Keeping up with the Guiding Light Alumni

This blog will now aim to keep you up-to-date on what is going on with the former GL cast members as they explore new horizons. Many of the stars you loved are involved in new projects, some in the genre, some on stage, while others have ventured on to something completely different! This blog is written and maintained by Tracey and Mike. If you have information you wish to submit for publication please contact one of us and we will consider your request!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Grant Aleksander Returns to the Classroom

Soap Star Grant Aleksander Returns to W&L after 30 Years


Grant Aleksander
Lexington, Virginia • October 25, 2010
While his fellow students at Washington and Lee University may not recognize him around campus, his fans would know Grant Aleksander immediately. He is the actor who portrayed Phillip Spaulding on the daytime drama "Guiding Light" at different times between 1982 and 2009. He also appeared in television series and movies, including the 1986 movie "Tough Guys" with Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas. Aleksander, 50, has now returned to W&L to complete his theater major 30 years after he left to pursue his acting career.
Read the full article here.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

There is a Destiny That Makes Us Brothers: Part One The Adventure Begins

While I continue to share with you news on what the Guiding Light Alumns are up to, I have decided to begin a series of my own reflection on what Guiding Light meant and continues to mean to me. I will call this series There is a Destiny that Makes Us Brothers because it is the underlying theme of what I will be writing about.

Back in late 2005, I was at home with a severe case of bronchitis and it was so bad that even walking to and from the kitchen was taking its toll on me. I had the TV and the computer to keep me company. I would watch Guiding Light at ten when it aired in the Pittsburgh market and one day I decided to do a search on the show and see what I could find on the internet. What I found were a series of discussion boards. I had never taken part in anything like it but I found once I did that it became very addicting. Little did I know at the time what it would lead to in a few short months.

That June a woman from Georgia who is a friend of Marj Dusay (ex Alexandra) had gotten in contact with Ron Raines who had been playing Alan Spaulding since 1994 and created his first official online presence in the form of "Friends of Ron" a discussion board. I came across it while messing around on the internet and became the first member. I messaged the board's creator, Janice and offered my help in the form of moderating the board and she accepted. Later I would help her with some photos that Ron had sent her and the next thing I knew she was inviting me to the Guiding Light Fan Club weeknd in New York City. My first response was, "Yeh, right....New York City for a fan club event?" She continued to try and persuade me to go, and I finally caved. Little did I know that summer that I was about to begin the adventure of a lifetime!
To Be Continued.

Cynthia Watros Becomes Housewife

Breaking news this morning is that Cynthia Watros (ex-Anne Dutton) who has been most recently on Fox's House has been cast in a guest spot on Desperate Housewives. According to The Ausiello Files Website Watros will be playing a character taking her back to what won her a Daytime Emmy as Annie Dutton---one that is crazy!  Click here for more.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Kim Zimmer to Appear in Soap Star Spectacular Event

Still haven't met Kim Zimmer (ex-Reva)? Here's your chance! Kim will be participating in the Soap Star Spectacular in Myrtle Beach and Raleigh, NC next month. The event is produced by Celebrity Events Group, the same group that produces the Soap Cruise and the So Long Springfield Events. Kim is currently reprising her role in One Life to Live as Echo Savoy, and appears to be helping boost OLTL's ratings in the process! Go Kim!

Friday, October 15, 2010

Tina Sloan Changing Shoes in Cincinnati

Monday, October 18
Aronoff Center for the Arts

650 Walnut St.
Cincinnati, OH 45202

Ticket Office

Phone: (513) 621-2787
ticketing@cincinnatiarts.org
Directions and Parking

Jarson-Kaplan Theater

This theater seats 437 and is a perfect setting for small and medium-sized performances or meetings. The theater is surprisingly intimate with full production capabilities, great acoustics, an attractive design and excellent sightlines.

CNN Features Tina Sloan

Tina Sloan has turned up on CNN today!
Check it out!
Tina is currently in Dayton Ohio continuing her book and play tour.
I was able to catch her Pittsburgh production of Changing Shoes on Monday night and it is a fun and delightful show. You need not be a fan of Guiding Light to appreciate the play or the book.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

More on Tina Sloan

Best Foot Forward
— By Gabrielle Winkel
Soap Opera Digest
Tina Sloan's (ex-Lillian, GL) one-woman show, Changing Shoes, is an inspiring tale of a remarkable woman's life.
Read the full article here.

Tom Pelphrey Opens In A Lion in Winter

WHEN: Today through Nov. 20.

WHERE: F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Ave., Madison; 973-408-5600 or shakespearenj.com.

HOW MUCH: $31-$70.

It has an affair, family politics and a power struggle, the building blocks of all great soap operas. But this is not a rerun on SoapNet or the CW's latest hit — it's James Goldman's play "The Lion in Winter," being presented by the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey.

Click here for more info.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Kim Zimmer Returns to 'One Life to Live' as Echo DiSavoy

by Michael Maloney TV SQUAD , posted Oct 1st 2010 1:45PM

Four-time Daytime Emmy winner Kim Zimmer, best known to soap opera viewers as fan favorite Reva on 'Guiding Light,' is returning to the soap world. She will reprise the role she portrayed 27 years ago, pre-Reva -- Echo DiSavoy on the ABC soap 'One Life to Live.' Her first air date is Fri., Oct. 1.
To read full article click here!

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Tom Pelphrey to Appear in Lion in Winter

Tom Pelphrey will appear in a production of The Lion in Winter, a play made famous by the film of the same name that starred Richard Harris, Kathrine Hepburn and Anthony Hopkins.
Click here for more information