I was in Boston this past weekend. I didn't go for the Red Sox/Yankees games or the Patriots game or even to the entomology conference that was being held. I went to meet actors who play on my favorite soap - "General Hospital."
When I told people I was going to Boston for the weekend, most assumed I was going to the Red Sox game. At first I was tentative in telling them I was going to a soap-fan event. I was expecting that look. You know the, "ah you’re one of them" look.
And I did get that look. But after about the 10th person I told, I remembered I didn't have to justify myself or what I like to do to anyone. So I embraced my love of "General Hospital" and gave them a sly smile when I announced my intentions.
Friends and Fanatics
I recruited a fellow GH fanatic, my friend and co-worker Aliciana. I neglected to invite another GH fan friend of mine, Tonya. After this weekend that will never happen again. I was read the riot act and deservedly so.
The event was held at the Boston Marriott in one of those rooms reserved for weddings or special events. We were immediately dubbed "newbies" and the women who are regulars schooled us on the ins and outs of super soap fandom.
"Your Number One Fan" ran the event. Neither of us had ever been to an event like this before, so we had no idea what to expect.
Trekkies Beware
You think trekkies are devoted. Well you haven't met Angelina, Angela or Katie. Angelina and a group of her friends came from California for the event. Katie was more local. Most of the women, and men, were from New England. And all of them had stories to tell about the different actors who have graced the "General Hospital" soundstage.
Angela had a stack full of scrapbooks filled with autographed photos and candid snapshots of the actors. Aliciana and I regaled in looking at past and present stars of the program.
Some women had presents for the actors. Others had photos they had taken and wanted autographed. Some even had T-shirts they designed just for this event. My favorite was an ode to Spinelli (a GH character). It was a hot-pink tank top. It read: "This Blonde One would not mess with the Unworthy One." The Blonde One and the Unworthy One are nicknames coined by the character Spinelli.
These fans are obviously looking for a way to catch an actor's eye and to be remembered. Why not? Honestly, if I had thought of it, I would have put together a snappy little T-shirt with some quirky remark.
At another event, one woman could not stop giggling and the actor recognized her immediately. She had met him before and her giggle was very recognizable.
Ingenue or Villain
The two actors we met play characters that are polar opposites. Bradford Anderson was first. He plays Spinelli, a computer genius who speaks a strange language of his own creation. He often refers to himself in the third person as "the Jackal." There are several other great nicknames he has for characters on the show: in addition to the Blonde and Unworthy ones, there's "Stone Cold," the "DA of Darkness," the "Unhinged One," "Godfather" and the "Faithful Friend."
His quirky manner is part of the reason why his character has caught on and developed such a following. Bradford is from the lakes area of New Hampshire, graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and had an award-winning stretch of work that included both musicals and dramas before coming to GH.
Folks often get the impression that soap actors are just good-looking actors who can't get a gig on nighttime television or the movies. I call this a TV urban myth.
The second actor we met was Sebastian Roche. He plays a character named Jerry Jacks, aka Mr. Craig. You are hard pressed to find an ounce of good will in the man unless you see him with his family. He plays the ultimate villain with no regrets. Originally, he was supposed to do a short stint and get killed off, but the producers liked him and offered him the opportunity to play Jerry. (THANK YOU!)
Sebastian is a classically trained actor and graduate of the prestigious Conservatoire National Superieur d'Art Dramatique of Paris. He has extensive theater experience including playing Hamlet, Macbeth and Titus Andronicus and he has appeared on popular television shows like "Law & Order," "Sex and the City," "Charmed" and "CSI." He is playing Wulfgar in the upcoming film "Beowulf."
Autographs and Hugs
Bradford's event was Saturday night. We earned our newbie nickname when we asked if there would be a bar. We were quickly told that fan events don’t include alcohol. Oops.
The first hour of these events is a Q&A with the actor. You can ask them whatever you like. Most of the questions were confined to GH experiences and with whom they like to work. Some funny quips here and there and stories about their life, etc.
Bradford was filled with energy and genuinely glad to be in Boston. He is a huge Red Sox fan and had a chance to visit some of his family. You also had a chance to purchase an 8x10 glossy photo of the actor that they will autograph and raffle tickets for assorted prizes, including an autographed copy of a GH script.
Then there were the silent auctions. You could bid on an assortment of personal contact prizes with the actor. They included lunch, a phone call, a photo opportunity or a 20-minute one-on-one get-to-know-you session. Thankfully, I didn't bring my checkbook.
After the Q&A, the actor goes to each table. You then have the opportunity to talk to them about anything you like and get your picture taken with them. The newbies made quite the spectacle when Bradford came to our table. We were kind of loud. But the promoters liked that. So we kept it up.
Hugs, pictures and autographs. He is a great guy. But we were hungry and thirsty.
Boston Nightlife
During the Saturday night event, Aliciana and I snuck downstairs to the hotel bar. We were told that we could bring drinks back up to the event. There were six tables of women who had a chance to chat up Bradford ahead of us and we were thirsty.
In the bar were a couple of Bradford’s friends from high school. We talked about GH and the Red Sox. Then in walks this buxom blonde decked out in cowgirl fashion.
She leaned over the bar and asked the bartender if he knew where the soap stars were heading out to that night. Aliciana and I watched gleefully. She found out that the other folks in the bar were Bradford’s friends and asked them point blank where they were going.
We were laughing inside as we watched this episode unfold before us. A true soap groupie who thought she was going to get lucky - literally. Greg Vaughan who plays Lucky on GH was also at the event and the target of her affection
After the buxom blonde left, we joked about how we should have sent her on a wild goose chase all over Boston.
After the event we headed out for some Boston nightlife.
Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am a lightweight when it comes to drinking. We had dinner at the Flat Iron Grill and a couple of drinks as well. We laughed and had a great time.
And I left my wallet at the restaurant.
Fifty-dollars short later, I managed to reclaim my wallet early Sunday morning. And I still had my license and credit cards. Score!
A Berkshire Connection
Sunday afternoon we attended our second fan event: Sebastian Roche. Born in France and raised by an English mother and French father, his accent is very unique (and very sexy). He is fluent in four languages.
He was just as animated as Bradford and even demonstrated the salsa technique he used the night before. He showed off his acting chops with bits of accents here and there.
Definitely not shy, we got him to sit in Angelina's lap for a photo op.
Turns out Sebastian lived in New Paltz, N.Y., for a time and knows our area well. He has visited Mass MoCA and appeared in a WTF production. Aliciana and I made sure to invite him to Hobson’s Choice next time he was in the area.
The Drive Home
My face actually hurt Sunday night from all the smiling I did over the weekend. Seriously, I don’t think I’ve had a care-free weekend like that in some time.
While Aliciana slept, I thought about the weekend. It was amazing. We met some great people, a few strange ones as well, but all well intentioned and with a single passion: GH.
We might all be obsessed with the show. But as I thought about the actors getting put through their paces, I was humbled at how gracious they were and I was thankful that I took the opportunity to go to the event.
Ultimately we all have our favorite things to do - it could be sports, it could be NASCAR, it could even be watching a favorite TV show. I've done a lot of soul searching this past year. I've realized that I need to do what makes me happy.
So you won't have to justify to me about why you're going to that convention on electric trains. In fact, I encourage you to tell me all about your passion. In turn, I will update you on Spinelli's latest nicknames!
Special Note: I want to recognize my friend April, her sister Heidi and their mom. We discovered GH together over 25 years ago.
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I love it! You didn't miss anything, of course you didn't have to mentioned how I slept on the way home...it was of course on and off, with waking moments of sighs...OMG, I can't believe we just did that, hee hee,
see you later! great job!
Alicianna
Wow - sounds like a good time. I love Sebastian. Are you going to the Feb event in Vegas? I thought I would feel stupid going alone but it sounds like everyone is friendly. Maybe one of these days...
Local Soccer Enthusiasts Look to Compete in Iceland Tournament
By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
The members of the Stateline Strikers team are raising funds to compete in a tournament in Iceland this November.
CANAAN, N.Y. — A group of area women, including some self-described "soccer moms" are preparing to take their game on the road — and across the ocean.
This November, the small team of soccer enthusiasts are aiming to compete in "Wurth Iceland," a six-on-six tournament that bills itself as "fun and football" and brings teams from around the world to the Land of Fire and Ice.
"I've actually been part of this adventure previously," Yessica Soriano of Lanesborough, Mass., said recently. "I played in the tournament six or seven years ago.
"It was lovely. I had never had the opportunity to travel internationally to play soccer until this came about. It was a great experience going there with other women who enjoyed playing the sport — not just women but soccer moms."
For about a year, Soriano has been enjoying the beautiful game with a different group of like-minded women who get together on Tuesdays and Thursdays as part of the Columbia County Women's Soccer League.
The group plays on Tuesdays at the Fieldhouse in Canaan and on Thursdays at Crellin Community Park in Chatham.
The league was founded in the summer of 2023 by Melanie Snyder, a resident of the eastern New York county who founded Tri-State Psychotherapy Group in Pittsfield, Mass.
The game-winning rally started when Pittsfield junior Jack Abel led off by crushing a 1-1 pitch to left-center and racing all the way to third base, sliding in just ahead of the tag to give the Generals a sterling scoring opportunity. click for more
The Pittsfield baseball team Saturday rallied for five runs in the top of the sixth inning to break a 5-5 tie and went on to a 12-5 win over Clinton in the quarter-finals of the Division 4 State Tournament. click for more
In addition to the annual "Moment of Appreciation" school tradition when graduates each give a flower to a faculty member who impacted their life in a significant way, two seniors made appreciation for their parents a major theme of their remarks.
click for more
Amanda Pou was named the most valuable player of the regional final after striking out four and walking none in a complete-game effort in the circle. She also ripped a two-run double in Pittsfield’s four-run fourth-inning rally to break open a scoreless game. click for more