Susan Lucci: Erika Kane And Broadway

By Christopher Moore, Broadway Magazine

Susan Lucci may well be the most famous woman on television, earning legions of fans playing Erika Kane on ABC's All My Children. On television, Erika has been known to create a bit of mischief, but the actress who plays her is capable of tremendous goodness. Ms. Lucci and her ABC Daytime colleagues have already raised well over a million dollars for Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS with a special one-night only Broadway themed benefit performance in the heart of Broadway. As this year's production approaches, Ms. Lucci took time out to talk with Broadway Magazine and Broadway.tv about the cause, her craft, and much more.

"We've raised substantially over a million dollars, and we're so proud about that, so thrilled about that," smiles the star of ABC's All My Children, "I've been involved since the first year that we did this. This is our fifth year, and I can't believe it."

This year, the benefit salute will take place at 8pm on March 9 at Town Hall in New York City. ABC & SOAPnet Salute Broadway Cares will feature daytime favorites like Ms. Lucci, Bradford Anderson, Anthony Geary, Jason Tam, Brittany Underwood, Chrishell Stause, Melisssa Claire Egan, Bobbie Eakes and many more. For Susan Lucci, the event allows her to connect with a live audience.

"I had such a great time playing Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun [on Broadway]. I was so thrilled to be the first one to go in after Bernadette Peters, so I got to work with the original cast, and they were just great," she remembers.

"Doing Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS allows me to get back on Broadway. There is nothing like a live audience. There's nothing like the feeling when the orchestra begins and then you hear that music. It's very exciting," Ms. Lucci tells Broadway.tv.

"I've had the opportunity, I think very much because of Erika Kane and All My Children, the chance to be on Broadway," offers the star. "I feel very, very lucky to say the least...to play a part that is the first love of my professional life. To have her be so alive and so exciting...It's what I dreamed of doing."

"I think it's a calling, like being a teacher or a doctor. It's just in you," says the beloved actress on being an actor. The journey of Susan Lucci as Erika Kane can be experienced daily on ABC, the joy of of Susan Lucci and her colleagues supporting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS can only be experienced once this year at Town Hall in New York City.