CT HorrorFest

GUESTS:

Shawnee Smith

Born in South Carolina and raised in sunny California, Shawnee Smith began acting at a young age with stage performances of A Christmas Carol and The Hands of its Enemy alongside Richard Dreyfuss. She made her feature film debut in 1982 as one of the orphans in John Huston’s Annie before winning the Dramalogue Critics Award for the role of Rachel in the theatrical production of To Gillian on her 37th Birthday – the youngest actor to ever receive the award at that time.

While not a horror film, fans probably first remember Shawnee from her role as Rhonda in 1987’s Summer School but she then dove head-first into the horror world as Meg Penny in the 1988 remake of The Blob. It was in 2004, however, that Ms. Smith cemented her Scream Queen status when she took the role of Amanda Young in the Saw franchise.

CT HorrorFest is thrilled to bring Shawnee Smith to Connecticut this September!

Films: Saw (Franchise), The Grudge 3, Armageddon, Who’s Harry Crumb?, The Blob, Summer School, Iron Eagle

Television: The Stand, The X-Files, The Shining, Becker, Anger Management

Matthew Lillard

After honing his craft at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Mattew Lillard got his start in the horror genre with a role in Ghoulies III: Ghoulies Go to College and then hopped right into an awesome role as one of Kathleen Turner’s kids in John Waters’ 1994 black comedy Serial Mom.

Two years later, however, he solidified his status in the eyes of horror fans with his portrayal of Stu in Wes Craven’s 1996 slasher hit Scream. Mr. Lillard has had a very busy career working with actors like George Clooney in The Descendants and Clint Eastwood in Trouble with the Curve, just to name a few.

Also, a talented voice actor, Lillard is well-known for his portrayal of Scooby Doo’s Shaggy both in voice and live-action.

CT HorrorFest welcomes the multi-talented Matt Lillard to our 2019 show!

Television: Robot Chicken, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Criminal Minds, Twin Peaks, Supernatural

Movies: Scream, Serial Mom, SLC Punk!, Thirteen Ghosts, She’s All That, The Descendants, Trouble with the Curve, Scooby Doo

Danielle Harris

Our next guest has been called “horror’s reigning scream queen” by the NY Daily News as well as “the Natalie Portman of Horror” by director Sylvia Soska. Danielle Harris began her career with a three-year stint on One Life to Live that she landed when she was just seven years old. However, it wasn’t until the ripe old-age of ten that she got her first taste of horror when she won the starring role of Jamie Lloyd in Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers and then reprised that role in the 1989 sequel.

Following those Halloween films, Danielle focused her attention on larger, non-horror films where she continued to knock it out of the park in movies like The Last Boy Scout and Free Willy as well as a recurring role as Conner neighbor and Darlene rival Molly Tilden on the hit TV show Roseanne. After a quick turn in 1988’s Urban Legend, Danielle made her way back to our beloved horror genre for good when she was cast as Annie Brackett in Rob Zombie’s remake of Halloween.

CT HorrorFest is psyched to bring Danielle Harris to our state in 2019!

Films: Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers, Halloween (2007), Halloween 2 (2009), Marked for Death, Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead, Hatchet II & III, Stake Land, Victor Crowley, See No Evil 2

Television: One Life to Live, Spencer: For Hire, Roseanne, Growing Pains, ER, Holliston

David Naughton

It’s only fitting that our first guest is a Connecticut native. Born in West Hartford, David Naughton caught the acting bug early on in his high school days. He appeared in plenty of plays and musicals before heading to the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art to hone his craft.

After leaving London for New York, David quickly burst into the mainstream as the face of Dr. Pepper’s “Be a Pepper” ad campaign that ran on television for years. He then landed the starring role on the television series Makin’ It where he also recorded the theme song which peaked at number 5 on the Billboard charts.

It was in 1981, however, when he landed a place in the hearts of horror fans everywhere with his starring role as David Kessler in John Landis’ An American Werewolf in London; widely considered to be one of the greatest werewolf films of all time.

CT HorrorFest Proudly welcomes David Naughton to our 2019 event!

Films: An American Werewolf in London, Midnight Madness, Hot Dog…The Movie, Amityville: A New Generation, Ice Cream Man, Big Bad Wolf

Television: Planet of the Apes, Makin’ It, The Love Boat, My Sister Sam, The Twilight Zone, Seinfeld, MacGyver, Sharknado 5: Global Swarming, Holliston, American Horror Story

Doug Bradley

When we first discussed bringing in a “return guest” for the first time to CT HorrorFest, Doug Bradley was the one who truly made sense. Mr. Bradley was such a tremendous guest at our 2015 show and we have received so many emails from you guys asking to bring him back, so this is the year.

In 1987 Clive Barker unleashed his debut film Hellraiser unto the world. Based on Barker’s novella “The Hellbound Heart”, Hellraiser quickly took the horror world by storm and Pinhead (or Lead Cenobite, if you prefer) became one of the most beloved, and feared, monsters in all of filmland.

CT HorrorFest is proud to welcome back Doug Bradley in 2019!

Films: Hellraisers 1-8, Nightbreed, Wrong Turn 5, Lore

Simon Bamford

While playing the Fool in a London production of King Lear, Simon Bradford was spotted by a young Clive Barker who asked him to be a part of his theatre group, The Dog Company.

The theater company disbanded in the early 80’s but as fate would have it, Simon just happened to reach out to his old friend Clive to see how he was and Clive told him he was just beginning to cast for his film Hellraiser and asked Simon if he would like a role. And so, Butterball was born.

CT HorrorFest is excited to bring Simon Bamford to CT this September!

Films: Hellraiser, Hellbound: Hellraiser II, Nightbreed, Book of Blood, You’re So Cool, Brewster! The Story of Fright Night

Nicholas Vince

Having been introduced to Clive Barker at a party by drama school friend Simon Bamford, Nicholas Vince began modeling for the covers of some of Clive’s Books of Blood. A few years later, when it came time to cast Hellraiser, Clive remembered Nicholas and reached out to him to join his old friend Simon as the “Chattering Cenobite”.

After leaving acting for twenty years, Nicholas focused on writing where he wrote Hellraiser and Nightbreed stories for Marvel comics as well as two collections of short fiction. Heavily involved in the UK independent film scene as a writer/director/producer/fan, Nicholas is the Patron of the London Horror Festival and in 2016 he was awarded the “London Horror Society Award for Outstanding Contribution to UK Independent Horror”.

CT HorrorFest is thrilled to bring Nicolas Vince to our 2019 show!

Films: Hellraiser, Hellbound: Hellraiser II, Nightbreed, Book of Monsters

Barbie Wilde

In 1988 Clive Barker was working on his follow-up to Hellraiser and needed to cast a new Female Cenobite. Clive’s cousin Grace Kirby who played the role in the first film did not wish to reprise it so Clive needed to find a woman with a commanding presence to take over the role. Thanksfully for us, he found Barbie Wilde.

Along with already being a working actress, Barbie was also a classically trained mime which she feels helped her claim the role of the Female Cenobite. Ms. Wilde is also an accomplished musician and an author of such works as “The Venus Complex” and “Voices of the Damned”. Fangoria magazine called her “one of the finest purveyors of erotically charged horror fiction around”.

CT HorrorFest is delighted to welcome Barbie Wilde to CT this September!

Films: Hellbound: Hellraiser II, Death Wish 3, Grizzly II: The Concert, The Offer

Vinny Marseglia

Bringing horror back to the forefront of professional wrestling, current Ring of Honor tag champion Vinny Marseglia will invade the Naugatuck Event Center for CT HorrorFest.  A member of the mighty Kingdom stable in ROH, Marseglia has also won titles in numerous other promotions including Chaotic Wrestling, Xtreme Wrestling Alliance and Northeast Wrestling.

A veteran of the squared circle for close to a decade, “The Horror King” is a dedicated fan of all things horror.  From his entrance music to his ring attire, not to mention his wicked hockey mask and blood-red balloons, Marseglia has been lighting up wrestling rings in both the United States and Japan to the delight of his hardcore fans.

Marseglia recently starred in an independent horror film titled The Find, as he adds yet another layer to his solid resume.

CT HorrorFest is proud to welcome “The Horror King” Vinny Marseglia to our 2019 event!

TICKETS:

Pre-Order Ticket: Pre-ordering your ticket lets you get in at 10AM instead of 11AM.
*Please note that celebrities are not scheduled to be at their tables until 11AM.

$25.00

You will receive a confirmation email with your ticket numbers after you make a purchase. This may take between 5 minutes – 4 hours.

PAST SHOWS:

CT HorrorFest 2018: Horror News Network Coverage, CTNow Coverage, News Times

CT HorrorFest 2017: Horror News Network Coverage, CTNow Coverage, News Times

CT HorrorFest 2016: Horror News Network Coverage, CTNow Coverage, News Times

CT HorrorFest 2015: Horror News Network Coverage, CTNow Coverage

CT HorrorFest 2014: Horror News Network Coverage, CTNow Coverage