Rochester singer-songwriter Danielle Ponder to make acting debut on ABC’s ‘General Hospital’
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
A little less than a year ago, Rochester-based singer-songwriter Danielle Ponder made her national television debut on NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers” and followed it up this past January with an appearance on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”
Today she’ll mark another career milestone with a performance on the ABC soap opera “General Hospital,” which airs at 2 p.m.
In a March 8 Facebook post, Ponder wrote, “Made my acting debut today. Thank you to the amazing team at General Hospital.”
This morning, the soap’s Facebook account posted a photo of Ponder with “GH” actresses Laura Wright (Carly Corinthos) and Kirsten Storms (Maxie Jones) with the caption, “We couldn’t be more excited to have Danielle Ponder performing on today’s all-new General Hospital. Believe us when we say you won’t want to miss this.”
According to fan sites, Ponder will sing and be featured during the General Hospital Nurses Ball, a fictional annual charity gala that usually results in drama.
“General Hospital” debuted on April 1, 1963, which makes it the longest-running American daytime TV drama still in production and the longest-running entertainment program in ABC television history.
Ponder isn’t the show’s only local connection. Rochester is the real-life identity of its setting, Port Charles.
In September 1993, 100 cast and crew members descended on Rochester to shoot a series of episodes reintroducing super-couple Luke and Laura Spencer (Anthony Geary and Genie Francis).
Filming locations included Main Street downtown, where the pair hot-rodded around the Liberty Pole in a pink Cadillac convertible; Brown’s Race, where they were pursued by mysterious villains; Irondequoit Country Club in Pittsford, where they crashed a wedding by helicopter; Wayne County’s Newark Diner, an authentic Sterling Diner that now operates as the Swan Street Diner in Buffalo; and the Letchworth State Park gorge, which was used for a parachuting scene.
Ponder is in the midst of a national tour. She's been booked to play the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee, June 17 and Lollapalooza, which runs from Aug. 3 through 6 in Chicago. At 1 p.m. Aug. 30, she has a show at the Chevy Court at the New York State Fair.
On Wednesday, she tweeted, “ok folks I know I should do a show in Rochester but you won’t believe how limited our music venues have become. Looking for an idea for a non traditional space that would be great for a concert. Let me know below.” She was instantly flooded with suggestions, including from Kodak Center.
From 2016: Luke, Laura ... and Rochester: When 'General Hospital' came to town.
Reporter Marcia Greenwood covers general assignments. Send story tips to mgreenwo@rocheste.gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @MarciaGreenwood.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Danielle Ponder to make acting debut on ABC’s ‘General Hospital’
