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1976: Days of our Lives' Doug and Julie were finally married.

1985: John Sanderford joined Ryan's Hope as Frank Ryan.

1990: Dutch soap Goede Tijden Slechte Tijden premiered.

2003: Kelly Monaco debuted as Sam McCall on General Hospital."The best prophet of the future is the past."

― Lord Byron

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1968: On Another World, seething with anger after a fight with his mother, Liz (Audra Lindley), Bill Matthews (Joseph Gallison) crashed his car.

1976: On Days of our Lives, Doug Williams (Bill Hayes) and Julie Olson (Susan Seaforth Hayes) were married.

Below are Doug and Julie's vows:

Bill and Susan Seaforth Hayes as Doug...

Primary Stages and Ensemble Studio TheatreAlfred P. Sloan Foundation Project present Informed Consent, a New York City premiere by Deborah Zoe Laufer End Days, Leveling Up and directed by Obie winner Liesl Tommy Appropriate, The Good Negro. The limited engagement began performances on August 4and continues through September 13, 2015 at Primary Stages at The Duke on 42nd Street - a New 42nd Street project. Opening night is tonight, August 18 at 7Pm.

Tina BenkoBroadway's Irena's Vow, Top Girls, The Real ThingjoinsPun BandhuWit, The Judge,Jesse J. PerezRecent Tragic Events, American Splendor,DeLanna StudiAugust Osage County, Edge of America, andMyra Lucretia TaylorNine, 'Girls' inPrimary StagesandEnsembleStudio TheatreAlfred P. Sloan Foundation Project's upcoming production, Informed Consent. The New York City premiere by Deborah Zoe Laufer End Days, Leveling Up and directed by Obie winnerLiesl TommyAppropriate, The Good Negro will play a limited engagement August 4 - September 13, 2015 atPrimary Stagesat The Duke on 42nd Street - a New 42nd Street project. Opening night is Tuesday, August 18 at 7Pm.

Stars: Don McManus, Jay Paulson, Betsy Rue, Chris Wylde, Catherine Annette, Lee Kholafai, Lanny Joon, Clint Brink, Deborah Zoe | Written by Robert Nathan, Lukas Kendall | Directed by Robert Nathan

When I read the story line for Lucky Bastard I couldn’t help but remember the scene in Boogie Nights in the limo with Roller Girl (Heather Graham) being served up to a “fan”, that didn’t end well and neither does Lucky Bastard. Things never go well when reality is mixed with fantasy…

Lucky Bastard is a website run by Mike (Don McManus) which invites fans to have sex with porn stars. Dave (Jay Paulson) is the latest fan to be selected, and the porn star Ashley Saint (Betsy Rue) is less than happy about doing a scene with an amateur. As the shoot nears and things start getting tense, will Mike get the money shot he expects?

Whatever your...

With the country still reeling from a sluggish economy, the Actors Theatre of Louisville offered a stimulus package of new plays. The theater's 34th annual Humana Festival of New American Plays, which concluded March 28, featured seven full-length works, plus four one-acts. During a special weekend for the press and theater professionals, the outlook for regional productions of new works appeared healthy.At a panel on the relationship between playwrights and regional theaters, Atl artistic director Marc Masterson pointed out that about 20 regional theaters now have new-play initiatives, compared with just a handful 10 years ago. Representatives from Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Washington, D.C.'s Arena Stage, New York's Public Theater, the Denver Center Theatre, and Atl detailed their programs, which include script development workshops, readings, and full productions. In addition, at one of the many networking parties, Freddie Ashley—artistic director of Atlanta's Actor's Express, which focuses on new plays...

Ensemble Studio Theatre ((William Carden, Artistic Director, Paul Alexander Slee, Executive Director) and The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation (Doron Weber, Program Director) proudly announce the Off-Broadway premiere of End Days, a new play by Deborah Zoe Laufer, directed by Lisa Peterson*. Performances begin March 25th, and continue through April 19th at E.S.T. (549 West 52nd Street). Lisa Peterson* directs a cast that includes Molly Ephraim, Dane DeHaan, Peter Friedman, Deidre O'Connell, and Paco Tolson*. End Days will have set design by Lee Savage, lighting design by Raquel Davis, costume design by Suzanne Chesney, and sound design & original composition by Ryan Rumery.