Lather up with Soap Expo ‘98

Cathy Scott

Friday, June 12, 1998 | 10:17 a.m.

Women, get ready: There's a show in town designed with you in mind.

The three-day Soap Expo '98 Las Vegas, which begins today, was produced for TV soap opera fans, most of whom are women, the show's producer, Doris Keating, said. Keating is also the executive producer of Black Mountain Studios of Las Vegas, which is putting on this weekend's events.

Leeza Gibbons, host of NBC's "Leeza," a nationally televised daytime talk show, featured the soap stars in a one-hour special titled "Leeza Las Vegas," earlier this week, in an attempt to promote the first annual Las Vegas event.

Some of the stars who appeared on "Leeza" -- Gibbons described them as "some of the top-name stars in soaps" -- will also be at the Soap Expo this weekend.

The stars include Linda Dano, who plays popular daytime character Felicia Gallant in "Another World"; Krista Allen, who stars as strong-willed Billie Reed in "Days of Our Lives"; Walt Willey of "All My Children"; Hunter Tylo of the "The Bold and The Beautiful"; and stars from "The Young and The Restless" and "Port Charles."

"The weekend is a chance for soap opera fans to mix with these stars," Keating said.

And the soap stars jumped at the chance to meet with their fans in Las Vegas. "They love the idea," she said. "They relate one-on-one with their fans. That's part of the soap opera culture."

The soap stars began arriving in Las Vegas today, in time for a party tonight for the fans at Circus Circus' Grand Slam Canyon theme park. Other events include a theatrical stage show on Saturday night which features the stars, billed as "music, magic, illusion and fantasy," and a brunch with the actors at the Imperial Palace hotel-casino on Sunday.

Keating said she hopes Soap Expo '98 will attract women who wouldn't ordinarily come to Las Vegas. "If they know there are things for them to do, things they can relate to, they'll come here.

"There's a camaraderie between soap fans. They'll get to meet each other, and they'll get to meet their favorite stars. The Sunday brunch will be up close and personal. They can talk to the stars, ask them questions and get their autographs."

She expects about 550 people to attend. "That's a good turnout for the first year of the event," she said. "A lot of people will come to the next one if they don't hear about this one in time."

Tonight's production, which will feature stars acting out Las Vegas-themed roles, is being taped for a television special that will probably air this summer, said Keating, who has produced nine movies for television.

During the production, the audience and the stars will play out "their Vegas fantasies," Keating explained. Dano will play a ringmaster for the "Mess of Muts" dogs. Tracey Bregman, star of "The Bold and The Beautiful" (whom Keating said is "fascinated with magic") will levitate one of her fans. Also, the Las Vegas version of the Blues Brothers -- including Josh Taylor ("Roman Brady") of "Days of our Lives" -- who were also featured on the "Leeza" Las Vegas show, will appear.

Allen, whom Gibson introduced on "Leeza" as "one of the hottest stars in daytime television," will play a Las Vegas showgirl. "NBC wanted to play up her beauty by turning her into a showgirl," Keating noted.

Keating said she moved to Las Vegas about four years ago so she could produce shows such as Soap Expo '98. "I wanted to bring a fresh perspective to the entertainment industry here," she said. "This town has phenomenal resources. We should be producing shows here and broadcasting them from here.

"I come from the television business. That's my expertise, getting exposure for creative ideas. The intention is to open the American public's eyes about what we have here. We're trying to reach new markets."