Episode Notes

EMMY-Award-winning, friend to the show, Kevin Spirtas returns to Pride Connection this week to celebrate the life of his creative partner, Michael Slade and the release of their new special, Riley’s Unforgettable School Project.

Listeners will remember Kevin and Michael joined our show and our subsequent discussion call after the release of the critically-aclaimed and multiple—award-winning Second Season of After Forever. The show speaks of love and loss and the human spirit.

In the new special, they present a warm, funny and raw tribute to the love and memory of a beloved partner, and is so worth the watch, even if you haven’t watched the two Seasons. Even as a stand-alone, it will move you, and raise questions of love, loss and life.

After a long battle with cancer, the world lost Michael late last year; but he leaves behind a legacy of programming that will culminate with the filming of the Third and final Season of the trilogy, After Forever! Kevin brings producer and director, Allison Vanore to discuss the series, special and the beautiful life of their friend, Michael.

Allison Vanore - is the Emmy Award-winning producer of the six time winning series After Forever starring Kevin Spirtas and Mitchell Anderson on Amazon Prime and Emmy-winning series Dark/Web. Allison’s unique technical experience behind the camera combined with her closeness to this story and characters made her the perfect choice to take on the additional role as director for this special documentary style episode of AFTER FOREVER: Riley’s Unforgettable School Project. Between 2015-2019, Allison served as the Head of Production for Canvas Media Studios where she produced shows including Emmy-nominated Vanity starring Denise Richards and Karrueche Tran, Wear it to Win It for Facebook,  and Limelight for Yarn. Allison's recent award-winning film include award-winning films “Buck Run,” “The Rainbow Experiment,” and “42 Seconds of Happiness.” Allison serves on the executive board of non-profit Women in Media, an organization that seeks gender parity above and below the line in the entertainment industry. Allison is published in the book “Thriving in Hollywood” by Ms. In The Biz. KEVIN SPIRTAS - Most recognized around the world as Dr. Craig Wesley from NBC’s Daytime Drama: Days of Our Lives, and the cult classic film sequels: Friday the 13th – Part VII: The New Blood, and Wes Craven’s: The Hills Have Eyes – Part II.  _In 2008 the 30-year acting veteran, produced the NY Shakespeare Festival reading-presentation of Don Cummings’: _A Good Smoke, starring Academy Award winner actress, Meryl Streep, and directed by Tony Award winning director, Pam McKinnon. Shortly thereafter in 2009, Spirtas made his debut as a Broadway producer on the critically acclaimed revival of Finian’s Rainbow, and in 2012 he co-produced the hit Broadway musical: Priscilla…Queen of the Desert. In 2014, after running into_“Days” alum Michael Slade in a New York gym, the two set out to create the critically acclaimed, 6 x Emmy Award Winning Digital Drama Series: _After Forever, In 2019 After Forever, - Season 1 made history by becoming the most Emmy-awarded LGBTQ-themed drama series on any platform and Spirtas won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Digital Drama, along with 2 additional Emmys that he shares with Slade for outstanding writing team for a digital drama and outstanding digital drama series.