Soap opera stars psyched for Myrtle Beach fan event: ‘A full-blown musical extravaganza’
The last time Eric Martsolf was in Myrtle Beach, he was a high schooler chasing girls with his buddies.
When he makes his return more than two decades later this weekend, he’ll be the one the ladies came to see.
Martsolf, who plays Brady Black on “Days of Our Lives,” is among a quartet of soap opera stars who will be performing and spending time with fans Saturday and Sunday during “An Evening of Entertainment,” a two-day showcase hosted by Star Struck Fan Events at the Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center Hotel.
“I would travel down with my buddies to Myrtle Beach for senior week and have a good ole time,” said Martsolf, a Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, native who will be joined by fellow soap stars Wally Kurth, Jacob Young and Kassie DePaiva. “This trip is gonna be nostalgic for me as well. It’s a party town. It’s fun.”
Kurth plays Ned Quartermaine on “General Hospital” and Justin Kiriakis on “Days of Our Lives,” Young plays Rick Forrester on “The Bold and the Beautiful,” and DePaiva plays Eve Donovan on “Days of Our Lives.” Each actor, however, also has musical talent that will be on display this weekend in Myrtle Beach.
“It’s a full-blown musical extravaganza because every single person who is coming to this event is uniquely talented musically,” said Martsolf, who, along with the others, performs several fan events throughout the year. “That itself is worth the ticket price. I would encourage people to get to this one if they’re going to get to any this year.”
On Saturday, there will be a 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. autograph session, followed by a question-and-answer mix and mingle in which refreshments and snacks will be served. Entry for that day is $200 and group photos will be available for $25. The day’s second portion, which costs $250 and runs 6-10 p.m., includes a dinner buffet and show in which all actors will perform, a dance party with a cash bar and a chance to sit with your favorite actor.
On Sunday, Feb. 23, at a time to be determined in the mid-morning/afternoon, there will be a farewell breakfast with the actors that costs $150. An “entertainment package” costing $550 includes both days’ events.
The musical portion of the weekend is the centerpiece of the event and is what separates it from other fan events, Kurth said.
“We’re not just sitting around glad-handing everybody and patting each other on the back,” said Kurth, a Billings, Montana, native who’s bringing his guitar for his first trip to Myrtle Beach. “We’re performing and making a little music and entertaining and that’s what we do. That’s always fun.”
Martsolf compares soap opera viewers’ loyalty to that of country music fans who stick with their favorite artists even when they’re not at their best artistically. Therefore, the intimacy of these fan events is what’s most attractive to those who attend.
“At the end of the day, fans walk away Sunday afternoon having such a deep connection, a connection that they didn’t have before, to each and every actor,” Martsolf said. “I think it actually endears them to the show and actors even more so than when they flew in Friday afternoon.”
For more information on the event, contact Star Struck Events at starstruckfans2@aol.com or visit starstruckfanevents.com.
