Forever and a Day (soap opera)

The series was created by Runaway Housewife author Casey Hutchison[1][2] and is co-written and executive produced by Hutchison and longtime podcast host Candice Mack,[3][4] as a tribute to Irna Phillips's radio serial Painted Dreams, on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the serial's debut.[5] The events of the modern series focus on the intersecting lives of three families living in the fictional Augustus, Illinois: the wealthy and political ambitious Harpers, the equally politically ambitious Bennetts, and the tabloid-journalist Marshalls[3][5]

Hutchison and Mack developed the show's characters and storylines collaboration and consultation with a team of established network daytime writers, including Daytime Emmy-winners Thom Racina and Sally Sussman.[6] The producers approach to casting the series mixed longtime veterans of network American daytime soap operas, established names in the newer digital and podcast drama spaces, and veterans of the New York stage—brought together with new and emerging talents discovered by producers through an extensive and diverse audition process—to create a bridge for the audiences of both established network soap operas and popular digital dramas, while also folding in new elements to allow the new series to feel original and stand on its own.[7][4][8]

When the series is in production, episodes are recorded via Zoom Video Communication. The cast and crew gathers weekly for table reads, and the recording of two episodes, that are then sent to post-production, and aired twice a week via the JLJ Media Network umbrella of podcasts[9] at 3:00/2:00 p.m. As of November 2020, principal recording was complete for the first two seasons of the show.[8] Season one aired from March to September 2020, and season two will debut in February 2021.[10][8] A special, stand-alone holiday episode linking the events of the first two seasons, aired on December 18, 2020.[11][12]

A series of companion books, set around key locations featured in the series, including the Tasty Bean Cafe, Magnifier Magazine, and Bay Ridge Hotel, are available from author James Lott, Jr,[13] who also hosts the "Forever and a Day Aftershow" podcast.[14] The books feature characters from the air show, including Lacretia Lyon's "Katelynn Harper" and Benjamin Bryant's "Gregory Marshall" alongside original characters who appear only in the books.[13]

In May 2020, the show announced the first set of actors cast, including five-time Daytime Emmy Award-nominee (for her work on the CBS daytime soap opera Guiding Light), Beth Ehlers, and Pride: The Series creator and star Dorell Anthony.[15] Later announcements included the addition of Broadway star Quinn Van Antwerp (Jersey Boys) and Indie Series Award nominee (as co-executive producer of the Emmy-winning digital drama Anacostia) Bryant to the cast as series regulars.[16] Special guest stars in season one included 2019 Indie Series Award and Capitol City Web Awards winner and former As the World Turns star Lauren B. Martin, and former Dawson's Creek and The Young and the Restless star John Driscoll. Longtime Guiding Light star Frank Dicopoulous debuted in the role of "Andrew Rutledge" in the December 2020 standalone holiday episode, which also featured the introduction of Anna Burmeister as "Laken Bennett" (replacing Karolina Silvas, who played the role in the show's first season).

SEASON 1 [18][19]

• Casey Hutchison (Creator/Co-Head Writer/Narrator/Co-Executive Producer; 2020–present)
• James Lott, Jr. (Production Consultant; 2020–present)
• Candice Mack (Co-Head Writer/Co-Executive Producer; 2020–present)
• John F. Smith (Story Consultant; 2020–present)
• Thom Racina (Story Consultant/Script Editor; 2020–present)
• Sally Sussman Morina (consultant; 2020–Present)
• Karolina Sivas (Story Editor/Script Writer; 2020)

• Top Podcast: Forever and a Day
• "Forever and a Day Aftershow" hosted by James Lott, Jr.