As expected, Tracey Thomson has been named co-head writer of “Beyond the Gates” following the exit of Robert Guza Jr. (“General Hospital,” “Sunset Beach”).
First reported by Soap Opera Network last month, Guza exited the daytime drama series as an executive producer and co-head writer after fulfilling the terms of his contract. Thomson was named his successor as an executive producer, one of eight, after her name was inadvertently revealed in a press release by CBS announcing that the show had been renewed for a second season.
In her role as co-head writer, Thomson works alongside series creator and head writer Michele Val Jean in crafting the show’s long-term story.
Thomson has an extensive career in daytime, including writing episodes of “General Hospital” and its spinoff, “General Hospital: Night Shift.” She also has substantial experience as co-head writer or associate head writer at “The Young and the Restless” and has written numerous scripts during a two-year stint at “All My Children.”
Outside of daytime, Thomson created the live-action, time-travel mystery series “Secrets of Sulphur Springs,” which ran for three seasons at Disney Channel. She also served as an executive producer.
With Thomson now included, executive producers for “Beyond the Gates” include Michele Val Jean, who also serves as showrunner, Sheila Ducksworth, president of the CBS Studios/NAACP Venture, Julie Carruthers (“All My Children,” “Port Charles”), Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson, Kimberly Doebereiner and Anna Saalfeld.
The writing team includes Susan Dansby (“The Young and the Restless”) as script editor, and breakdown writers Ron Carlivati (“One Life to Live,” “Days of our Lives”), Sara A. Bibel (“The Young and the Restless”), Christopher Dunn (“Santa Barbara,” “All My Children”), Jamey Giddens (“Days of our Lives,” “Ambitions”) and Teresa Zimmerman (“The Young and the Restless,” “The Bold and the Beautiful”).
Script writers include Judy Tate (“Another World,” “As The World Turns”), Danielle Paige (“Days of our Lives,” “Guiding Light”), Jazmen Darnell Brown (“Ambitions,” “Saints and Sinners”), Cheryl L. Davis (“As The World Turns,” “Days of our Lives”) and Lynn Martin (“The City,” “The Young and the Restless”).
Gregori J. Martin, who had been a breakdown writer since the series launched, has exited, putting his focus on the tenth season of the soap opera “The Bay,” which he created and executive produces.
Jamey Giddens replaced Martin as a breakdown writer at “Beyond the Gates.”
Episodes featuring Thomson’s name as both executive producer and co-head writer are slated to air later this summer.
