NOW PLAYING!
A Classy, Sassy Musical
Celebration Of the 1930s 40s
A Soap Fair To Remember
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Detroit's longest running musical.
**Gusto and high humor,
hotshot arrangements
and costumes
apparently right off the
backs of Patti,
La% erne and Cab."
-Lawrence DeVine,
The Detroit Free Press
The Gem Theatre
(313)963-9800
77 /(ef-:47-&:-/
(810)645-6666
Call Nicole for groups of 15 or more (313)962-2913
littp://wivw.gemtheater.com
29203 Northwestern Hwy. • (810) 356-5454 • Southfield
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ALICE BURDICK SCHWEIGER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
1E
ach day, some 80 million
faithful viewers tune in to
watch lust, love, betrayal and
deceit on their favorite soap
opera. What's more, the growing
number of loyal fans just can't
seem to get enough of the story-
lines, characters and actors and
actresses who play them.
Because of this phenomenon,
Syd Harris created the Soap
Opera Fun Fair three years ago
so that diehard fans could meet
their favorite stars face to face.
While this colossal fan-tasia had
been held on Mackinac Island, it
will be held next weekend here in
the Motor City at Cobo Arena.
"The whole idea is for the stars
to interact with everyone, and we
wanted to make it as easy as pos-
sible for people to attend," says
Executive Director Harris, who
modeled the Soap Opera Fun Fair
after Nashville's Country West-
ern Fan Fair. "It's the largest soap
opera event in the nation, and it
attracts people from all around
the United States and Canada."
As a part of the multi-faceted
three-day agenda, over 40 of day-
time's hottest stars from all three
networks will be on hand to sign
autographs and pose for pho-
tographs. Charles
Keating (Carl) on
"Another World,"
Michael Zaslow
(Roger) on "Guiding
Light," Kate Linder
and Shemar Moore
(Esther and Mal-
colm) on "Young and
the Restless," Kassie
Wesley and James
DePaiva (Blair and
Max, real-life mar-
rieds) on "One Life
to Live," Matthew
Ashford (Tom) on
"General Hospital,"
and Kelly Ripa and
Mark Consuelos
(Hayley and Mateo,
real-life marrieds) on "All My Chil-
dren," are just some of the big
names featured.
In addition, seminars on writ-
ing and directing the soaps led by
various actors, writers and pro-
ducers will offered. And TV
Guide's Michael Logan and syn-
dicated soap columnist Lynda
Hirsch will be answering ques-
tions about the industry.
"I went with my mom two
years ago and we had such a great
time that we are going again this
year," says Kristine Goodwin, "All
My Children" fan from Bloomfield
Hills and mother of a 2 112-year-
old daughter. "This is a wonder-
ful opportunity for people who love
their soap."
Above: Michigan native Peter
Reckell, who plays Bo Brady on
NBC's "Days of Our Lives," created
the role in 1983 and has been back
and forth on the show three different
times. Reckell will appear at the
Soap Opera Fun Fair.
disagrees. "Watching
a soap is no more es-
capist than going to a
movie, the opera or a
ballet, or even being
on the Internet," she
says. "I think the
main draw is that a
Left: Vanessa Marcil is bad girl
soap opera doesn't
Brenda Barrett on ABC's "General
Hospital." She'll also meet with her end. When you read a
great book, it's always
fans next weekend.
disappointing when
Indeed, all the it's over. But a soap goes on and
hype and excite- on, and soaps are usually so clev-
ment is no sur- erly constructed, that interesting
prise, considering things are always happening.
the growing num-
"And oh yes," Hirsch laughs,
ber of both men `There's another reason the soaps
and women who are so popular — very good look-
tune in each day. ing actors and actresses are aw-
Ever since soaps began bubbling fully fun to watch."
on the small screen nearly a half-
century ago, there have been ded-
e Sponsored by Farmer Jack,
icated viewers. But what is it
the Soap Opera Fun Fair runs
about watching the trials and
11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sun
tribulations of others that is so ap-
day, Sept. 21-22, at Wayne
pealing?
Hall, Cabo Arena in downtown
"Viewers feel like they have a
Detroit. Tickets are $55 for a
relationship with the characters,"
two-day pass and $30 for a one-
says Judy Federbush, an Ann Ar-
day pass and are available at
bor-based therapist. "They i-
any Farmer Jack's. There also
dentify with the on-air
is a Platinum Pass for $90,
individuals whose experiences of-
which includes admission to all
ten resonate with their own. And
of Saturday's and Sunday's
watching the same soap for years
events, as well as dinner and a
can create a sense of belonging to
special performance by some of
the soap family."
the daytime stars on Friday,
Although some believe that
Sept 20. For more information,
watching a soap is purely es-
call (800) 431-7002. otttk,
capism, columnist Lynda Hirsch
❑