Tonya's SSW recap

I started the weekend on Friday with Kassie's CD signing for "I Want To Love You". I had lunch with Erica Lee, the Orlando DJ who interviewed the soap stars on Friday morning. We will have those on the site so check back. Includes Laura Wright. Rebecca Herbst, Tika Sumpter and others. Then I took off to the Writer's Stop. When I got there, there was already a huge line, which was GREAT! They did it different this year. Instead of having a media room they had the media going around to the stars. Kassie did a few on the spot interviews with FL TV stations. She even pulled me on the air for the West Palm station. After the media was over she greeted fans. Kassie is so great with fans and she sold quiet a few CDs,. Kassie ended up having to leave to do an interview before she got through the line, but she told them if they waited she would come back... and she did. While Kassie was signing I sat with her Disney guide Sam and the OLTL Publicist, Lauri Hogan. Lauri said they were doing Chicago's "Cell Block Tango" and that Bree was doing the part Kassie had done at NYC's Broadway Cares. Also Lauri has worked with the guy who is playing Charlie and really liked him.

On Saturday morning I got up and got to the park by 6:30 and started putting stickers on fans. Met a lot of nice fans from GH and AMC too. If you look at pics and see yellow stickers... that was me. I do want to say thank you to everyone who took Kassie's stickers and read a few blogs where people where actually looking for them. We do them every year and for future reference if you don't see my by the gates in the am, look for me by Kassie's autograph stand while she is signing. After the gates opened I went to see the OLTL Star motorcade and Conversation. It was Kassie and most of her OLTL cast mates. Kassie joked that John and Todd were in love. Kassie also said Easton and TSJ were writing together but Easton said they had gotten together and drank a lot of beer, but had not written a word on paper. Kassie joked with Kathy Brier about them getting the baby back. Kassie said Marcie was a loser and Kathy just said "Blair is calling Marcie a loser".... it was funny and good to see they made fun at themselves and their characters.

After that I went to Kassie's autograph stand and put stickers on folks. Kassie has such nice fans and she makes such an effort to go out and see the fans who did not get fast passes. Not everyone does.

Then they had the OLTL Talk show with Bob Guiney... First Erika came out and she does have so much class. I didn't meet her but Sharon and Deb were both so impressed with how she really listened to every fan. She talked about going to Africa. Her son is at Oxford and she is very proud. Her daughter is an actress. She said her husband helps her pick her emmy reel. He does not watch and can really watch it just for the work. She says sometimes as a actress you might be remembering how you felt or how much you liked the scene, not the actual work. Erika is very excited about Ron and says he has a great way of writing a story that includes everyone. She did say that Dorian will come to Paris and bring Charlie to Llanview. She has great things to say about Robin Strasser... as a co star and person. You can tell Erika loves the Vikki/Dorian relationship. Then Erika who is very loved and respected at SSW had to leave for her autograph stand. She also said she thought if Joe Reiley had lived he would have been the love of Vikki's life but that she now felt it was Ben. And then the OLTL gang came out. Michael Easton got the biggest roar...

Not alot was said about T&B, just they they are gonna get the baby. Kathy Brier joked she found it odd that Marcie felt Todd was an unfit parent, but she took Tommy and dressed as a drag queen. Also Kathy and Kristen see the same vocal coach. She says she think Marcie is torn because she loves Starr and she sees what a great child she is and she knows Todd raised her, so she knows he is a good father, but she can't give up Tommy. Tika said she would like for Layla to get more love. Said maybe Cris or John. I met up with Tika's Diva and just want to say HI. They had these cool buttons and tee shirts. Bree said she loves Jessica bad and wished she did not have to decide, but could have kept both Nash and Antonio. Kamar had turned 40 on Friday and his fan club threw him a surprise birthday Party. He talked about how his fan club was so much about charity and gave a big shout out to Jenia, who does an amazing job for him.

Kassie did say at the songbird talk show on Sunday that T&B were immature and that is why they worked... when they asked her who was her favorite co star she said DF because he is so unaware of how great he is and he comes in with no agenda... Kassie also joked that when her and David have love scenes they joke and are like.. ok now we have to kiss. It was really cute how Kassie did it. Kassie and Michael Easton did a lot of back and forth.. also the crowd overwhelming wanted Marcie to have Tommy. not Todd. Kathy Brier was even surprised by this. Kassie joked with KB about how they were getting the baby back and Marcie should forgive Michael because he was not betraying her, he was protecting her(Kassie was joking and mocking how Blair would feel, lol). Kassie joked Blair had a secret thing for John McBain and then Bree joked and said Jessica kinda had a thing for Blair.. Kassie joked there was enough love to go around... also Tika wanted to be with John and have Vangie wake up.. also she is no longer in Twise but is releasing a new cd on her own. KB joked Rex had a thing for Marcie and I think joked about John too. They all picked with Easton that they wanted John and Easton joked at how they needed the writer's back because of the stuff the girls were coming up with. Michael Easton is so funny and relaxed on stage. I loved the back and forth with him and Kassie. When asked who he admired TSJ said his wife, then his son... Kassie said her parents. KA said the cast and her Mom. Kristen also said she would think about putting a cd out after college. Said it is hard to manage work and school but she does her.. also her and Brittany share a dressing room.. Kassie is a neat freak.. I think Brandon said he shared a room with John Paul.. Also there was a calendar of hot hunks. Kassie had a guy fan there who just loved her and asked when there would be a hot divas one.. Kassie joked and said he meant old broads, lol. This guy had said some really nice things about Kassie in the pre show and Kassie had heard it and when out and gave him a hug and a kiss. He was so red, lol.

The concerts were amazing.
Kristen Alderson and Brandon Buddy started the show with a song from "Prom Night: The Musical" and then Kristen did a number with the Kids from High School Musical from MGM. Next, David Canary introduced Bobbie Eakes. She did a Carrie Underwood song then Martina song... Bookie Eakes has such a strong powerful country voice. I have her CD and just love it. Then, Bradford Anderson introduced Sonya Eddy (Epiphany, GH). She did a few jazz songs. Sunday night her throat was sore, so she had a hard time singing,... she said it was our fault cause she spent the whole day talking to our asses, lol. Next was Kassie ! She was amazing. She sang "Too Little", "I Want To Love You", and "Sneakers in the Dryer". She said at rehearsal she had told them to up the tempo a little and when they preformed it Friday Kassie said the tempo was fast and she was out of breathe. But you could not tell. she was GREAT! I LOVE seeing her sing live. Saturday night the tempo was better for her. "Too Little" just hit number 97 on the country music charts, so make the time to call your local radio station and request it. I was sitting by a family and the man loved "Sneakers in the Dryer". He was singing it later. Then 5 of the east coast ladies sang "Cell Block Tango". It was GREAT! Bobbie Eakes, Bree Williamson, Kristen Alderson, Tika Sumpter, and Melissa Claire Egan (Annie, AMC). Watching that I decided for my birthday I am going to go to NYC for Broadway Cares. I looked and it is March 2nd. Maybe we can make a party of it. It was so much fun to watch. Then Cameron Mathison and Edita did their Jive from "Dancing with the Stars". It was GREAT and I am so disappointed he was voted off. His body looks even better in person. Then Tika sang "Trouble" and looked like a million dollars and was amazing. Then Miss Kathy Brier took the stage and completely blew me away and everyone else to. First she did an acoustic version of "Untouchable" from her CD and then blew everyone away singing Joplin's "Take Another Little Piece of My Heart." I can not even describe how great it was. She said some of her favorites growing up included Aretha, Joplin, and Aero Smith. Then the High School Musical kids came out and sang "We're All in This Together", but changed the words to "Soap fans everywhere...". Then, all the soap stars came up on stage with them and started dancing as fire works went off over their head. I have to add Kristen Alderson has such an amazing voice. She joked at the talk show about how when her and Brandon have kissing scenes the stage hands who have all watched her grown up have a hard time watching and Brandon is like I am sorry man, lol. She said everyone heard she was in the Broadway number and told her to make sure she was covered. She said she thought they covered her well and had her still look 16. Kristen not onl;y open the show but she had 5 numbers. Her mom said she rehearsed from 2pm on Thursday to 2am Friday. You could not tell though because Kristen always had a smile on her face. You could tell how happy she was to be there.

It was a great weekend. I know I am forgetting stuff and will add it as I remember and maybe others can add more too. I really only saw the talk shows Kassie and Kristen were both in and hung out by Kassie's booth and did stickers. Farrah recorded some video greeting for both sites and when I upload them I will let you know. It was so much fun with everyone and thanks for the nice words, and mostly thanks to Kassie. She is just the best and every time I am around her I love her even more. Also Sharon and Deb.. I am so glad you came and had so much fun. Now we get to get together at least 2 times a year now... YAY!! Also nice seeing Shelia, Manda, and Jackie.

I had a friend who went through Easton's line to ask him for a card to JoB's number one fan. He said he couldn't cause the T&Ber's would attack him, lol. But he did sign me a sweet card and now I love him even more :o).

Tonya
www.kassiedepaiva.com