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Nurses Ball Welcome

Welcome to the annual Nurses' Ball charity gala!

The Nurses' Ball is founded in 1994 by Lucy Coe as a fundraiser for HIV and AIDS awareness and research. It is held at the Port Charles Hotel (where the Metro Court Hotel stands today), and attended by most everyone in Port Charles. From 1994-1995, philanthropist Jon Hanley served as co-chair, until his own death from AIDS.

Storyline[]

The event includes acts by various citizens, including singing, acting and dancing. Lucy Coe as the "Mistress of Ceremonies" emcees the event, often with Katherine Bell, and has become notorious for usually ending up in her underwear somehow during the show. Since its inception, Lucy's legendary costume changes at The Nurses' Ball were created by factitious designer, "Bob Steve", in honor of behind the scenes costume designers and partners, Bob Miller and Steve Howard.

The Nurses' Ball becomes more personal for many in 1996 when local teenager Robin Scorpio is diagnosed with HIV. After eight consecutive Nurses' Ball, the 2001 one is the last one for awhile due to lack of funding.

It was brought back in 2013 along with a new Red Carpet arrivals segment that was hosted for four years by Donny Sheldon. Since 2014, Nina Reeves, as the editor of Crimson Magazine, has interviewed the Red Carpet arrivals. In 2019 and 2023, Sydney Val Jean (Chandra Wilson), a New York City-based Crimson editor worked the Red Carpet interviews.

In 2020, the Ball is held as a telethon to support front-line workers, with Robin Scorpio-Drake (who is also a doctor) giving it her blessing.

On July 2, 2021, Dr. Britt Westbourne says the Nurses Ball would be in the fall but it never happened (most likely because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic).

On March 19, 2022, the 10th Floor Podcast tweeted during the 4th annual GH Convention in California that there would be no Nurses Ball that year.[1]

Original Nurses' Balls[]

Damian Smith suggests the Ball and underwrites it. Lucy Coe co-chairs it with Bobbie Spencer and Jon Hanley. It aired June 23 and 24, 1994. During the chorus line, a fight between Damian and Tony Jones causes the curtain to be pulled down, revealing Lucy backstage in her underwear. They raise close to $500 thousand for the GH AIDS Pediatric Unit and AIDS Outreach Programs.[2]

Acts

94-stone-robin

Robin and Stone preforming Romeo and Juliet at 1994 Nurses Ball

The Ball is once again underwritten by Damian Smith. It is co-chaired by Lucy Coe, and Katherine Bell, and Jon Hanley. It aired June 21 and 22, 1995. Jeanne White, mother of HIV/AIDS poster child Ryan White who died of AIDS in 1990 is a guest and makes a short speech. During the chorus line at the end, Katherine throws Lucy out onto the stage in her underwear.

Luklucnb

Luke and Lucky preforming at the 1995 Nurse's Ball

NB Performance 1995-2

"One" Singular Sensation

Acts

The Ball in underwritten by Katherine Bell. Katherine and Lucy Coe were co-chairs again. It aired June 21, 1996. Former co-chair Jon Hanley had died of AIDS early that day, which was announced by Lucy. Sonny and Lily Corinthos donate $30 million dollars to establish the Stone Cates Memorial AIDS Wing. Mac Scorpio presents his niece Robin Scorpio with a quilt panel for the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, made in memory of her boyfriend Stone Cates, who died of AIDS. Robin announces she's HIV positive, breaks down, and Jason Morgan carries her off stage. Katherine rigs it so that Lucy ends up swinging by her ankles, causing her dress to go over her head and revealing her underwear, over the stage at the end of the Ball during the chorus line.

MacRobinStoneQuilt

Acts

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Nurses Ball 1997

NB Performance 1997-2

Opening act

The Ball is underwritten by Jasper Jacks. It is again co-chaired by Katherine Bell and Lucy Coe. It aired June 20 and 23, 1997. Katherine rigs Lucy's dress so that it will fall off her when she goes on stage during the chorus line at the end.

Acts

The Ball is underwritten by Stefan Cassadine, and Lucy Coe chairs it. It aired June 19 and 22, 1998. Eve Lambert locks Lucy in the rolling wardrobe closet during the chorus line at the end of the night. Lucy wheels herself out onto stage and bursts through the closet door in her underwear.

Acts

Nb98h

Big Spender, Nurses Ball 1998

The Ball is underwritten by Amanda Barrington. Lucy Coe and Katherine Bell are again the co-chairs. It aired June 18 and 21, 1999. Katherine and Eve Lambert see to it that Lucy is pulled out on stage by the chorus line at the end while she's in her underwear and changing backstage.

Acts

NB Performance 1999

Jump, jive, wail!

The Ball is underwritten by Stefan Cassadine and chaired by Lucy Coe.  It aired June 20-22, 2000. Nikolas Cassadine gives a speech on Stefan's behalf. Dr. Chris Ramsey donates $250,000 to the General Hospital AIDS Research fund. There is no chorus line, and Lucy does not end up in her underwear.

Acts

The Ball is underwritten by Amanda Barrington, and Lucy Coe chairs it. It aired June 20 and 21, 2001. Stefan Cassadine announced that the Cassadines would double all contributions made that evening. Lucy Coe announced that the show had to go on despite a Manhattan train colliding with a bus.  Also, Helena Cassadine and Stavros were arguing about when to unleash their next act of terrorism.

Venue

Nurses ball 2001

Acts

Nurses' Ball Returns[]

The Ball aired April 5-9, 2013 in honor of the 50th Anniversary of General Hospital and is chaired by Lucy Coe.

Nurse Sabrina Santiago takes the initiative to revive the Nurses' Ball, which has been absent for twelve years, after she learned about it from Emma Scorpio-Drake. Sabrina is able to get enough support, and the committee consists of Dr. Steve Webber (until he is arrested for murder and extradited to Memphis), Nurse Elizabeth Webber, Dr. Patrick Drake, Dr. Britt Westbourne (albeit stating negatively that there are several obstacles and setting roadblocks) and Sabrina. Nurse Felix DuBois also joins in to help with planning the Ball. After some help from Lucy Coe, Tracy Quartermaine agrees to underwrite the Nurses' Ball.  When ELQ faces some financial troubles, however, the Nurses' Ball is sidelined due to Tracy not being able to fund the ball after all.

Lucy then presents a check to the committee from an "anonymous donor," and they start planning the acts. Carly Spencer allows the Nurses' Ball to be held at the Metro Court hotel free of charge.

On October 1, 2013, Jerry Jacks tells Dr. Robin that he had anonymously underwritten the Ball.

Numerous popular characters from the past return for the 50th Anniversary, including Dr. Noah Drake, Nurse Bobbie Spencer, Brenda Barett who all return shortly before the Nurses' Ball. Other characters from the past arrive during the weeks leading up to the Ball, but who are not included in the event, are Jasper "Jax" Jacks, Dr. Kevin Collins, Dr. Liesl Obrecht, Nurse Audrey Hardy, Nikolas Cassadine, Scott Baldwin, Laura Spencer, Ethan Lovett and Helena Cassadine. Dr. Alan Quartermaine, Dr. Emily Quartermaine and Dr. Rick Webber also appeared as ghosts in the Quartermaine Mansion on April 1st.

Lucy calls in Richard Simmons to choreograph the opening number, but after a spat over the music, Richard quits and a handy-man named Anton Ivanov (played by Maks Chmerkovskiy known for being on Dancing with the Stars) steps in to choreograph it with music and lyrics from TJ Ashford and Molly Lansing-Davis.

Lucy Coe argues and later gets puts into a closet by Richard Simmons. With Lucy's brief absence, Elizabeth Webber, steps in as a backup hostess to introduce the first two acts of April 8th (Duke Lavery's tango and Milo and his men's dance number). Lucy Coe is pushed on stage in her underwear by Richard Simmons. Richard Simmons is later taken out of the ballroom by Milo's men.

Lucy had thirteen gown changes throughout the event.

Acts

Shown on April 5



Shown on April 8



Shown on April 9



Other events/Notes



Gallery

The Ball aired May 8-13, 2014 and is chaired by Lucy Coe during most of the Ball and the rest by Felix DuBois. Yoplait Greek Yogurt sponsored the Ball. Lucy had eight gown changes throughout the event. After missing her cue to go back on stage, Lucy's affair with Scott Baldwin is revealed, (as she is seen kissing him) as well as her underwear.

Acts

Shown on May 8, 2014



Shown on May 9



Shown on May 12



Shown on May 13

  • Molly Lansing-Davis, T.J. Ashford & Friends (which included Kate Grahn, the real-life daughter of Nancy Lee Grahn, who plays Alexis) perform to the song Just Can't Get Enough by Depeche Mode.
  • Nurse Sabrina Santiago was supposed to perform but couldn't due to her premature son being in the NICU. Instead, Emma Scorpio-Drake takes her place and sings a song called Little Things, which was dedicated to her father, Patrick, her mother figure, Sabrina and her baby brother.
  • Olivia Falconeri was supposed to do a routine as "The Bensonhurst Medium" again but due to her leaving the ball early because of her fight with Sonny she couldn't. Instead, Dr. Liesl Obrecht, as Adele Dazeem, sings a song, she dedicated to her children, Britt and Nathan, called Always on my Mind.
  • Epiphany Johnson sings You're Not Alone. Patrick and Sabrina sing the song at the same time to their son.



Other events/Notes

  • Carly Spencer and Franco were not present at the Nurses' Ball due to them going on the run to avoid having to give A.J.'s phone to Anna.
  • Dr. Patrick Drake and Nurse Sabrina Santiago were not present at the Nurses' Ball due to their premature son being in the NICU.
  • Brad Cooper, Dr. Britt Westbourne, Maxie Jones, Levi Dunkleman, Nikolas Cassadine and Spencer Cassadine were all late arrivals to the ball after watching it on television before deciding to attend.
  • Felix DuBois and Lucas Jones arrive at the Nurses' Ball without dates so they decide to walk the red carpet together.
  • Sonny Corinthos and Olivia Falconeri were suppose to go together but didn't because they were fighting.
  • Ned Quartermaine, Michael Corinthos and Kiki Jerome oust Tracy and Fluke from ELQ, making Michael the new CEO.
  • Lucy's affair with Scott is revealed to everyone at the Nurses' Ball as well as her underwear. Lucy and Scott are talking backstage when she misses her cue to go back on stage and sadly the curtain is raised and Lucy, in her underwear, is caught kissing Scott. Lucy runs after Kevin and Felix steps in as master of ceremonies for the rest of the ball. Kevin and Lucy ended up breaking up.
  • There was suppose to be a number after Obrecht but Sabrina was suppose to sing it and since she couldn't Lucy was going to fill in for her but Lucy couldn't either so they just skipped it.



Gallery

The Ball aired May 1-5, 2015[4][5] and is chaired by Lucy Coe. Aveeno sponsored the Ball.[6] Lucy missed her cue again this year and the curtain when up while she was talking to Duke, in her underwear.

Acts

Shown on May 1

  • Port Charles makes red carpet appearances.
  • Nurses Epiphany Johnson, Elizabeth Webber, Felix DuBois, and Sabrina Santiago are included in the opening number, a performance to a song by Molly Lansing-Davis and T.J. Ashford. Unlike last year, Obrecht let them finish the opening number before singing her song.
  • Dr. Liesl Obrecht sings a song called 99 Red Balloons (In German 99 Luftballoons) by Nena. During the song she is popping red balloons.
  • Ric Lansing sings a slow tempo version of the song Marry You by Bruno Mars, as a marriage proposal to Elizabeth Webber. During his performance, Ric is exposed by Carly and Pete (fake Jake in the wedding photos) for hiring Hayden to pretend to be Jake/Jason's wife. Elizabeth got up and left and Ric chased after her. Brad Cooper took over for Ric after everyone insisted and sang a faster version of the same song and proposed marriage to Lucas Jones and he said yes.



Shown on May 4



Shown on May 5



Other events/Notes

  • Carly Spencer and Sonny Corinthos were suppose to walk the red carpet together but Sonny decided not to attend because he was upset about having to withdraw his custody suit (that's what Carly told Ric).
  • Kristina Corinthos-Davis was supposed to attend the Ball but ended up not being able to.[8]
  • Morgan Corinthos was not present at the Ball either.
  • Mac and Felicia Scorpio were not present at the Ball (They were watching their granddaughter, Georgie, so her parents, Maxie and Spinelli could attend the Ball).
  • Brad Cooper did not walk the red carpet and was late to the the Ball because he wanted to watch the red carpet appearances on T.V. with Britt like they did last year.
  • Felix DuBois and Lucas Jones walk the red carpet together again this year but only as friends because Lucas is in love with Brad.
  • Dr. Britt Westbourne was not present at the Nurses' Ball due to being a fugitive.
  • Nathan West and Ellie Trout attend the Nurses' Ball together as friends to make Maxie Jones and Damian Spinelli jealous.
  • Spinelli steps on the back of Maxie's dress and she falls thus making her red carpet road kill.
  • Milo Giambetti and Epiphany Johnson do not walk the red carpet but they do perform at the Ball.
  • Elizabeth breaks up with Ric for good due to all of his lying and scheming.
  • Carly also kicks Ric and Hayden out of her hotel for good.
  • Nikolas tells Elizabeth that Jake is really Jason.
  • Spencer Cassadine did not walk the red carpet and was late to the the Ball because he didn't want to show his face but decided to go after a visit from Britt. (The Phantom of the Nurses' Ball)
  • The Haunted Starlets performed again this year but without Kiki Jerome (who didn't attend) or Molly Lansing-Davis, who were replaced by Ellie Trout and Sabrina Santiago and with a sixth dancer, Valerie Spencer.
  • After the incident with the sand bags, Dante, Lulu and Valerie take Spencer home and Valerie stays with him. He also gets a visit from his mother.
  • Dante and Lulu never went back to the Ball and Alexis and Julian missed the rest of it because Molly had a melt down about Ric.
  • Lucy missed her cue again this year and the curtain when up while she was talking to Duke, in her underwear.
  • Elizabeth decides to get up on stage and to tell everyone that Jake is Jason but changes her mind because she wants a happy ending with Jason.



Gallery

The Ball aired May 24-26, 2016[9] and is chaired by Lucy Coe. Aveeno sponsored the Ball again. This year Lucy doesn't end up in her underwear nor does Obrecht crash the Ball.

Acts

Shown on May 24



Shown on May 25



Shown on May 26



Other events/Notes



Gallery

The Ball aired on May 23-25, 2017[11] and is chaired by Lucy Coe. Burts Bees sponsored the Ball this year.[12] This year Lucy doesn't end up in her underwear nor does Obrecht crash the Ball.

Acts

Shown on May 23



Shown on May 24



Shown on May 25





Other events/Notes



Gallery

The Ball aired May 16-21, 2018 and is chaired by Lucy Coe. Olay sponsored the Ball this year. This year Lucy doesn't end up in her underwear nor does Obrecht crash the Ball.

Acts

Shown on May 16

  • Port Charles makes red carpet appearances with it being co-hosted by former Bachelor, Nick Viall and Editor-in-Chief of Crimson, Nina Reeves.



Shown on May 17

  • The Nurses' sing the song Everyday People.
  • Det. Chase preforms to the song Feel It Still.



Shown on May 18



Shown on May 21

  • Mike Corbin starts singing The Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra, but forgets the lyrics so his son, Sonny Corinthos steps in and it becomes a duet.
  • Ava Jerome sings the song You Don't Own Me.
  • The Nurses' perform I'll Be Your Champion.



Other events/Notes

  • On May 17, Curtis proposes to Jordan and she says yes.
  • On May 17, Alexis, Anna and Finn accept awards.
  • On May 21, Nathan and Maxie's son, James was born after Maxie left the Nurses' Ball.
  • On May 23, Griffin Munro and Kiki Jerome go up to a room after the ball, drink and dance, and end up having sex.



Gallery

The Ball aired May 16-22, 2019 and is chaired by Lucy Coe.

Shown on May 16



Shown on May 20



Shown on May 21

  • Liesl Obrecht began singing the Barbara Streisand classic Guilty with an unseen male dancer singing the Barry Gibb parts before he was revealed to be Franco Baldwin.
  • Cameron Webber performed a song called North Star penned by William Lipton (his portrayer). Accompanying the tune was a montage of images of Cameron and his loved ones, including the late Oscar Nero.
  • Ava Jerome she specifically selected Frankie Valli's Can't Take My Eyes Off of You as part of her plan to taunt Ryan Chamberlain and lure him back to Port Charles. She sang, not know he was backstage.



Shown on May 22

  • Ned and Olivia perform Get Closer by Seals and Croft.
  • Valentin Cassadine sang Nothing Without You by Vienna Teng, dedicating it to his love, Nina Reeves.
  • A break with the tradition of the nurses closing song, Josslyn Jacks sang, A List of Things to Do. She was reluctant at first, but was persuaded to honor Oscar's last wish, to sing the song they composed on stage in front of everyone.



Other events/Notes

  • On May 21, Finn proposes to Anna, who accepts
  • On May 21-22, Ryan knocked Scott Baldwin unconscious, then knocked his twin brother Kevin unconscious and left him hanging from the roof of the Nurse's Ball stage



Gallery

The Ball aired August 18-21, 2020 and is chaired by Lucy Coe.[18] Nina Reeves and Carly Spencer interviewed the red carpet arrivals for WXPC.

This year it is held as a telethon, to support front-line workers. This change receives the blessing of Robin Scorpio-Drake, who has a special connection to the Ball.

Shown on August 18

  • Port Charles makes red carpet appearances with it being co-hosted by Editor-in-Chief of Crimson, Nina Reeves and Metro Court Hotel owner Carly Spencer interviewing all the volunteers for the charity telethon - appearing in their "volunteer" white t-shirts.



Shown on August 19

  • Nurses Epiphany, Felix and Amy open the ball with a short speech thanking doctors, nurses and first responders while Lucy encourages donations to help support front-line workers.
  • Cyrus Renault interrupts the program to share words about his new position as chairman of the GH board.
  • Josslyn, Trina and Cameron perform The Places We Could Go, an original song by the portrayer.[19]
  • Jax and Nina perform a dance routine to She by Elvis Costello.



Shown on August 20

  • Ned and Olivia perform a duet to Lead Me Back to You, written by Laura Alt and Adonis Tsilimparis.
  • Valentin performs Can You Feel Me?, (an original song by his portrayer) with a band and David and Tiffany Spencer providing backup vocals.



Shown on August 21

  • Anna gives a speech about her daughter Robin's HIV diagnosis and struggles, and how important it is to help.
  • Nurses Epiphany, Amy and Deanna perform Falling by Madison Malone, who performed with them as Nurse Madison.[20]



Other events/Notes

  • On August 19, Backstage, Maxie accidentally reveals to everyone that she is pregnant after a microphone malfunction before her Deception Cosmetics pitch.
  • On August 19, Lulu walks in as Brook Lynn becomes emotional and kisses Dustin backstage in a green room.
  • On August 19, while at the ball, Jordan gets a call and goes to Pier 55 to meet Marcus Taggert who faked his death to protect his daughter.
  • On August 20, Nikolas announces two donations and the creation of a scholarship for nurses. "The Elizabeth Webber Scholarship", named in her honor. His wife, Ava is stunned, Elizabeth is pleased, and her husband Franco is annoyed.
  • On August 20, Nelle blackmails and threatens Julian into sneaking into the Quartermaine Mansion and kidnapping her son. Brook Lynn overhears, and Nelle attacks, slicing into her neck with scissors and leaving her for dead.
  • On August 20, Elizabeth overhears Ava tell Nina that if Nikolas cheats on her, it activates an infidelity clause in their prenup, and she gets 90% of the Cassadine fortune. She tells her husband Franco, who is convinced that Nikolas is the one to blame.
  • On August 21, Olivia is thrilled when Robert tells her that he will be able to sneak her into the Geneva WSB facility, to visit her son Dante.
  • On August 21, Lulu and Dustin find Brook Lynn unconscious from being stabbed and get her help.
  • On August 21, Julian appears to kidnap Wiley on Nelle's orders, then holds her at gunpoint as he's tired about being blackmailed.



Gallery

On October 5, 2022, Nina Reeves tells Curtis Ashford that the Nurses' Ball will be in the Metro Court Hotel next year.

The Ball aired April 3-7, 2023 and was chaired by Bobbie and Maxie as Lucy was hiding at the Corinthos Cabin.

Shown on April 3

  • The Nurses' Ball began with the guests walking the Red Carpet and being interviewed by Sydney Val Jean and George Pennacchio.



Shown on April 4



Shown on April 6

  • Danielle Ponder sings Someone Like You.
  • Harrison Chase and Blaze sing Arrest Me (with Kate Grahn as one of the instrumentalists). Afterwards Linc is arrested by Dante as Brook Lynn and Blaze accuse him onstage of sexual harassment.



Shown on April 7

Other events/Notes

Gallery

On May 10, 2023, Maxie says she offered Home & Heart two free tickets to next year's Nurses' Ball.

On February 13, 2024, Ava mentions to Laura that she wants to discuss the Jerome Gallery's contribution to the Ball even though it is a few months away.

See also[]

References[]

  1. https://mobile.twitter.com/10thfloorgh/status/1505273620284596225?s=21
  2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFxfLeirwHA
  3. Was played by Kristen Alderson at the time.
  4. http://www.celebdirtylaundry.com/2015/general-hospital-spoilers-kimberly-mccullough-returns-for-nurses-ball-michael-loses-avery-delia-helps-save-ava/
  5. http://www.generalhospitalhappenings.com/spoiler-page-2-back-up.php
  6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyWw5fS5peo&index=48&list=PLQMjLhAionupe-lygea6iBOq2mDALCRFs&spfreload=10
  7. https://twitter.com/GHmusicPG/status/595343856817733632
  8. On April 29, Sam offers Jason (Jake) two tickets to the Nurses' Ball and mentioned to him that her sister, Kristina was suppose come.
  9. http://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/ghs-nurses-ball-dates-released
  10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqrmkkULDug
  11. http://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/gh-preview-nurses-ball-set-begin-may-22/
  12. https://twitter.com/Robertpwatkins/status/860594164932591616
  13. https://twitter.com/GeneralHospital/status/867402445193961472
  14. http://extratv.com/videos/0-oc3wfixt/
  15. https://www.abc.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital-2019-nurses-ball-details-170636
  16. https://www.tvinsider.com/764127/general-hospital-nurses-ball-2019-abc/
  17. https://www.abc.soapsindepth.com/posts/greys-anatomy-chandra-wilson-general-hospital-guest-star-164154
  18. https://soaphub.com/general-hospital/spoilers-gh/general-hospital-spoilers-the-2020-diy-nurses-ball-begins/
  19. https://twitter.com/GeneralHospital/status/1296235500831834112
  20. https://mobile.twitter.com/MadisonMaloneM/status/1296980497612959745
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