Award-winning actress, director and resident of the Coachella Valley, JUDITH CHAPMAN, is getting ready to hit the boards again. On January 19, 2008, Chapman is bringing a cast of Emmy-winning STARS from DAYTIME TELEVISION to THE PALM CANYON THEATRE in Palm Springs, California for a one night benefit performance of "THE TRIAL OF THE CATONSVILLE 9.”

This compelling drama is based on an actual event in 1968 when a group of priests, nuns and lay persons entered a Federal Building in Catonsville, Maryland and burned selective service cards in protest of Americas' involvement in Vietnam. All were brought to trial. "The play is not so much about politics as about human decency" claims Chapman. She had seen a staged reading put on by TIM ROBBINS' group "THE ACTORS GANG,” and Chapman said, "I was so profoundly moved by the play, the message and the commitment of the actors involved, I decided then and there, to put together my own production using the best of the best of Daytime."

With the help and support of board members of "THE ACTORS GANG,” THE PALM CANYON THEATRE and Amanda Smith, her partner in HAPPY HOUR PRODUCTIONS, this exciting project will be a first for Palm Springs, and another first for Chapman, who will also direct. Known as Gloria on the CBS Soap Opera, The Young & the Restless, Judith will be sharing the stage with Emmy-winning actors CHRISTIAN LeBLANC (Michael Baldwin, “The Young and the Restless”), MICHELLE STAFFORD (Phyllis Newman, “The Young and the Restless”), GREG RIKAART (Kevin Fisher, “The Young and the Restless”), KRISTOFF ST. JOHN (Neil Winters, “The Young and the Restless”), RON HALE (Mike Corbin, “General Hospital”), VINCENT IRIZARRY (David Chow, “The Young and the Restless”) EMILY O'BRIEN (Jana Hawkes, “The Young and the Restless”), JOHN CALLAHAN (Edmund Grey, “All My Children”), DANIEL GODDARD (Cane Ashby, “The Young and the Restless”) and the list goes on.

Proceeds from the event will go to KIVA, an organization that makes small loans to individuals around the world that they might grow a business and become more self sustaining. THE PALM CANYON THEATRE, Coachella Valley's only Actors' Equity Theatre, had this to say, "Whenever Judith directs or performs here, an award always follows, we are very excited about our latest collaboration, and look forward to welcoming Hollywood to our theatre."

I went to the above play over the weekend and it was amazing. to see these actors and actress' play aanother role was great, at first i thought i would never be able to not see them as the char on the soaps... but they were all amazing. Michelle Stafford & Chris leblanc were incredable. I did not see Michael & Phyliss when they were on. To my shock Emily O'Brian & Daniel G. were also powerful. (aide note: emily o'brian was on the phone with woody allen/or his people re taking a role in a new play he is doing. i ovehreard it...). Judith Chapman is one firece woman. she asked for no flash photos, no video recording, and no noise. and she met it. and she got it. it was the most quiet thing ever in that room except for the actors.

the message of play was great and it is an amazing story. the daughter of the couple involved in the original trial was there and spoke. it was great. its amazing how this still stands true today.

after the play you got to have wine and snaks and chat up the cast.

oh and i must also say that John C (ex-edmund, amc) was not good and was by far the weak link in the play, and i was shocked. also not that it matter re his performance but wow has he let himself go. bad.

Judith was great and came out to the area first. she thanked everyone for comming and then worked a room like i had never seen a star do before - and we all know i have met many a stars. she would stay in an area and talk to people and then excusae herself and go to the other side to find other talk to. sometimes i find this annoying as you almost have to hunt them down to meet them, but with her i knew she ould coem up and meet me. and thats how it happened.

emily o'brian was nice and cute and sweet. the guy who plays korbell had a huge group of people around him so i skipped him. chris was funny and nice and charmig as always. greg had mosty of the younger crowd around him. michelle was a riot. shes sooo much fun. we had a convo that involved a lot of bad words about how cold it was, lol. daniel g. is the sexiest man. you ahve no idea of the sex appeal he puts out there in person.

Below is a brief discription of the char's along with what actor played them-

Chris LeBlanc as Father Daniel Berrigan, a Jesuit priest;

Vincent Irizarry as Father Philip Berrigan, a Josephite priest;

Rodney Tethal as Bro. David Darst;

John Callahan as John Hogan;

Greg Rikarrt as Tom Lewis, an artist;

Emily O'Brien as Marjorie Bradford Melville;

Eyal Podell as Thomas Melville, a former Maryknoll priest;

Daniel Goddard as George Mische;

Michelle Staffordas Mary Moylan, a former nun.

Edited January 22, 200817 yr by JackPeyton

ih, and i forgot to post a few things...

KSJ was the defense, Judith was the prosrcution, and Ron hale was the judge.

Sounds really good! I have often wondered what it would be like to see soap stars momentarily step out of their existing roles and play somebody radically different. I think it's kind of cool that these stars (mostly Y&R) took it upon themselves to direct, produce and star in a play in order to push their boundaries.

I can totally believe that Daniel Goddard is insanely hot in person. You know who else I suspect of being the hotness IRL? Michael Grazadei. Something about that devilish glint in his eye.

Sorry to hear about John Callahan who sounds like he's going through a tough time if his acting and physical appearance is anything to go by.

Judith Chapman is pretty well known for directing plays and doing lots of different projects and maintaining contacts that way. My mom who is a Murder, She Wrote fan (yeah, don't ask) keeps spotting her guest-starring on old MSWs. JC has appeared at least three times playing different characters -- including once as the victim and once as the murderer. LOL.

Sounds really good! I have often wondered what it would be like to see soap stars momentarily step out of their existing roles and play somebody radically different. I think it's kind of cool that these stars (mostly Y&R) took it upon themselves to direct, produce and star in a play in order to push their boundaries.

I can totally believe that Daniel Goddard is insanely hot in person. You know who else I suspect of being the hotness IRL? Michael Grazadei. Something about that devilish glint in his eye.

Sorry to hear about John Callahan who sounds like he's going through a tough time if his acting and physical appearance is anything to go by.

Judith Chapman is pretty well known for directing plays and doing lots of different projects and maintaining contacts that way. My mom who is a Murder, She Wrote fan (yeah, don't ask) keeps spotting her guest-starring on old MSWs. JC has appeared at least three times playing different characters -- including once as the victim and once as the murderer. LOL.

it was amazing to see. esp the way michelle stafford just embodys the role she is in. i really thought she was a former nun working acros the world to help people.

MG is insanely hot in person. like.... omgomgomg ur sooo hot! kinda hot...

yeah, JC.... idk what to say...

Judith is amazing. such life embodys that tiny little person.

I'm glad you got to attend and enjoyed yourself! What was VI's role like and what did you think of his performance? He hasn't done theater in years!

Edited January 23, 200817 yr by DavidsMuse

I'm glad you got to attend and enjoyed yourself! What was VI's role like and what did you think of his performance? He hasn't done theater in years!

he played the brother of Chris leBlanc's role. He was Father and had a rather good and main role. He did really well. IMHO, hes a much better stage actor than soap actor.

You're only as good as your writers when you're an actor, JP! I'm glad to hear VI did well .. it's quite an accomplishment given his hectic bicoastal schedule!