Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 16, 1992 TAG: 9201160052
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
DAYTIME SOAP OPERA STARS PERFORM ENVIRONMENTAL DRAMAS
In a sense, the fate of the planet is a continuing drama. What will happen to the ozone layer, to the rain forests, to air and water quality? Tune in during the next century for some clues. So it doesn't seem too incongruous that the folks who specialize in cliff-hangers of a different sort - soap operas - should have some interest in the environment.On Sunday, 13 members of the cast of "One Life to Live" will enact short dramas about environmental problems and their solutions at a luncheon to benefit the Student Environmental Action Coalition, a 3-year-old organization of high school and college students.
In one skit, Robert Woods, who plays the romantic Bo Buchanan on the soap, and Grace Phillips, or Sarah Buchanan, who was presumed dead but surfaced recently as a released hostage, will go marketing. Sarah will shop in an environmentally sound way; Bo will not. After their foray, they will visit non-soap characters Archie and Edith Bunker to spread the word about "green" shopping.
The project was the idea of Jessica Tuck, who plays Megan Gordon-Harrison on the soap. Megan is battling lupus, and Tuck is about to leave the show.
"ABC wanted me to extend my contract, and I was eager to leave, so I told them if they matched my salary and donated it to SEAC, found a location to hold the benefit and helped with publicity I would stay an extra week," she said." Network executives agreed without hesitation.
"Because 60 million Americans watch soaps, you cannot believe the impact a soap person has on the public and the amount of money and consciousness that can be raised through us," Tuck said. "I want to help educate a public that doesn't bump into this on an everyday basis."