From Thursday through Sunday, New York Times journalists and some of today's most celebrated talents and thinkers from film, television, music, theater, dance and books joined in the The New York Times Arts & Leisure Weekend. This popular event featured a loving tribute to ALL MY CHILDREN on Sunday afternoon dedicated to the show's 40th anniversary. Jacques Steinberg hosted a panel sessions at the TimesCenter Stage which included creator Agnes Nixon, executive producer Julie Hanan Carruthers, and stars Susan Lucci, Debbi Morgan, Cameron Mathison and Rebecca Budig. Nixon and Lucci were much of the focus.
The event consisted of a Q&A session with Steinberg, the reading of an early ALL MY CHILDREN script featuring Mona and young Erica, and audience questions. The script reading was particularly wonderful as Nixon played the Mona role and Lucci read Erica Kane at 16 as if she could still play it. There was also a video tribute to kick off the event.
During the fan Q&A, numerous fans mentioned they had watched the show for its entire 40 year run. The final question was from a fan who fondly remembered Morgan's "shout if from the rooftops" line when Angie had a defiant scene with her sexually harrassing professor, Dr. Voight (played by ALL MY CHILDREN star David Canary's real-life brother, John). He mentioned it became a common phrase used among his circle of friends, one of which had recently died and used that line on his death bed. It was a poignant way to wrap up this wonderful tribute to 40 years.
This Arts & Leisure Weekend series tribute to ALL MY CHILDREN was so well done I wanted to stay for the entire schedule of events for the rest of the day.
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It was a nice event and even nicer meeting you guys. Thanks for all you do.
ReplyDeleteHeidi