Scoops on 'World Turns,' 'One Life'

On With the Show...
An impressive array of multi-talented soap stars hit the boards on Broadway last Sunday (March 2) and raised $300,000 for the 4th Annual ABC Daytime Salutes Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. All My Children's Cameron Mathison hosted the evening of singing, dancing, and acting skits from ABC soap stars — and in three instances, from fan winners of online auctions. Among the highlights of the evening were a duet between Kassie DePaiva (One Life to Live) and Bobbie Eakes (All My Children), two numbers from Susan Lucci (AMC), and Walt Willey's guitar-strumming ode to his character's lady-love, Erica.

But the real showstopper (literally) was the performance in which OLTL's David Chisum and Brandon Buddy and AMC's Colin Egglesfield and Sterling Sulieman stripped down to boxers and then (seemingly) flashed the Full Monty just as the theater went dark. A special brava also goes to Sonya Eddy (General Hospital) for putting on such a spirited performance of Hairspray's ''Big, Blonde, and Beautiful'' that no one had a clue her foot was so hurt that offstage she was walking with a crutch. The show must on, right?

Life in the Cast Lane
Elizabeth Rodriguez, (Miami Vice, Third Watch) sister of director Robert Rodriguez (Grindhouse, From Dusk Till Dawn), has joined the cast of All My Children. The actress has been contracted for the role of Carmen ''Sugar'' Morales, Erica Kane's new prison buddy. While a questionably-convicted Carmen is lashing out at the judge during her sentencing, she spies Erica in the courtroom. Turns out she's a big fan of the newly imprisoned talk-show host. The two end up on the same transport bus to prison and something happens during that ride that ''will make Erica and Carmen an unlikely duo,'' says one insider.... As the World Turns' two-time Daytime Emmy winner Martha Byrnes (Lily Snyder) is leaving the soap in one week. Her last taping day will be March 14, according to a source close to the actress. A rep for the show declined to comment, but when news of her impending exit broke last Friday, executive producer Christopher Goutman released a statement: ''We made Martha an incredibly generous offer in hopes that she would remain a valuable member of the As The World Turns cast. Unfortunately, Martha has decided to leave, despite our best efforts to keep her.'' The actress is planning a live chat with fans on her website on March 16 at 7 p.m., ''when all your questions will be answered.'' ... No, the mob isn't taking over Llanview, but you will see Tony Soprano's sister when Marcie picks Shane up from school on One Life to Live on March 12. Danielle Di Vecchio (Barbara Giglione on The Sopranos) will play Ann Rider, assistant principal of Llanview Middle School for one episode.... Visual artist/musician Casey Spooner (Fischerspooner) will play himself on The Young and the Restless on March 14 opposite Amelia Heinle (Victoria) and Raya Meddine (Sabrina). Also on Y& R, Bronson Pinchot (yes, Balki from Perfect Strangers) will play a party planner, in charge of arranging the ''Restless Style'' launch party. He appears March 14, 18, 19, 24, and 25.