July. Lara Parker and John Karlen star in Echoes of Insanity, which explores the shady past of Willie Loomis.

Framed by Barnabas to protect his secret, Willie lies injured in the Windcliff Institute, haunted by the memories of his ordeal. His only hope is the mysterious golden angel who appears in his dreams, but does she have her own agenda?

The script is by D. Lynn Smith, a new contributor to the range, whose screenwriting credits include episodes of Murder, She Wrote, Touched by an Angel and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. "Watching the show as a child, Angelique and Willie always particularly intrigued me," she explains.

"Angelique was a witch, she was also a strong, intelligent woman who knew what she wanted and went after it – a great role model at a time when female role models were hard to come by. Willie was wild and handsome and brash. Writing this story gave me an opportunity to explore Willie's adventures before Collinsport, exploring a past to which the original series only alluded."

Echoes of Insanity can be purchased on CD by clicking here.

House of Dark Shadows on Demand

Following on from its recent addition to the Itunes store, the 1970 Dark Shadows movie House of Dark Shadows is now available to watch online on demand from Amazon. For more information, click here.