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.
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Grant Aleksander Reflects

Well its May 2nd and I just read Beth Chamberlin's post. It really makes me sad to think of all those things being auctioned off like so much anonymous junk. To those of us that worked on the show those things combined to create the physical world we inhabited for so long. And they changed you. You stood a little taller when you were in the Spaulding Study. Your shoulders relaxed and you breathed a little easier as you strolled into Company and slid into one of the booths or propped yourself up on a stool at the bar. When I came back to the show last year the first thing I did was to walk around the sets. Memories flooded over me and I could literally feel myself returning home to Springfield. When the show wrapped I asked to have the fireplace seat and andirons from the Spaulding Study. Countless times over the years I had sat on them or kneeled before them speaking to one of my kids or Beth or, in the old days, being lectured to by Alan . They will always bring back wonderful memories to me. They're now in my study in Virginia from where I sit writing this. Its not all an illusion. Those of us who worked on the show for a long time feel a very strong connection to all of those things.

But beyond the physical things that helped create Springfield even more important was the connection that we all felt to each other. And still feel. Thats why a group of us have come together to form 9 AFTER 7 Productions. We're trying to find a way to continue to be able to work together and produce the kind of  stories that we think fans of our show and others will continue to enjoy. The entertainment industry may be changing but peoples appetite for stories that emphasize family, friends and human relationships have not. We hope you will all give your support to our first project "La Lumiere." You'll see the faces you remember and the kind of stories and relationships you've come to love over the years. You can find us at www.newkindoflight.com. We hope to see you all there!

Cheers!

Grant Aleksander

Former Guiding Light Cast Members Launch 9 After 7 Productions

No, I have not forgotten about my blog, it is just that I have been extremely busy helping to design the website for 9 After 7 Productions which will go live at 12:00 AM Eastern May 1, 2010. 9 After 7 Productions is a new company founded by Guiding Light favorites Beth Chamberlin, Fiona Hutchison, Tina Sloan, Ron Raines and Grant Alexsander. It has been in the works since September when Guiding Light went dark. Billed as "A New kind of Light," the group plans to be able to produce programming for the long time soap opera fans. Its first production is entitled "La Lumiere." Presales for a special limited edition of the film on DVD will begin at midnigt tonight. Visit A New Kind Of Light. or 9 After 7 Productions.