Welcome to the 60's: 'Guiding Light' Star Robert Newman Turns 60

Longtime Guiding Light star Robert Newman, who played Joshua Lewis on and off from 1982 to 2009, turned 60 on Wednesday. He's currently starring as Edna Turnblad in the "Hairspray" at The Barn Theatre in Augusta, Michigan. Newman connected the milestone with one of the most popular songs from the musical, "Welcome to the 60's."

"Thanks so much for all the lovely birthday wishes!! This is a big one. Give's ;Welcome to the 60's; a whole new meaning...," Newman posted on Facebook.

Check out more photos from "Hairspray" below.

Trent Dawson Reunites 'As the World Turns' Cast for 'The F' Benefit

Photo Credit: Sue Coflin/Max Photos

In 2017 an original play written by As the World Turns alum Trent Dawson, "The F," was produced at Manhatten Rep. in New York City. The play struck a chord with theatre-goers and is now being made into a film.

"The F" follows a real-time argument between Josh and Amanda. In this dark comedy, a New York subway platform becomes the stage for two lovers to battle about the truth: Did he or didn’t he? Who’s perception is real and who is delusional? A strange commuter seems to have the answers to their problems, but will either of them listen to her?

Dawson brought together a number of his former ATWT co-stars to perform "The F" live on stage at a benefit for the film on Friday, June 22. (Click here to support "The F" via the film's GoFundMe page.)

Check out more photos below from the benefit, which included Dawson (ATWT's Henry Coleman), Martha Byrne (Lily Walsh Snyder), Austin Peck (Brad Synder), Terri Conn (Katie Peretti Snyder), Anne Sayre (Mitzi Matters) and Eric Sheffer Stevens (Dr. Reid Oliver).

PHOTOS: Don Diamont Signs His New Book, 'My Seven Sons and How We Raised Each Other'

Photo Credit: Sue Coflin/Max Photos

Actor Don Diamont, who plays (Dollar) Bill Spencer on CBS soap opera The Bold and The Beautiful Don Diamont, visitted New Jersey recently to sign his new book, "My Seven Sons and How We Raised Each Other: (They Only Drive Me Crazy 30% of the Time)."

Diamont participated in a Question and Answer session with fans and signed copies of the book on May 31 at Books & Greetings in Northvale.

Check out more photos from the event below.

'Guiding Light' Cast Reunites for 'Breathing Under Dirt' Staged Reading

From left to right: Tina Sloan, Michael O'eary, Beth Chamberlin, Grant Aleksander and Yvonna Kopacz Wright. Photo Credit: Sue Coflin/Max Photos

On May 12, cast members from iconic soap opera Guiding Light reunited for a stage reading of "Breathing Under Dirt," an award-winning play by Michael O'Leary, at The Ward Museum in Salisbury, Maryland.

Joining Leary (who played Rick Bauer on Guiding Light) were former soap co-stars Grant Aleksander (Phillip Spaulding), Tina Sloan (Lillian Raines), Beth Chamberlin (Beth Raines) and Yvonna Kopacz Wright (Mel Boudreau Bauer).

"Breathing Under Dirt," set in the 1950s, explores the expression of forgiveness and reconciliation while we still have life.

Check out more photos below.

PHOTOS: 'The Young and the Restless' Stars Visit Mohegan Sun

Sean Carrigan, Christel Khalil and Christian LeBlanc.
Photo Credit: Sue Coflin/Max Photos

On October 9th, fans got up-close-and-personal with the actors from the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless at Mohegan Sun Casino & Resort in Connecticut. Christian Jules LeBlanc (Michael Baldwin), Christel Khalil (Lily Winters Ashby) and Sean Carrigan (Dr. Ben "Stitch" Rayburn) in Q&A and photo op sessions with attendees. The event was held in the Uncas Ballroom and presented by Mohegan Sun's Reality Check and Soap Opera Festivals.

Check out more photos from the event below.

James Kiberd Joined by Wife Susan Keith at Premiere of 'The Crusade of Connor Stephens'

Susan Keith and James Kiberd.
Photo Credit: Sue Coflin/Max Photos

All My Children alum James Kiberd is currently starring in "The Crusade of Connor Stephens," a new play about the events surrounding a school shooting in small-town America.

Another school shooting has occurred in the United States. The teenaged shooter, Connor Stephens, has committed suicide. The victim was Tess Williams, the adopted daughter of a gay couple. In the midst of national media attention, family members arrive to pay their respects, but the gathering turns into a meditation on religion, tolerance and the effects of violence. In this intimate family drama, religious beliefs, consequences of actions, and extreme loss shake the families to the core as they struggle to come to terms with the American tragedy at their doorstep.

Written and directed by Dewey Moss, author of the critically-acclaimed Death of the Persian Prince, "The Crusade of Connor Stephens" is a timely tale about resilience in the face of tragedy, led by a cast that features Kiberd (All My Children's Trevor), The Exonerated's Katherine Leask, and actor and former "Dell Dude" Ben Curtis.

In the photo, Kiberd is joined by his wife, Susan Keith, at the opening night of The 17th Annual Midtown International Theatre Festival at the Workshop Theater in New York on June 20. Soap fans remember Kieth from her daytime roles, including Cecile on Another World and Shana on Loving.

PHOTOS: "Genoa City Live!" Brings 'The Young and the Restless' Stars to Montclair, New Jersey

Christian Jules LeBlanc, Joshua Morrow, Melissa Ordway, Eric Braeden, Robert Adamson and Sean Carrigan.  Photo Credit: Sue Coflin/Max Photos

"Genoa City Live!," a series of once-in-a-lifetime, live fan events dedicated to CBS daytime drama, The Young and the Restless, has kicked off on the east coast. On February 20 at The Wellmont Theatre in Montclair, New Jersey, Y&R stars Eric Braeden (Victor Newman), Joshua Morrow (Nick Newman), Christian Jules LeBlanc (Michael Baldwin), Melissa Ordway (Abby Newman Rayburn), Sean Carrigan (Stitch Rayburn) and Robert Adamson (Noah Newman) met with fans, answered questions, told behind-the-scenes stories and entertained the packed audience. Check out more photos from the event below.

PHOTOS: 'Days of our Lives' Cast Signs "Days of our Lives: 50 Years" in New Jersey

Kristian Alfonso, Galen Gering, Stephen Nichols, Lauren Koslow, Deidre Hall, Billy Flynn, Kate Mansi and Thaao Penghlis. Photo Credit: Sue Coflin/Max Photos

Days of our Lives stars Kristian Alfonso (Hope Brady), Galen Gering (Rafe Hernandez), Stephen Nichols (Steve Johnson), Lauren Koslow (Kate Roberts), Deidre Hall (Dr. Marlena Evans), Billy Flynn (Chad DiMera), Kate Mansi (Abigail Deveraux), Thaao Penghlis (Andre DiMera), and executive producer Greg Meng were at Books & Greetings in Northvale, New Jersey on Tuesday evening to sign Meng's "Days of our Lives: 50 Years."

Check out more photos below:

'All My Children' Alum Christina Bennett Lind Starring in "Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally"

Ethan Slater and Christina Bennett Lind star in "Please Excuse My Dear
Aunt Sally" at 59E59 Theaters. Photo Credit: Sue Coflin/Max Photos

Christina Bennett Lind, who played Bianca Montgomery on All My Children from 2010-2011, is currently starring in "Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally" at 59E59 Theaters in New York City. The cast includes Ethan Slater (Redheads Anonymous), Danny Bernardy, Sarah-Jane Casey and Nick Flint.

An incredible coming of age story of an affair between a student and his math teacher, told through interactions with the student's cell phone. A breakneck journey from pockets to purses, through text messages and photo galleries, "Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally" takes us inside a unique perspective on human interaction and unlocks life's most complex equations.

The show runs through October 24. For tickets and more information, visit 59e59.org.

Nelson Aspen Thrills at Sold-Out Don't Tell Mama Show, With Special Guest Anita Gillette

Nelson Aspen and Anita Gillette at Don't Tell Mama on October 2, 2015.
Photo courtesy of Nelson Aspen

International entertainment reporter Nelson Aspen performed at Don't Tell Mama in New York City on Friday night for the first time in nearly 30 years. He brought back the music director from his '80s show, Gerry Dieffenbach, and created a fantastic night of music, comedy and showbiz scoops.

From his performances of everything from "Herb the Verb" and "Rhode Island Is Famous For You" to "I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together" and "Love Is All Around" (Theme Song from The Mary Tyler Moore Show), Aspen packed the evening with pop culture references that made the crowd cheer with laughter and joy. The audience absolutely loved singing along to "Three's Company, Too"!

Aspen's special guest was the Tony nominated Anita Gillette (Mona the mistress in Moonstruck, Tina Fey's mother in 30 Rock et al). Three decades after they met working on Search for Tomorrow, Aspen brought Gillette on stage for a story about working with Ethel Merman in "Gypsy" on Broadway, and a showstopping number that proved why she's the best cabaret performer in New York. Note: Gillette will next play Nick Offerman's mother in a Huntington Theatre Company production of "A Confederacy of Dunces" in Boston.

One of the packed room's favorite moments was when Aspen sang "You Take Me Away (to Another World)," with Dieffenbach playing Crystal Gayle to his Gary Morris during the chorus of the Another World theme song. It received extra loud cheers from the large assemblage of former Another World staffers who reunited to attend the show.

Where Are They Now? Child Stars Gather for 1st Guiding Star Gala (Photos)

Rachel Lindsay Greenbush, Jeremy Miller, Erin Murphy, Alison Arngrim,
Kami Cotler, and Keith Coogan. Photo Credit: Bill Dow Photography

On August 30, A Minor Consideration, a non-profit dedicated to improving the lives and working conditions of child performers, held its first friend-raiser entitled the “Guiding Star Gala.” Over 40 former and current actors and child stars attended the event, which also featured special guest Jen Lilley (Theresa, Days of our Lives).

Attendees included Alison Arngrim, Paul Peterson, Erin Murphy, David Bloch-Mandel, Jeremy Miller, Scott Schwartz, Katie Kurtzman, Darby Hinton, Sarah Monahan, Johnny Whittaker, Randal Whipple, Geri Jewell, Tony Dow, Radames Pera, Jeanne Russell, Liane Curtis, Samantha Stanton, Kami Cotler, Ellen Latzen, Leif Garrett, Dawn Lyn, Sarah Em, and Coogan's grandson, Keith Coogan, as well as many others, who gathered to share, support and speak out.

An evening of fun, food and bowling with some of your favorite child stars at the famous Lucky Strike Live at Hollywood & Highland offered an impressive silent auction (put together by the events organizer, Scott Schwartz) with proceeds going to the charity.

Louise Sorel, Linda Thorson Participate in Marking 500 Days Since Chibok Schoolgirl Abductions (Photos)

Soap star Louise Sorel remembers the girls kidnapped in Chibok 500
days earlier. Photo Credit: Sue Coflin/Max Photos

Last Thursday (August 27) marked 500 days since 276 girls were abducted from their school by Boko Haram in Chibok, Borno State, Nigeria. 57 girls escaped from captivity. 219 girls remain in captivity. And Boko Haram has gone on to steal thousands more women and children who are being tortured, raped, impregnated, sold for $10 as sex slaves or wives to their enslavers. While military raids recently reclaimed some, not one of the remaining Chibok abductees have been restored to her life, her education, her family.

Bring Back Our Girls NYC held an Interfaith Service at Tillman Chapel that day at the UN Church Center, followed by a silent procession to Nigeria House to insist that they are rescued. The event participants came from all walks of life, including the world of soap operas. Days of our Lives and Santa Barbara star Louise Sorel, and One Life to Live and Emmerdale actress Linda Thorson were among those on hang.

Check out more photos below:

PHOTOS: Television Academy's Daytime Programming Peer Group Celebration

Obba Babatunde, from left, Reign Edwards and Rome Flynn. Photo Credit: Invision for Television Academy/AP Images

On Wednesday, August 26, the Television Academy presented the Daytime Programming Peer Group Celebration, an exclusive cocktail reception honoring the Daytime Community at the Montage Beverly Hills.

Hosted by Daytime Programming Governors Angelica McDaniel and Steve Kent, event attendees included Robert Adamson (The Young and the Restless), Kristos Andrews (The Bay), Obba Babatundé (The Bold and the Beautiful), Lee Phillip Bell (The Bold and the Beautiful), Bob Bergen (Wabbit: A Looney Tunes Production), Lachlan Buchanan (The Young and the Restless), Steve Burton (The Young and the Restless), Patrika Darbo (The Bay), Doug Davidson (The Young and the Restless), Vincent De Paul (The Bay), Veronica Dunne (K.C. Undercover), Reign Edwards (The Bold and the Beautiful), Melissa Claire Egan (The Young and the Restless), Max Ehrich (The Young and the Restless), Scott Elrod (The Young and the Restless), Hayley Erin (General Hospital), Rome Flynn (The Bold and the Beautiful), Daniel Goddard (The Young and the Restless), Stacy Haiduk (The Young and the Restless), Justin Hartley (The Young and the Restless), Amelia Heinle (The Young and the Restless), Carolyn Hennesy (General Hospital), Bryton James (The Young and the Restless), Burgess Jenkins (The Young and the Restless), Ashley Jones (The Bold and the Beautiful), Christel Khalil (The Young and the Restless), Hunter King (The Young and the Restless), Jen Lilley (Days of our Lives), Kate Linder (The Young and the Restless), Kira Reed Lorsch (The Bay), Donna Mills (General Hospital), Karla Mosley (The Bold and the Beautiful), Melissa Ordway (The Young and the Restless), Sofia Pernas (The Young and the Restless), Brytni Sarpy (General Hospital), Christopher Sean (Days of our Lives), Chrishell Stause (Days of our Lives), Kelly Sullivan (The Young and the Restless), Gina Tognoni (The Young and the Restless), Elena Tovar (General Hospital), Robert Palmer Watkins (General Hospital), Fred Willard (The Bold and the Beautiful), and more.

Check out more photos from the celebration below:

PHOTOS: 14th Biennial National Black Theatre Festival, Co-Chaired by Darnell Williams and Debbi Morgan

Emmy-winning All My Children stars Darnell Williams and Debbi Morgan served as co-shares for the National Black Theatre Festival. Photo Credit: Sue Coflin/Max Photos

The 14th Biennial National Black Theatre Festival, an international celebration and reunion of spirit, was held August 3-8, 2015 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, produced by The North Carolina Black Repertory Comapny, Inc. NBTF co-chairs (and All My Children legends) Debbi Morgan and Darnell Williams led the celebrity procession on opening night, which included a gala dinner and awards presentation, followed by a week filled with plays, workshops and much more with.

The star-studded festival included participation from many familiar faces from the world of daytime soap operas, including Taurean Blacque (Henry Marshall, Generations), Norm Lewis (Keith McLean, All My Children), Andre De Shields (Marshall Lincoln Kramer III, Another World), Micki Grant (Peggy Harris Nolan, Another World – one of first black contract players - along with roles in All My Children, Guiding Light, Somerset and The Edge of Night), Lamman Rucker (T. Marshall Travers, As the World Turns - along with roles on All My Children and The Young and the Restless); Chrystee Pharris (Simone Russell, Passions - currently starring in Queens of Drama), Ted Lange (Love Boat star who played a judge on General Hospital), Timothy Stickney (RJ Gannon, One Life to Live), Jackee Harry (Lily Mason, Another World); Count Stovall (Roy Franklin, As the World Turns; Cal Cummings, All My Children; Hank Chambers, The Doctors) and Roscoe Orman (Sesame Street's Gordon who once played Tyrone on All My Children).

Check out photos from the festival below:

'As the World Turns' Alum Marnie Schulenburg Starring in 'The Foreigner' and 'Henry V' at the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival

Marnie Schulenburg stars in "The Foreigner"
Photo Credit: Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival

Former As the World Turns actress Marnie Schulenburg (Alison Stewart) is currently starring in two plays at the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, along with her husband, Zack Robidas. "The Foreigner" is running July 8 to August 2, while "Henry V" runs July 16-August 2.

In "The Foreigner," directed by Jim Helsinger, a pathologically shy Englishman named Charlie takes a much-needed holiday to a rural fishing lodge in Georgia with his good friend, Froggy. When Froggy informs the other inhabitants of the lodge that Charlie speaks no English in order to avoid unwanted conversation, the cast of outrageous characters freely reveals to him one secret after another, unleashing intrigue, outrage, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Directed by Matt Pfeiffer, Shakespeare's "Henry V" is the story of a young king rallying his soldiers "unto the breach" on his way to becoming the most celebrated leader in England's history. But at what cost to his land, his subjects, and his conscience does he pursue the glories of his nation and his reign? How does his politically arranged marriage to a French princess become a true romance? Vividly exploring the enigmatic morality of leadership, Shakespeare's masterwork celebrates the power of language to shape destiny and summons to life a majestic age.

Check out photos from the opening night of "The Foreigner" on July 8 the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival in Center City below:

PHOTOS: Broadway's "Hamilton" Begins Preview Performance; Cast Includes 'One Life to Live' Alums Jonathan Groff, Renée Elise Goldsberry

Renée Elise Goldsberry - Photo Credit: Sue Coflin/Max Photos

On July 13, more than 700 theatre fans showed up on 46th Street to play the ticket lottery for "Hamilton," Lin-Manuel Miranda's new musical that began preview performances that day and is already taking Broadway by storm.

Directed by Thomas Kail and featuring a book, music and lyrics by Miranda, "Hamilton" is inspired by the book "Alexander Hamilton" by Ron Chernow. The new musical follows the scrappy young immigrant who forever changed America, from bastard orphan to Washington's right hand man, rebel to war hero, loving husband caught in the country's first sex scandal to Treasury head who made an untrusting world believe in the American economy. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Eliza Hamilton and lifelong Hamilton friend and foe, Aaron Burr, all make appearances in the tuner about America's fiery past.

Starring Miranda in the title role, the cast also includes Jonathan Groff (Patrick, Looking; ex-Jesse, Glee; ex-Henry, One Life to Live) as King George III, Christopher Jackson as George Washington, Leslie Odom Jr. (ex-Sam, Smash) as Aaron Burr, Phillipa Soo as Eliza Hamilton, Anthony Ramos as John Laurens/Phillip Hamilton, Daveed Diggs as Marquis De Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson, Renée Elise Goldsberry (Geneva, The Good Wife; ex-Evangeline, One Life to Live) as Angelica Schuyler and Javier Muñoz as Hamilton alternate.

Before the lottery drawing, Miranda addressed the crowd, saying, "Thanks to you, we're probably going to be here a while, so don't be disappointed if you don't win today. I love you very much. Yay, Hamlet! Thank you!"

Check out more photos from the first day of previews below:

'General Hospital' Stars Kelly Monaco & Billy Miller Hit the Beach in Malibu

Billy Miller and Kelly Monaco - Source: FameFlynet Pictures

General Hospital stars Kelly Monaco (Sam) and Billy Miller (Jake/Jason), and at least one other male friend, hit the beach in Malibu on Sunday, July 5. Check out more photos here.

Are you rooting for Sam and Jason to reunited on GH? Do you prefer Sam with Patrack? Jason with Liz? Let us know who you think are the right combos in our Comments section below.

Decking the Halls with Deidre Hall at Holiday Benefit Fundraiser

Deidre Hall with the "Rudolph" cast. Photo courtesy of Rick Aguilar Studios

On December 7, the soap world and the theater world collided in Chicago when Days of our Lives star Deidre Hall (Marlena) was a special guest at a fundraiser for the Hell in a Handbag Productions theater company.

We arrived early and after walking up five (!) flights of steps, we waited for the doors to open and talked in the hallway, a conversation that led to – what else – talk of Days. Several Deidre fans had been waiting there for a while already. One woman I spoke to had traveled from Indianapolis. Another flew in from the East Coast.

Most of the Days fans chatted about when they started and the obvious couples: Marlena and John, Marlena and Roman, Bo and Hope, Jack and Jennifer. A few were quite verbal in their displeasure of how Sami and EJ ended. (My mention of Don Craig, Marlena's husband back in the day when my mom was a Days fan, was met with blank stares.)

Kate Mansi Attends GBK Lounge in LA

DAYS OF OUR LIVES star Kate Mansi (Abigail) was among the attendees at the GBK Luxury Gift Lounge in Honor of the 2014 MTV Movie Awards. The event took place this weekend at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills.

PHOTOS: 10th Annual Daytime Stars and Strikes Charity Event

The 10th Annual Daytime Stars and Strikes event to benefit The American Cancer Society was held on Sunday, October 13th at Bowlmor Lanes in new York, hosted by Jerry verDorn and Elizabeth Keifer (pictured above).

Check out photos of the event below featuring stars from daytime and web soaps past and present including ONE LIFE TO LIVE, GUIDING LIGHT, AS THE WORLD TURNS, GENERAL HOSPITAL, DAYS OF OUR LIVES, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS and ALL MY CHILDREN.