Soap stars appearing in Savannah:
Christian LeBlanc, born on Aug, 25, 1958, in Fort Bragg, N.C., has won two daytime Emmys for outstanding lead actor for his role as Michael Baldwin on "The Young and the Restless." He first played the role from 1991-1993 and has held the role since 1997. He grew up in New Orleans and currently resides in Los Angeles.
Austin Peck, born April 9, 1971, in Honolulu, Hawaii, plays Brad Snyder on "As the World Turns." Peck, born Jeffrey Austin Peck, is also known for his role as Austin Reed on "Days of our Lives" from April 13, 1995, to April 5, 2002, and from Sept. 20, 2005, to Oct. 26, 2006. While he moved several times during his childhood due to his father's position in the Navy, his family settled in Los Angeles when he was nine. Peck currently resides in New York with his wife Tara and their two young sons.
Brandon Beemer, born Feb. 27, 1980, in Eugene, Ore., plays Owen Knight on "The Bold and the Beautiful." He also played Shawn Douglas Brady on "Days of Our Lives" from 2006-2008. Growing up in Eugene, he was previously a driver for the local Coca Cola bottling plant before trying his hand at acting. He currently lives in Los Angeles.
Gina Tognoni, born Nov. 28, 1973, in St. Louis, Mo., has won two daytime Emmys for her role as Dinah Marler on "Guiding Light." She is also known for her portrayal of Kelly Cramer on "One Life to Live," a role she held from 1995-2001. She grew up in New York and Rhode Island, where she was named Miss Rhode Island Teen USA in 1992 and Miss Rhode Island Teen All-American in 1993. She currently resides in New York City.
Murray Bartlett, born March 20, 1971, in Sydney, Australia, plays Cyrus Foley on "Guiding Light." He matriculated from Australia's acclaimed National Institute of Dramatic Art, where his classmates included Hollywood heavy-hitter Cate Blanchett. He currently resides in New York.
Winsor Harmon, born Nov. 22, 1963, in Crowley, La., plays Thorne Forrester in "Bold and the Beautiful." Prior to "Bold and the Beautiful," Harmon portrayed Del Henry on "All My Children" from 1994-1995. He grew up in Rockwall, Texas, and attended Texas A&M University on a football scholarship. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife, DeAnna Lindstrom, and has two children.
Julie Pinson, born Nov. 7, 1967, in Palo Alto, Calif., plays Janet Ciccone on "As the World Turns." She is also well known for playing the role of Billie Reed on "Days of our Lives" from 2004-2008. She grew up in Fremont, Calif. and currently resides in New York City with her husband and "Days of our Lives" co-star, Billy Warlock.
Don Diamont, born Dec. 31, 1962, in New York City, plays Brad Carlton in "The Young and the Restless." Growing up and currently living in Los Angeles, Diamont was the youngest of four children. Diamont has six sons and is married to actress Cindy Ambuehl.
These star-studded, interactive, daylong events will be held in over 30 North American cities during 2009, culminating with the biggest, most-anticipated soap opera fan event in the country, Soap Cruise-The Third Voyage in January 2010.
Feverish soap fans from in and around Savannah will enjoy five fun-filled hours of face time with eight of the biggest names in daytime television.
From noon-5 p.m., the stars will mix and mingle, answer questions, sign autographs, play soap trivia and pose for pictures with attendees as well as act out scenes on stage with several lucky audience members. Fans will also get an exclusive glimpse of how the elaborate storylines on daytime dramas come to life during a workshop with a soap opera director and hear hilarious, behind the scenes secrets from the actors themselves.
ALL guests will receive a complimentary, keepsake program featuring signed color photos of each actor attending. The first 300 fans who register to attend in Savannah will also receive personalized, autographed headshots of each actor appearing there. Fashionable souvenir clothing and mementos will be available for purchase.
Plus guests at this and the other events throughout the country will have a chance to win studio tours of soap opera sets and can register to win one of 20 trips for two on Soap Cruise-The Third Voyage, an unforgettable, four-night Caribbean dream adventure for soap fans featuring VIP breakfasts, cocktail parties and other fun, unprecedented opportunities to interact with over 16 soap opera superstars.
Tickets are $100 in advance and $125 at the door (if tickets remain).
The Savannah International Trade and Convention Center is located at One International Drive in Savannah. Pre-registered guests can check in at 10 a.m., doors open at 11 a.m.
