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!

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Ron Raines On How GL Prepared Him for NEWSIES

Ron Raines On How Guiding Light Prepared Him For Newsies and Why He Still ...
TheaterMania.com
Ron Raines On How Guiding Light Prepared Him For Newsies and Why He Still Loves Follies. The former soap star dishes on why he loves being a bad guy on Broadway. By Brian Scott Lipton · Google+ Profile for Brian Scott Lipton • Oct 24, 2012 • New York .

Monday, October 22, 2012

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Ron Raines and Kelli O'Hara in Essential Voices Release

Broadway veterans Kelli O'Hara -- currently starring on Broadway in Nice Work If You Can Get It -- and Ron Raines -- who is about to begin performances in Broadway's Newsies -- will be featured on the new CD, Celebrating the American Spirit, due out on October 23.
The disc is performed by Essential Voices USA and conducted by Judith Clurman. The centerpiece is Sing Out, Mr. President, a song cycle of sixteen newly commissioned compositions set to quotations by American presidents from Washington to Obama that showcases American composers Samuel Adler, Milton Babbitt, Robert Beaser, Jason Robert Brown, Thomas Cabaniss, Jake Heggie, Larry Hochman, Michael Gilbertson, Nora Kroll-Rosenbaum, Andrew Lippa, David Ludwig, Paul Moravec, Nico Muhly, Georgia Stitt, Zachary Wadsworth, and Jesse Wiener.
The CD also features new and newly arranged works by composers and writers such as Irving Berlin, Leonard Bernstein, Sheldon Harnick, Jennifer Higdon, Larry Hochman, Laurie Hochman, David Ludwig, Stephen Paulus, Marc Shaiman, and John Philip Sousa.
Pre-orders for the disc are now being taken at www.sonoluminus.com .

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Weekly Alumni Feature...Leonard Stabb

Over the years I have had so many people write me and ask for information about Leonard Stabb, who played the second Hart Jessup. I am happy to bring this update to everyone!

Leonard was the second actor to play Hart and also a fan favorite! His brooding good looks made him a favorite to many of the female viewers and the male audience as well. Leonard played a much darker Hart who had found out many things about his Father Roger Thorpe. Leonard was fantastic in the role and very much loved by his fellow cast and crew.

An unfortunate gliding accident in 1993 left Leonard with multiple injuries and brain damage. He had a very long road ahead of him in his recovery. His fellow cast members did many benefits for him to help raise money for all of his medical expenses! Michael Zaslow (Roger) was very close with Leonard, but after Michael's untimely death in 1998, no one knew what became of Leonard.

Earlier this year, my good friend Marshall Hilliard (4th Hart) and I set out to find Leonard and we did! Leonard is doing great and living in California with his caretaker. He is able to walk and talk, but unfortunetly, the brain damage will always be there. Leonard faces some challenges, but he is doing very good and is very happy!

Marshall and I have some things in the works to help raise some money for Leonard for his ongoing medical care. Please check Marshall's fan page on Facebook, where we will be announcing some things shortly!

I am including a picture taken a couple of weeks ago of Marshall and Leonard at one of Marshall's football games. Leonard is a huge football fan and The California Tide (Marshall's Team) made Leonard an honorary member of the team! Leonard had a great time hanging out with all the players that night as you can tell by the smile on his face!

Leonard has been very happy and excited to hear that fans of Guiding Light still ask about him and remember him! For all the adversity he has faced, Leonard is one of the sweetest and happiest people you would ever want to meet! I will have more things to come about him that I will be posting on this blog as well!

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Ron Raines to Return to Broadway

Ron Raines and Gina Tognoni at the 2011 Broadway Flea Market

Ron Raines will return to Broadway on October 9th in the Disney hit musical Newsies. Ron will fill in for John Dossett for nine weeks as Joseph Pulitzer while Dossett appears in a play in New York City. Ron finished his run as Ben Stone in Follies back in June after being nominated for the Tony Award for Best Lead Actor in a Musical.  His run in Follies began in May of 2011 in Washington D.C. After critical acclaim the show moved to the Broadway stage in August of 2001 where it ran until January of 2012, before heading to LA for a limited run.

Raines began his career on stage and never imagined he's wind up playing "Alan Spaulding" for 15 years on Guiding Light. In addition to Follies and Newsies Ron has appeared in Broadway in Chicago, Showboat and Teddy and Alice.