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Stars rock out for a good cause in NYC

Event Raises Funds for Causes Close to Home

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On April 16, 2005 Guiding Light’s Ricky Paull Goldin (Gus) and As The World Turns’ Michael Park (Jack) joined together for a night of songs, fun and raising dollars for a great cause at The Triad in New York City.

The evening offered two chances to see these two actors perform solo and with special guests – one at 7 pm and the second at 11 pm. The monies raised benefited two families - one is GL’s own Bill Runyon (assistant to the executive producer) who passed away on April 8 of cancer at the age of 38, and the other is Ron Marsico and his family who are friends of Michael Park. Marisco suffers from a stroke and has a wife, Anne, and children to care for.

At the first show, Kim Zimmer (Reva, GL), Robert Newman (Josh, GL), and Mandy Bruno (Marina, GL) joined Goldin and Park on stage in song. Some of the songs Goldin and Park sang were World on a String and Crazy Thing Called Love. Zimmer joined them on stage to perform I’m A Woman and had so much fun with it that everyone in the audience loved her.  Goldin then called up Mandy Bruno, who did a lovely rendition of You’re Nobody Til Somebody Loves You.  I personally hope that Mandy sings more next time. 

Some of Goldin’s other songs included Mambo Italiano and Summer Wind, while Park sang Crazy Thing Called Love, Spiderman, and Fly Me To The Moon. Robert Newman joined Goldin in You Make Me Feel So Young. This performance was followed by Zimmer who did a rendition of Fever which had both Goldin and Park mesmerized. The final song was The Best Is Yet To Come. Fans had a chance to greet and get autographs after the curtain call. Stephanie Gatschet (Tammy) came to the first show.

Actress Lisa Brown (Iva ATWT; Nola, GL) came to both shows with video camera in hand.  She taped each performance. The first one from the back of the room, and the second one, up close and personal with a hand held camera. In between the early show and the late show, Brown met a couple of fans who let her know this was their very first fan event. Not only that -- they traveled all the way from Wisconsin with one of them having a birthday. Turns out that the trip also accounted for the birthday girl's first plane flight ever!  And all just to see the Cabaret.

The second show did not start until 11 pm so the actors went out to dinner first. Some fans stayed around, however, as they came to both shows.  About twenty minutes before the second show, Tom Pelphrey (Jonathan, GL), Doug Hutchison (Sebastian, GL), John Driscoll (Coop, GL), Laura Wright (Cassie, GL), Gina Tognoni (Dinah), and Jennifer Roszell  (Eleni, GL) all came to support the show.  I was able to get fun photos of Wright and Tognoni (Cassie and Dinah), and one of them with the guys, Pelphrey and Hutchinson;  Marina (Bruno) meeting for the first time her mom Eleni (Roszell) and then Roszell was reminded that her character, Eleni, had held Coop as a baby just a few years ago!  SORAS (soap opera rapid aging syndrome strikes again!)

These actors, who are clearly friends, were all seated down front so there was a lot of interaction with those on stage. In fact, Gina Tognoni danced with Michael Park and Tom Pelphrey on stage. Then, when Zimmer sang I’m A Woman,  Pelphrey again came on stage. He followed that with his own impressions, and then performed Garth Brook’s Friends In Low Places.  He even sang the second verse!

The fans loved all the songs, all the surprises and the unplanned performances. I enjoyed the great singing and all the camaraderie between the actors and the fans.  May this event take place again in the future.

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