Four Soap Stars On One Stage:

‘General Hospital’ Cast Members Are Coming To Newtown

By Shannon Hicks

How far in advance do you tape shows? Is it hard to kiss another woman for the camera? Is it hard for your wife to watch you kiss another woman, even for the camera?

And most importantly, is Kate still alive?

These were some of the questions I was dying to ask Steve Burton when he called from the set of General Hospital earlier this week, but we never got around to it. We talked about the live shows he does occasionally, including the one he has later this month with three of his co-stars, and we did talk a little bit about what a lunkhead his character, Jason Morgan, can be.

On Friday, October 17, Emmy Award-winning soap star Steve Burton (Jason Morgan, née Jason Quartermaine) will headline a live performance at Edmond Town Hall Theatre.

In addition to Steve Burton, fellow GH stars Bradford Anderson (Spinelli) and Brandon Barash (Johnny Zacchara) will also be appearing and performing the first of four shows Burton and Anderson will be playing on the East Coast that weekend. Anderson will be performing in three of the four shows scheduled for the weekend of October 17–19. Just announced is the addition of Derk Cheatwood, who plays Max the bodyguard.

Newtown is in for the opening gig that weekend. Doors will open at 6 pm, a preshow event with VIP ticket holders will begin at 7, and the performance will get underway at 8 pm.

So what are four tough guys (well, three tough guys and one wannabe) doing in a show sponsored locally by Treehouse Comedy Productions?

“We’re just kind of having fun, telling stories,” Steve said. “The time goes so fast, too, because it’s just not some guy sitting on a stool on the stage. It’s fun, and interactive.”

While the show is being presented by Treehouse Comedy Productions, don’t expect a stand-up show.

The Newtown event, said Steve Burton, will probably open with some music by Bradford Anderson (“He’s a fantastic singer,” said Burton), and then the other three will go on stage to talk about — and joke about — themselves, their characters, and the show that all four currently call home.

“I go out there and just have fun about the show, and myself,” Steve said earlier this week, calling from the GH set in LA. “We all have fun.

“Derk tells some of the best stories. He’s one of the best storytellers I’ve ever met. Brandon’s a lot of fun, and Bradford’s great, he’s a very talented guy. We have a lot of fun. The last time we went out on stage together he had me laughing so hard I was crying.”

Steve Burton was the winner of the 2003 Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor, 1999 Soap Opera Digest Award for Hottest Male Star, and 1997 and 1998 Soap Opera Digest Awards for Outstanding Younger Leading Actor.

He is also the winner of the 1998 Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, and has been nominated for three additional Daytime Emmys (Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series, 1997; Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, 2000; and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, 2005).

He has been on General Hospital, the longest running serial on television today, since 1990. His character was originally Jason Quartermaine, a very straight-laced (reindeer sweater wearing!) med student but a near fatal DUI accident caused Jason to lose his memory, and the character was resurrected as Jason Morgan… who quickly became sideman to and hitman for Port Charles mobster Sonny Corinthos. These days Jason has moved into the lead position of Sonny’s organized crime in Port Charles, thanks to Sonny’s retirement a few months ago, but that standing is threatened by Sonny’s current anger over the shooting of his fiancé Kate Howard during Sonny and Kate’s wedding two weeks ago.

Steve laughs when he is asked about himself as compared to his character, Jason Morgan.

“There are probably certain things in his life and mine that are similar, but he really needs to have a little fun,” said Burton, who by all reports is very happily married and also the father of two. “It’s the times, like with [former girlfriend] Sam [McCall], and even now with Elizabeth, you see a softer side when there’s a woman around. There’s no doubt about it. I want people to see more of that with Jason, but obviously his life is just bombarded with death and violence.

“This guy has nothing, really, to be happy about.”

Jason Morgan is a tough guy, but just about two years ago a student with a remarkable talent for computer hacking showed up in Port Charles, having been hired by the now-dead international arms dealer Lorenzo Alcazar to create a flash drive containing falsified evidence against Jason’s then girlfriend, Sam.

That student, Damian Spinelli — who now goes only by his surname — in a soap opera-twist-of-fate, found himself doing work for Jason and Sonny (when the two were allies). He has since become one of Jason’s confidantes, his roommate, and something of a pseudo gangster who manages to be underfoot and well intentioned, yet helpful, all at the same time. Spinelli has an interesting fashion sense and does not seem to do anything with his hair, but his book smarts are above average even if he has a terrible time interacting with women.

Spinelli has also come up with nicknames for the major players in his life, including Jason (“Stone Cold”) Morgan, former crush Lulu (“The Blonde One”), sidekick and current crush Maxie (“Maximista,” née “The Bad Blonde One”) Jones, Jason’s girlfriend Elizabeth (“The Maternal One”) Spencer, junior mobster and Stone Cold foe Johnny (“The Dark Prince”) Zacchara, and even himself, who he refers to in the third person as “The Jackal.”

Spinelli has added some comic moments to the show, and unintentional lightness to Jason Morgan’s life. (In a recent Soap Opera Digest interview, even Burton said, “Who could have known how this kid would have worked out … who would have thought that, at the end of the day, Jason would end up being kind of [Spinelli’s] big brother?” In listing his top five General Hospital moments, Burton continued, in the same story, “You get lucky sometimes. Jason’s friendship with Spinelli is definitely at the top of my list. That’s No. 1.”)

The interaction between the characters, and the actors playing them, brings a lot of levity to rehearsals.

“I wish people could see some of the rehearsals,” said Steve Burton. “I play myself during the readings, and it’s really funny because Bradford and I go back and forth. Jason is the straight man of the two on screen, but we have a great time behind the scenes.”

On October 17, fans of GH will have the opportunity to ask questions of Burton, Anderson, Barash and Derk. Burton is the ringleader of the shows, it seems. He is the common thread between a series of live fan events, which he occasionally headlines alone but more often than not lately include any number of his co-stars.

The live shows began as fan events, and have continued as such in that the majority of the audiences are fans of General Hospital.

“I never know where the shows are going to go,” admitted the soap star with huge biceps and cerulean blue eyes. “People usually think it’s straight comedy because they’re in venues hosted by comedy clubs, but no, not really.

“I do comedy about the show,” he continued, “but there is a lot of interaction between us and the fans. Even guys who come with their girls, some of them have come up to me after a show and tell me they like that interaction.”

At its core, it’s going to be a fan event with some comedy thrown in, and Burton admits that right up front.

“If you’re looking for a funny night out, you might want to go to a movie. We have a lot of fun, though,” he promised. “It’s something a little different. You never know what’s going to happen when you have a few guys up on the stage, sharing stories.”

Tickets for “General Hospital Soap Stars” at Edmond Town Hall are $70 for balcony seating, $100 for lower level, and $150 for VIP tickets. VIP guests will be seated within the first four rows, and will be admitted to a preshow party with all four performers.

For tickets call the Treehouse Comedy office at 268-5857, send email to TreehouseComedy@charter.net or visitTreehouseComedy.com.