Fans and celebrities to gather for Tampa Bay Screams Horror Convention

PINELLAS PARK — The ninth annual Tampa Bay Screams Horror Convention will take place Friday and Saturday, June 28 and 29, at the Pinellas Park Performing Arts Center, 4951 78th Ave. N., Pinellas Park.

Hours will be Friday, 5 to 10 p.m.; and Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Advance tickets are available online starting at $20 for a single day ticket and $30 for a two-day weekend pass. Parking is free.

For information and to purchase tickets, visit tampabayscreams.com.

This indoor celebration of horror, sci-fi, and pop culture excitement is described as “a weekend of fun for fans, collectors, and cosplay artists.” Attendees will find horror celebrities, the “Dealer’s Dungeon” vendor hall, a film festival, and more.

According to Tampa Bay Screams organizer Andy Lalino, this year’s event will include four first Florida convention appearances as well as some familiar faces.

Among this year’s celebrity guests are Michelle Bauer, Fred Olen Ray, Erin Brown, Jeff Lieberman, Seth Sklarey, Joel Wynkoop, and April Hunter.

Michelle Bauer is an actress, model, and B movie scream queen. She starred in the 1986 supernatural horror film “The Tomb” opposite Richard Alan Hench. She has appeared in dozens of films, such as “Terror Night,” “Nightmare Sisters,” “Puppet Master III: Toulon’s Revenge,” and “Dinosaur Island.”

Emmy winning film producer, director, and screenwriter Fred Olen Ray has been involved in more than 200 feature films in a variety of genres. He currently helms Retromedia, a production company specializing in home entertainment releases of Ray’s new productions and extensive back catalogue. Some of Ray’s earliest films include “Demented Death Farm Massacre” (1971), “The Brain Leeches” (1978), “Scalps” (1983), and “Biohazard” (1985).

Erin Brown has appeared in several independent horror films, including Tony Todd’s “Shadow: Dead Riot” and 2006’s “The Lost,” an adaptation of Jack Ketchum’s novel of the same name. Brown had a role in an episode of Showtime’s “Masters of Horror.” She earned a best actress award at the 2012 PollyGrind Film Festival for her performance in “This Girl’s Gun,” a post-apocalyptic western short.

Best known to horror afficionados for directing the 1976 cult classic “Squirm,” Jeff Lieberman’s résumé also includes his directorial work on films such as “Blue Sunshine,” “Just Before Dawn,” and “Satan’s Little Helper.” Lieberman is credited as screenwriter for “The Neverending Story III,” released in 1994.

Seth Sklarey played Orville in the zombie cult classic “Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things,” released in 1972.

Returning as a special guest this year is “King of the B-Movies” Joel D. Wynkoop, local actor and filmmaker. He has appeared in more than 30 independent films, including “Killing Spree” (1987), “Wicked Games” (1994), “Creep” (1995), and “Always Midnight” (2006).

“Fans love this convention because of the quality celebrity guests and vendors — these are real cult movie stars that fans can meet without long lines — a real value,” Wynkoop said. “Plus, Tampa Bay Screams supports indie filmmakers, authors, and artists and gives them the opportunity to reach new audiences and fans as vendors and in our film festival.”

Attendees return every year for the fun and fellowship as Tampa Bay Screams brings together the fans, celebrities, and artists for an experience that will last a lifetime.

For details and updates about Tampa Bay Screams, visit tampabayscreams.com or www.facebook.com/tampabayscreams.