Recently in As the World Turns

Having spent the bulk of his career as a soap star -- most recently on AS THE WORLD TURNS as Craig -- Jon Lindstrom has had his share of smokin' hot female love interests. However, in his new romantic comedy, What Happens Next -- releasing on Netflix and DVD on Tuesday, February 7 -- Lindstrom is getting an adorable leading man! "I'm very, very proud of this movie," he offers of the picture that explores a gay relationship. "I think it's a little comic gem and given the political atmosphere out there, I think it was brave to make it."

In this film festival favorite, Lindstrom plays Paul Grecco, a recently retired, straight billionaire and socialite who finds himself at loose ends until his worried sister (HOT IN CLEVELAND's Wendie Malick) gives him a puppy. "While walking the dog in the park, he meets a young man [Andy, a gay advertising wiz], and they start to develop a friendship," Lindstrom previews. "Paul finds out things about himself that he'd never really considered."

As the new friends explore the distinction between contentment and happiness, they also face complications presented by their ill-informed family members, including Andy's sister, Roz, -- played by ALL MY CHILDREN's Natalia Cigliuti (Anita) -- and their well-meaning advisors. "Megan Hilty (SMASH) has a hilarious scene as Wendie's manicurist," Lindstrom previews.

Want to get a jump-start on the laughs? Visit www.jonlindstrom.com to view the trailer, or www.Amazon.com or www.Netflix.com to purchase the film. For more on Lindstrom's post-soap career, check out his feature interview in an upcoming issue of Soaps In Depth.

AS THE WORLD TURNS viewers who recall Katie's wild adventures know that Terri Conn is very skilled at comedy, but now the rest of the world will find out the same when the actress guest-stars on tonight's episode of 30 ROCK on NBC airing at 9:00 PM EST!

"I'm really excited," she declares. "It's like, my favorite show. There's a lot of good shows [that shoot] in New York."

Which is why Conn has decided to maintain her home base on the East Coast instead of moving to Hollywood. "I'm sticking it out in New York," she says. "It's better to be in the room for auditions, but my agents are really fantastic, so I get to go on tape. And I'm available to fly out at a minute's notice. So I'll hopefully get the best of both worlds!"

AS THE WORLD TURNS' Colleen Zenk (Barbara) has joined the cast of Marrying George Clooney: Confessions From A Midlife Crisis, a new Off-Broadway play adapted from the book of the same name by Amy Ferris.

"I am thrilled!" she declares. "For the next 12 weeks, I'm going to be fantasizing about 'Marrying George Clooney'... on stage, of course! Maybe he'll even show up!"

The production will run from Wednesday, February 29, through Saturday, March 24, at the CAP21 Theater in New York City. Tickets are only $18, and can be purchased by following this link over to the CAP21 Web site!

Former soap stars Roselyn Sanchez (Pilar, AS THE WORLD TURNS) and Eric Winter (ex-Rex, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) are first-time parents! Sanchez gave birth to a 6 lb., 14 oz., baby girl in Los Angeles yesterday, January 4. The couple, who have been married since 2008, named her Sebella Rose.

"Welcome to the world beautiful Sebella Rose Winter!" the actress posted on her Facebook page. "Mami and Daddy adore you! This joy is overwhelming. Thanks for all of the well wishes!"

Congratulations to the new family!

Heads up Tom Pelphrey fans! If you've been longing to see the actor who once broke your heart as GUIDING LIGHT's Jonathan and AS THE WORLD TURNS' Mick back in action, now's your chance. CBS' hit police drama BLUE BLOODS is about to get a whole lot soapier next month!

In an upcoming episode titled "The Uniform," Pelphrey guest stars as Mike, the nephew of a diner owner who is being suspected of a crime. While show reps wanted to keep the rest of the details under wraps, they do reveal that the episode is "centered around" Pelphrey's character. Also featured is ONE LIFE TO LIVE's Matt Walton (ex-Elijah), who plays the publicity manager for the mayor's electoral campaign and takes a meeting with the police commissioner, played by series star Tom Selleck.

Tune in to CBS on Friday, January 13, at 10 p.m. EST.

Veteran film and television actor Dan Frazer -- known to AS THE WORLD TURNS fans as Nancy's second husband Dan "Mac" McClosky -- died of cardiac arrest on December 16 at his Manhattan home. Frazer was 90.

Prior to being cast on ATWT as Oakdale's police chief, Frazer played another police officer, Captain Frank McNeil on the hit 1970s series KOJAK. He also appeared in the films Cleopatra Jones, Take The Money And Run, Gideon's Trumpet and Deconstructing Harry, as well as in numerous TV shows, including BARNEY MILLER, THE WALTONS, LAW & ORDER and THIRD WATCH. Frazer's most recent project was in the 2010 drama The Pack, featuring his ATWT co-star Scott Bryce (Craig).

Frazer joined the cast of ATWT in 1986 and played the beloved Mac for a decade until the character died from a heart attack in 1996, including a poignant storyline where he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

AS THE WORLD TURNS fan favorite Jake Silbermann (Noah) has a lot invested in the new Off-Broadway play Derby Day, which opens this week at the Clurman Theatre. His new theater company, The Camisade Theatre, is presenting the dark comedy as their first production! "We're flying by the seat of our pants," Silbermann tells Soaps In Depth. "I'm producing this as well as acting in it, and forming a theater company in the process. It's been a little difficult."

Set in a luxury box at the Oaklawn Racetrack in Hot Springs, Ark., Derby Day tells the story of the Ballard brothers, and how a day of drinking at the racetrack and revealing family secrets might just tear them apart forever. "They are "celebrating" the death of their abusive father, whose presence is looming throughout the entire show," explains Silbermann, who plays ex-con Johnny. "He's had such an impact on these three mens' lives, and we see this cycle of violence and how it goes from generation to generation."

The dark comedy does have a bright spot, however. "These three guys are just trying to do well with their lives. They hate themselves, they love each other, they hate each other. They've got a lot of history that they're not really equipped to deal with," he continues. "There are moments in the play that have me cracking up. A drama really becomes a dark comedy when it has a certain amount of laughs, and we cover that. It's a really funny, but sad, play."

While Silbermann knows what to do on the stage, the behind-the-scenes work was a new animal for the actor. "Malcolm Madera is another actor in the play who is co-producing this as well. We were naïve enough to think it would be an easy thing," he says with a chuckle. "We worked on a play together last year and became good friends. He knows the writer, Samuel Brett Williams, and we approached him to commission something for us. We were describing what we wanted, and he said, 'I actually have something written that seems right up your alley.' As soon as I finished reading it, I said 'We are going to do this play.'" The three men went on to found the Camisade Theatre Company.

Derby Day begins previews on Wednesday, November 30, and officially opens on Friday, December 1. The show will run through Saturday, December 17. For the full performance schedule or to purchase tickets, visit www.Telecharge.com. For more information on the play and Camisade Theatre Company, visit www.CamisadeTheatre.com.

This coming spring, the final days of The Wizard Of Oz star Judy Garland will be played out night after night on a New York stage, and Tom Pelphrey (Jonathan, GUIDING LIGHT; Mick, AS THE WORLD TURNS) will be a part of it! The Emmy-winning actor has joined the American cast of London's West End hit, End Of The Rainbow, which will make its Broadway debut in April. Pelphrey will play Mickey Deans, Garland's much-younger fifth husband.

Set in London in December 1968, Rainbow stars Tracie Bennett as Garland, who is about to make yet another comeback with a 5-week run at a West End theater. While Garland hopes that the shows will help her hold on to her star power, she struggles with strained personal relationships and a drug addiction that will ultimately lead to a fatal overdose six months later. Bennett received an Olivier Award nomination -- London's version of the Tony Awards -- for her run in the musical drama earlier this year.

While Pelphrey has been a part of many New York City plays in the past, this will mark his Broadway debut. End Of The Rainbow will have a pre-Broadway run at The Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis from January 28 through March 11, and previews will begin at the Belasco Theater in Manhattan on March 19. For more information, visit EndoftheRainbowBroadway.com.

AS THE WORLD TURNS alum Scott Holroyd (Paul) is a proud pop! The actor and his wife, ONE TREE HILL star Allison Munn, have welcomed a baby boy into the world, Nathan Powell Holroyd, who shares the same middle name as his dad. "Welcome to the world, Baby Nate!" Holroyd's wife tweeted yesterday, November 15. Munn recurs on the series as school teacher Lauren, and Holroyd has appeared on The CW show as David, the former brother-in-law of Hayley, played by GUIDING LIGHT's Bethany Joy Galeotti (Michelle). The couple have been married since 2007. ONE TREE HILL just wrapped its final season in Wilmington, N.C.

Martha Byrne (Lily/Rose, AS THE WORLD TURNS) makes her debut in the third season premiere of Web soap ANACOSTIA, and her fans might be a little surprised by her new role!

"I play the head madam of a brothel," she chuckles. "I'm in charge of the girls. And I think the opening five minutes of the show are probably one of the most fun experiences I've ever had as an actor."

Byrne credits the show's creator Anthony Anderson for creating the role of Alexis Jordan and giving her such juicy material to play. "I think some of the Lily fans might be taken aback by it," she allows, "but I'm an actor, and I have to do things that are challenging or edgy."

The daytime vet will appear in a half-dozen episodes throughout the course of ANACOSTIA's third season, but taped all of her scenes over the course of a weekend. "I hadn't worked that hard in a really long time," Byrne confesses. "The heavy drama stuff is really draining. It's been a long time since I've had those kind of scenes that take a lot out of you physically and emotionally. I missed that."

You can learn more about ANACOSTIA over at the show's official Web site (and catch up on the first two seasons!), and watch Byrne's debut in the series' third season premiere at the show's Vimeo page. But be warned, there is some adult content! "They can definitely get away with a lot edgier material on ANACOSTIA than I'd ever seen on television," Byrne marvels. "You can swear and you can say things that I was surprised you can say!"

Oakdale's favorite attorney, Tamara Tunie (Jessica, AS THE WORLD TURNS), has found herself in the middle of a real-life nightmare. New York accountant Joseph Cilibrasi, who acted as the star's business manager for over a decade, admitted on November 10 that he'd stolen over $1 million from Tunie, the Kansas City Symphony's music director and other clients.

According to the Associated Press, Cilibrasi used the stolen money on lavish vacations, as well as to finance his own entertainment investments, including backing Broadway shows such as Legally Blonde: The Musical, Spring Awakening, and films including See You In September, which Tunie directed. Cilibrasi admitted in court that he secretly opened a credit card in Tunie's name, obtained his own card on the account by falsely listing himself as her husband, and wrote checks to himself from her accounts without her permission. "I stole over $1.4 million from Ms. Tunie Generet by converting funds from her [business accounts] to my personal use," he stated, using Tunie's married name. (Her husband is jazz singer Gregory Generet.)

Cilibrasi is due for sentencing on January 4, and is facing from 2 1/2 to 7 1/2 years in prison.

Tunie -- who continues to appear as medical examiner Melinda Warner on NBC's LAW & ORDER: SVU and returns to soaps on Friday, November 18, with a gig on DAYS OF OUR LIVES -- has yet to publicly comment on the situation.

As a proud parent of a 10-year-old daughter, AS THE WORLD TURNS' Marie Wilson (Meg) isn't afraid to roll up her sleeves and do her part for education. This Sunday, November 13, she's inviting the local community to come out to the 8th Annual Calabasas Classic and join her team to raise money for the Las Virgines Unified School District. The event starts at 8 a.m. at City Hall. "There is a 1 mile family run, a 5k, and a 10k," she reveals. "The bigger the turnout the better -- 100 percent the donations go to the schools."

For more information, on the event, visit www.calabasasclassic.com. To make a donation to Wilson's team's cause, click here.

Can't make it out that day to see Wilson? Check her out on THE BAY (www.thebaytheseries.com), where she plays opposite Kimberlin Brown (ex-Sheila, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS/THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL) as catatonic patient Claire Andrews.

The holidays are coming early for Dylan Bruce (Chris, AS THE WORLD TURNS; Brian, THE BAY) this year! The actor stars in Love's Christmas Journey, a Hallmark Channel Original Movie premiering tomorrow night, Saturday, November 5, at 8 p.m. EST.

The four-hour -- set your DVRs accordingly! -- film also stars daytime vets Greg Vaughn (ex-Lucky, GENERAL HOSPITAL; ex-Diego, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS), Natalie Hall (Colby, ALL MY CHILDREN) and Charles Shaughnessy (ex-Shane, DAYS OF OUR LIVES), along with Academy Award nominees JoBeth Williams (Brandy, GUIDING LIGHT; Carrie, SOMERSET), Sean Astin and Ernest Borgnine. "It's a Western that takes place in the late 1800's," explains Bruce, who plays Deputy Michael Strode in the film, the latest installment in Hallmark's series of films based on the Janette Oke book series Love Comes Softly. "Greg's character goes missing. Natalie plays his sister. She comes to town and a romance blossoms between our characters."

Bruce was quite impressed with Hall's ability to juggle filming Journey as well as taping the final weeks of AMC on ABC last summer. "She was doing double-duty. I don't know how she did it," he marvels. "She's a sweetheart."

Aside from Love's Christmas Journey, Bruce is hard at work filming Season 2 of THE BAY (www.thebaytheseries.com), where he plays Brian. Will his marriage to Zoey go off without a hitch? "Brian's stubborn," Bruce maintains. "He's going to make it happen."

While Bruce has gone on to work regularly in Hollywood post-ATWT, he fondly recalls his time as the offspring of iconic characters Bob and Kim, who were played by fan favorites Don Hastings and Kathryn Hays. "I miss them both a lot," he shares." Don is great and so hysterically funny. You don't think he'd be that way because he played the patriarch but he is. Kathryn is a sweetheart. I'd get all time the time from her [Kim's signature line], 'Listen, kiddo!' I think she added them herself if they weren't always in the script. She'd put them in anyway!"

The hit Web series THE BAY returns with new episodes starting today, Thursday, October 27! "This season will center more on the Garrett family," executive producer/creator Gregori Martin previews. As regular viewers of THE BAY know, Mary Beth Evans (Kayla, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-Sierra, AS THE WORLD TURNS; ex-Katherine, GENERAL HOSPITAL) plays matriarch Sara Garrett, mother of Brian (Dylan Bruce, Chris, ATWT), Marly (Martha Madison, ex-Liz, GH; ex-Belle, DAYS), and Peter (Kristos Andrews). "This season is a little edgier and there's more glamour," reveals Martin. "The stories move a lot faster and our focus is on central characters."

There may be a wedding if Brian and Zoey (played by Taylor Stanley; Remy, ANOTHER WORLD) take the plunge. "Season 1 was about their engagement and now we're going to see whether or not the marriage will happen," Martin teases.

"Brian doesn't want to lose his fiancée," says Bruce, noting that his character's encounter with Isabella may come back to haunt him. "He didn't really do anything wrong. He was drugged, but he's still worried about losing Zoey."

New cast members this season include GH alums Jackie Zeman (ex-Bobbie) and Paul Satterfield (ex-Paul; ex-Spencer, ONE LIFE TO LIVE). Look for Zeman to play Sophia, the wife of Mayor Jack Madison (Nicolas Coster, Eduardo, ATWT; Robert, AW; Lionel, SANTA BARBARA), while Satterfield is replacing Joe Lando (ex-Jake, OLTL; Macauley, GUIDING LIGHT) as Lee. "Joe did two days with us," Martin shares. "We'll probably end up re-shooting his scenes for [our] TV [version], but they'll be on the Web."

"Sophia is a southern belle," Zeman shares. "I don't know exactly where we're going with her, but she's vivacious and fun. She loves life and her husband. Gregori's told me some people are not glad she's married to the mayor so maybe she's an opportunist? We'll see."

As for Lee, Satterfield notes that his alter ego and Sara have "been married three times. The third time was supposed to be the charm. Lee and Sara have a tumultuous relationship. Even though they're with different people they still have a strong connection. He's madly in love with her and always will be."

Zeman feels that Web soaps like THE BAY are the future of the genre. "People still love their soaps and their characters," she says.

Check out Season 2 of THE BAY beginning today at 3:15 p.m. EST at www.thebaytheseries.com. For a preview of the show's new opening sequence, click here.

Season Two of the popular Web series THE BAY is about to debut, but before it does, you can attend a fan event with all of the on-line sudser's stars! The event will be held at The Varsity in Los Angeles on Saturday, November 5, from 9 p.m. to midnight. Tickets are $40 for THE BAY Fan Club members, and $65 for the general public, and will only be sold in advance. Finger food will be served, and a free beer and wine bar will be open until 10 p.m., with a cash bar for the rest of the bash. There will also be a raffle and silent auction. For tickets, visit www.thebaytheseries.com.

Look for AS THE WORLD TURNS fan favorite Van Hansis (Luke) to guest star in the Wednesday October 26, episode of PSYCH. In "This Episode Sucks," Hansis will play the brother of the original Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Kristy Swanson, a mysterious and beautiful woman whom the detectives are convinced is responsible for the murder of a blood-drained body. 1980s teen heartthrob Corey Feldman also appears in the episode.

Tune in to PSYCH on USA at 10 p.m. EST.

Colleen Zenk (Barbara, AS THE WORLD TURNS) is bringing her cabaret show back to the stage! The star will be making her New York City debut at Feinsteins supper club inside the Loews Regency Hotel on Sunday, October 30. "I'm so excited," she tells Soaps In Depth, adding that fans who saw her perform a few months ago can expect a new show this time around. "We've put a lot of material in since the Spring show, and we threw a lot of stuff out that worked then, but won't work for now. I'm really excited about the stuff we've put in because it is hoppin' and in-your-face fun. The kind of stuff that I'm doing is not the kind of material that you would expect... someone like me at my age to do, perhaps!" she says with a chuckle. "It's really, really fun. I'm just belting my little lungs out."

Zenk will be performing at Feinsteins again on Sunday, November 6. For tickets, visit www.feinsteinsattheregency.com.

If you are a fan of the 90s grunge band Nirvana and Forbes March (Mason, AS THE WORLD TURNS; Nash, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; Scott, ALL MY CHILDREN) you might want to check out the Barefoot Theatre Company's new play, Verse Chorus Verse. March will star in the show -- which making its New York premiere after debuting in Chicago a few months ago -- at the Cherry Lane Studio Theatre from Wednesday, October 26, through Saturday, November 12.

Based on the Nirvana song by the same name, Verse Chorus Verse is set 20 years after the suicide of the Seattle band's lead singer, Kurt Cobain, and follows Polly, the haunted subject of the song, as she seeks out the rock star who wants to prove that Cobain's 1994 death was actually a murder. Coincidentally, this year is the 20th Anniversary of Nirvana's smash second album, Nevermind, which propelled the alternative rock band into mainstream popularity.

For tickets, visit www.barefoottheatrecompany.org.

Spencer Grammer (ex-Lucy, AS THE WORLD TURNS) is a mom! The actress -- who went on to star in ABC Family's hit dramedy GREEK after leaving Oakdale Memorial -- and husband James Hasketh welcomed their first child, son Emmett Emmanuel, on Monday, October 10. According to People.com, the bouncing baby boy weighed in at 7 lbs., 7 oz.

Congratulations to the new family!

Alina Adams has done it again! The New York Times best-selling author of AS THE WORLD TURNS and GUIDING LIGHT tie-ins Oakdale Confidential, The Man From Oakdale, and Guiding Light: Jonathan's Story, has just released her latest soap opera-themed tome, Soap Opera 451: A Time Capsule Of Daytime Drama's Greatest Moments. The enhanced E-book -- which can be obtained by downloading the free Kindle app from amazon.com to any Internet-enabled device -- will allow readers to have a truly interactive experience as they read about 45 of daytime drama's greatest moments as voted on by industry insiders and fans alike.

"People sent me by E-mail, Facebook, and Twitter their memories of the scenes that meant so much to them. Then I went to the actors, writers, and producers who had been part of those scenes to ask them how they came together," Adams explains of how the compilation came together.

In the book, readers can hear Linda Dano recount playing Felicia's intervention on ANOTHER WORLD, Eden Riegel relate her memories of Bianca declaring her sexuality on ALL MY CHILDREN, Michael Corbett regaling the tale of David Kimble's death on THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS by trash compactor and more... and then click on provided links provided to see video clips, leave comments, or find out what the actors are doing now. "You can read about the scene, watch the scene, and contact the actor and [share] your thoughts!" Adams enthuses. "In that way, the book will not become stagnant because all of those pages will be constantly updated."

Having spent 30 years watching all of the great serial dramas that have come and gone, as well as those still on the air, Adams promises that there will be a little of something included for every fan. "There's a lot of talk about where soaps went wrong and what can we do to fix them. Those are completely legitimate questions and things that people should be asking in order to save and reinvent the genre," maintains Adams, who has also penned a slew of mystery and romance novels. "But I also wanted to talk about what soaps did right and ask: what were these moments that really had people glued to their TV sets? Because sometimes we can learn a lot from [identifying] and emulating that."

Soap Opera 451 retails for $9.99 and is text-to-speech and lending enabled. You can purchase the book here, and find out more about the author at www.alinaadamsmedia.com. And to learn how her history as a soap fan led to a career in the industry, keep your eyes open for a Look Who's Watching feature in an upcoming issue of Soaps In Depth!

Mary Beth Evans (Kayla, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; Sierra, AS THE WORLD TURNS) is using her killer instincts to go for the laughs in a Los Angeles production of Murder At The Howard Johnson's. Presented by the Studio C Artists Theatre Company, Evans says the Depression-era play "is a farce, so it's fast-talking and moving around -- it's really funny! It's been so much fun, and the people involved are incredible.

Performances run through Friday, October 28. For tickets and show times, visit www.murderathojos.eventbrite.com. Also this month, Evans will guest star on ABC's BODY OF PROOF as a defense attorney."I worked with Jeri Ryan (Kate) and then the two detectives," Evans shares.

Tune in to BODY OF PROOF on Tuesday October 11, at 10 p.m. EST, to see Evans in the episode titled "Lazarus Man." For more about the star's exciting schedule, including her December return to DAYS, check out our feature with Evans in the CBS issue of Soaps In Depth, on sale October 24!

AS THE WORLD TURNS fan favorite Trent Dawson (Henry) will soon be playing a new role for life: husband! The actor announced on his Facebook page that he and longtime girlfriend Sharron Kearney are engaged to be married! Congratulations!

A spokesperson for DAYS OF OUR LIVES confirms that AS THE WORLD TURNS alum Tamara Tunie (Jessica) has been cast in the short-term role of Judge Weston. According to TVLine, who broke the story, Tunie's tough-as-nails magistrate will make a decision that impacts the life of Drake Hogestyn's John Black in a major way.

Look for Tunie to appear on Friday, November 18, and Wednesday, November 23.

When AS THE WORLD TURNS came to an end, Colleen Zenk (Barbara) set to work putting together a one-woman cabaret show, and after previewing it in Connecticut in April, is now bringing Colleen Zenk: Still Sassy! to New York City this fall!

The show will premiere at Feinstein's at Loew's Regency on Sunday, October 30, and Sunday, November 6, at 8:30 PM. Still Sassy! will cover her entire career, including three decades as ATWT vixen Barbara Ryan, her battle with oral cancer, and her chaotic role as a divorced mother to a blended family of six children.

"I believe the old saying that 'when a door closes, a window opens,'" says Zenk. "The end of AS THE WORLD TURNS was a great loss for me, but it has given me the time to explore a lifelong dream. I have great material to draw upon and this show will give me the opportunity to sing some of my favorite songs and give the audience a glimpse into my life."

For tickets, you can purchase them at Feinstein's or online by following this link!

Since AS THE WORLD TURNS came to an end, Ellen Dolan (Margo) has been treading the boards, and when we ran into her recently, we discovered that her latest production is the classic play Steel Magnolias. Dolan will be playing the role of beauty salon owner Truvy, and jokes that she's already been fitted with the big hair and the big... bosom to help get her into character (presumably modeled after Dolly Parton, who essayed the part in the film version!). The cast also had some help getting into the spirit of the heartbreaking and humorous play set in the South when they found themselves rehearsing in a space that had no air conditioning during the recent East Coast heatwave!

Steel Magnolias will be running from Wednesday, August 3, through Saturday, September 10, at the Robert Shackleton Playhouse in Cape May, NJ. For more information, and to purchase tickets, visit the Cape May Stage Web site.

With gigs on AS THE WORLD TURNS (as Julia), THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL (as Aggie) and two GENERAL HOSPITAL roles (Carly and Claudia) under her belt, Sarah Joy Brown is now adding another soap to her resume: The Emmy-winning actress has joined the cast of DAYS OF OUR LIVES. Brown will be playing Madison James, a powerful CEO who becomes a mentor to Alison Sweeney's Sami when she makes her Salem debut in September. "DAYS is one of television's historic gems," the actress said in a statement. "I'm excited to join such a talented cast as well as to play such a strong, yet feminine, character that will inspire our female viewer."

You remember Bailey Chase as hunky doctor Chris Hughes on AS THE WORLD TURNS. This summer, he'll be exchanging that lab coat for a suit in order to play Sean Everett, a partner in a New York law firm on DAMAGES. The Emmy-winning series, starring Glenn Close and Rose Byrne, moves from FX to DIRECTV's Audience Nation with its Season 4 debut on Wednesday, July 13, at 10 p.m. EST. In his recurring role, Chase will be a love interest to Byrne's Ellen Parsons.

You can now officially call them Mr. and Mrs! ONE LIFE TO LIVE stars Terri Conn (Aubrey) and Austin Peck (Rick) were married on July 1. "It's official," tweeted the groom on Saturday. "Miss Terri Conn is now Mrs. Terri Peck."

The marriage marks the second for each actor, who met while playing husband and wife Brad and Katie on AS THE WORLD TURNS. Peck is the father to two boys, Aidan, almost 9, and Roman, 6, while Conn's daughter Julia will be 7 later this week. There is no official word yet from ABC if Conn will be using her married name professionally, as she did on ATWT while married to her first husband. Congratulations to the happy blended family!

The daytime world has lost one of its star villains forever: Anthony Herrera, whose James Stenbeck tortured AS THE WORLD TURNS' Oakdale and Barbara Ryan for 30 years, passed away on Tuesday, June 21. Herrera died at the age of 67 in Buenos Aries, Argentina, where he'd been living since 2005.

In January 1997, Herrera was diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma -- a rare and usually fatal cancer. In the course of his treatment, the actor underwent an autologous stem cell transplant and after a relapse, a donor transplant from his brother, the latter of which made medical history. Herrera even testified in The Senate in support of stem cell research. "The fact that I was asked to testify was a great honor," he told Soaps In Depth in 2008, adding that he wasn't the least bit intimidated by making his speech to Congress. "There aren't many people in the world who have had my life experience with cancer. I wasn't intimidated at all." Herrera was in remission for 10 years, and remained an advocate for government support in stem cell research.

A veteran of the stage, film and television, Herrera -- who also had contract roles on LOVING as Dane and THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS as Jack Curtis -- was the president of Poetry Theater, Inc., where actors such as Hume Cronyn, Charles Durning, Tyne Daly, and Willie Nelson have been known to recite verses on the stage. Donations in Herrera's memory can be made to Poetry Theatre, 210 West 70th Street, #808, New York, NY 10023.

The book Herrera wrote about his battle, The Cancer War, is available to download for free at www.thecancerwar.com.

AS THE WORLD TURNS' legendary diva, Eileen Fulton (Lisa), primarily performs her cabaret shows on the East Coast, but now lucky West Coast fans will have the opportunity to enjoy a memorable evening with the actress! Fulton will be bringing her one-woman show, Blame It On My Youth, to San Francisco's Rrazz Room at Hotel Nikko on Sunday, June 5 at 3:00 PM.

In between putting her own spins on standards like "I Left My Heart In San Francisco," "I Wished On The Moon" and "As The World Turns," Fulton will share personal stories about growing up as a preacher's daughter and becoming the first daytime vixen, with all the men in between!

The show has a $30 music charge with a two drink minimum. The Razz Room at Hotel Nikko is located at 220 Mason St. in San Francisco. For reservations or to purchase tickets, call (415) 394-1189 or visit www.therazzroom.com. And tell her that Soaps In Depth sent you!

After the nominees for the Daytime Emmy Awards were announced yesterday, the Soaps In Depth staff spent the rest of the day hard at work, talking to as many of the lucky actors and actresses as possible! While some of their reactions will appear in a story in our next CBS issue, we just couldn't let our chats with the stars go to waste, so we're posting the rest of their responses here for you to read!

Read more after the jump!

The National Academy Of Television Arts & Sciences has announced the nominations for the 38th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards! The winners will be named at the ceremony on Sunday, June 19, in Las Vegas, to be broadcast live on CBS. Did your favorite actor make the cut?

Outstanding Daytime Drama Series
THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL
THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS
ALL MY CHILDREN
GENERAL HOSPITAL

Read more after the jump!

Comedian/television personality Wayne Brady has been tapped by CBS to host The 38th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards. Brady -- the host of CBS' daytime game show LET'S MAKE A DEAL -- will share the stage with the best in daytime television when the ceremony airs live on Sunday, June 19, at 8 p.m. EST from Las Vegas.

Brady, who's won four Emmys for his self-titled ABC daytime talk show, is a self-professed soap fan, and appeared with his grandmother on a special Mother's Day episode of THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS in 2004. He previously hosted the 30th Daytime Emmy Awards in 2003.

AS THE WORLD TURNS fans who miss Marie Wilson (Meg) will have to go no further than the computer upon which they are reading this to see her in action once more. On Tuesday, May 3, she will be appearing in an episode of the comedy Web series WORKSHOP!

"It was hilarious," Wilson says of her experience. "It's quite a funny Web series!"

But that's not all the actress has been up to recently; There's a whole lot more after the jump!

As DAYS OF OUR LIVES' Justin and Adrienne, Wally Kurth (ex-Ned, GENERAL HOSPITAL; Sam, AS THE WORLD TURNS) and Judi Evans (Maeve, ATWT; Beth, GUIDING LIGHT) recently walked down the aisle for the third time -- and now you're invited to their wedding reception!

Join Kurth and Evans on Friday, June 3, at Oil Can Harry's in Studio City, CA, as they host a buffet dinner, photo opportunities, line dancing and special reception appearances from other DAYS favorites! The fun begins at 5 p.m. PST, and tickets are $60. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the actor's Kurth & Taylor Foundation, which raises funds for various childrens' charities.

For tickets, send a check or money order to The Kurth & Taylor Foundation, PO Box 195, Coal Valley, IL 61240. To order tickets with a credit card, call (309) 799-9515. The event is being held in conjunction with the annual DAYS Fan Weekend.

Three of your favorite former soap stars are coming to the critically-acclaimed legal drama, THE GOOD WIFE! On Tuesday, April 5, Trent Dawson (Henry, AS THE WORLD TURNS) guest stars in "Wrongful Termination" as Edward Yellins, an employee of a beleaguered company who gets cross-examined by Michael J. Fox! Then, don't miss Jon Prescott (Mike) when he appears as the boyfriend of fellow guest star America Ferrera on Tuesday, April 12. GUIDING LIGHT's Paula Garces (Pilar) also appears in the episode, titled "Foreign Affairs." Finally, GL's Aubrey Dollar (Marina) checks in as a seemingly "interested" nurse who reaches out to bi-sexual detective Kalinda on Tuesday, May 3.

THE GOOD WIFE airs at 10 p.m. EST on CBS.

1950s movie legend Farley Granger died at his Manhattan home on March 27 at the age of 85 from natural causes. Movie buffs will forever remember Granger for his roles in several Alfred Hitchcock films, including 1948's Rope and 1951's Strangers On A Train, but after leaving Hollywood for New York City, the actor found a successful second career in the world of daytime dramas. He received a Daytime Emmy nomination as Outstanding Actor in 1977 for his role as ONE LIFE TO LIVE's Dr. Will Vernon, and played Trent on THE EDGE OF NIGHT before settling in at AS THE WORLD TURNS in 1986 as Earl Mitchell, one of Lisa's numerous husbands.

ATWT grande dame Eileen Fulton (Lisa) tells Soaps In Depth that she was just beside herself when she learned that Granger would be playing her next Oakdale beau. "Such a handsome man. When I was in high school, his movie about the Hatfields and the McCoys came out," Fulton says of 1949's Rosanna McCoy, starring Granger and Joan Evans as young lovers caught between their feuding families. "We all had such a crush on Farley. When I heard that he was going to be my husband, I got all dressed up that morning to go to the studio. I wore black with pearls, I was really dolled up. I ran in, jumped on his lap and sang the little melody from the movie, and he said, 'Oh, I just hated that movie!'"

Granger had a special fondness for his leading lady, as well. "I'll never forget the night he took me home from a cast party. He said, 'Eileen, I love you. I really love you,'" Fulton recalls with a smile. "I remember looking down from being dazzled by his words... and saw his black sneakers sticking out from his tuxedo pants! He laughed and said, 'No one will notice my feet. But if they do, then I know I've lost my touch.' He never lost his looks or his charm. When I ran into him a year ago at a gathering, he was just as magnificent. I don't think he ever lost his touch."

Fulton adds that she has Granger to thank for her success as a cabaret singer. "He is the one who is responsible for getting me my voice teacher," she shares. "I'm singing all over the country now. I love that. And I loved working with him."

Marco Island, FL, is where any soap fan will want to be the weekend of May 14-15 -- it's the 13th Annual Soapfest Charity Weekend! For over a decade, daytime television's finest have headed to Southwest Florida to mix and mingle with guests and residents to raise money for local children's charities, including the Eden Florida Eimerman Center, an educational outreach service for autistic children. The weekend's festivities include the VIP "Night Of Stars" kickoff party, a celebrity bartending bash and the Cruisin' Boozin' and Schmoozin' sightseeing tour aboard the Marco Island Princess!

This year, celebrities scheduled to participate include:
John Driscoll (Chance, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS; Coop, GUIDING LIGHT)
Austin Peck (Rick, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; Brad, AS THE WORLD TURNS)
Terri Conn (Aubrey, OLTL; Katie, ATWT)
Tom Degnan (Joey, OLTL; Adam, ATWT)
Tom Pelphrey (Mick, ATWT; Jonathan, GL)
Jon Prescott (Mike, ATWT)
Billy Magnussen (Casey, ATWT)
Ellen Dolan (Margo, ATWT)
Stephanie Gatschet (Madison, ALL MY CHILDREN; Tammy, GL)
Walt Willey (Jackson, AMC)
J.R. Martinez (Brot, AMC)
Denise Vasi (Randi, AMC)
Thorsten Kaye (ex-Zach, AMC)
Eddie Alderson (Matthew, OLTL)
Kristen Alderson (Starr, OLTL)
Susan Haskell (Marty, OLTL)

For tickets, event schedules and more information, visit www.soapfest.com.

This summer, Web soap opera THE BAY continues to break new ground by taking their show on the road. "I like to describe it as THE BAY meets The Wizard of Oz," explains the series' creator/writer/director, Gregori J. Martin. "It's kind of a prequel to season two, which will begin in late September."

Titled FAR FROM THE BAY, the 8-episode prequel will debut in June and follows amnesiac Peter Garrett (played by Kristos Andrews) on his journey to The Big Apple to find Claire -- played by AS THE WORLD TURNS' Marie Wilson (Meg) -- the woman whom he mistakenly believes is his mother. "He runs into all these characters that help him get one step closer to finding her -- I cast a slew of veteran actors from daytime," Martin previews. "And then we did the first ever Web soap crossovers with EMPIRE and STEAMBOAT."

Look for familiar faces like ONE LIFE TO LIVE's Ilene Kristen (Roxy) and Tonja Walker (Olivia), ANOTHER WORLD's Anna Holbrook (Sharlene), GUIDING LIGHT's Michael O'Leary (Rick) and Miriam Colon (Maria), and ATWT's Agim Kaba (Aaron) to appear. Find the show at www.thebaytheseries.com.

Noelle Beck (Lily, AS THE WORLD TURNS) is on a roll! Not only will she be appearing on the May 4, episode of LAW & ORDER: SVU opposite John Stamos (ex-Blackie, GENERAL HOSPITAL), but the actress tells Soaps In Depth that she's just landed a gig in another series in the LAW & ORDER franchise! "Now I'm doing a LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT playing Jay Mohr's wife. Episodic life is treating me well!" she exclaims.

In addition to the LAW & ORDER spots, the actress had a pair of BLUE BLOOD appearances this winter as well. LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT begins its final season on Sunday, May 1, at 9 p.m. EST on the USA Network. Beck's episode does not yet have an air date.