Exclusive DSO Feature:
Dark Shadows Festival 2003:
Cast presents "Return to Collinwood"
photo by Craig Hamrick
This year's DS Fest, which took place in Brooklyn, just ended and I'm in the process of editing the photos I shot there. Below is a quick sample.
Aside from the traditional activities like autograph lines and star Q&A's, this year's Fest featured an historic event: Many of the surviving cast members assembled to star in"Return to Collinwood," a play which updated the lives of their characters. Click here for a speical Dark Shadows Online Feature: a synopsis of the play and several galleries of images -- of the performance, and an exclusive look behind the scenes.
Written by Jamison Selby, son of Chip and David Selby (Quentin Collins), the play was presented, as a staged reading with sound effects (billed as a "radio play"). The action revolved around the reading of Elizabeth Collins Stoddard's will--which included the revelation that Victoria Winters was indeed Elizabeth's illegitimate daughter, as fans have long speculated.
Most of the actors reprised their original series roles--including Nancy Barrett as Carolyn, David Selby as Quentin, Kathryn Leigh Scott as Maggie, Lara Parker as Angelique, Chris Pennock as Sebastian Shaw, and John Karlen as Willie Loomis. Others were cast as new characters -- Donna Wandrey played a spooky housekeeper named Mrs. Franklin; Marie Wallace was Willie's wife, Jessica; Roger Davis portrayed Ned Stuart, Carolyn's husband; Jim Storm played a professor specializing in the occult; and Terry Crawford played David Collins' new wife, Violet.
Other traditional Festival events included Q&A sessions with cast members, autograph lines, a costume gala, comedic skits, and video presentations.
Throughout the weekend, fans were assured that there would be more Dark Shadows Festivals in the future. It was announced earlier in the year that this would be the last Fest, but overwhelming fan response--and an outstanding attendence (around 3,000 people) ensured that the fan conventions will continue.
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| Behind-the-Scenes Exclusive: Nancy Barrett clowns for the camera as she and the rest of the cast of "Return to Collinwood" prepares to take the stage. (Playwright Jamison Selby is standing to the right of his father, David.) photo by Craig Hamrick © |
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| Behind-the-Scenes Exclusive: Nancy Barrett and John Karlen pose at a rehearsal for the play. photo © Craig Hamrick |
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| Nancy Barrett and Roger Davis as Carolyn Stoddard Stuart and Ned Stuart, during the reading. photo © Craig Hamrick |
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| David Selby, Kathryn Leigh Scott, Nancy Barrett and Roger Davis. photo by Craig Hamrick © |
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| Behind-the-Scenes Exclusive: Before the reading, the cast assembled in the hotel kitchen. |
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| Behind-the-Scenes Exclusive: On September 1, the cast re-assembled to record "Return to Collinwood." It will be released on CD in the near future. |
| Dark Shadows © Dan Curtis Productions. All rights reserved. |
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