Floats, folks, suds... and soaps?

Ryan A. Mihalyi Arizona Daily Wildcat Soap opera star Austin Beck from "Days of Our Lives" signs autographs at last night's NBC-sponsored celebrity basketball game. Local high school bands also competed against each other in the battle of the bands.

And it wasn't even time for your favorite soap.

So while Sami is scheming to get Austin back from Carrie, all three took a break from their TV lives last week to come to Tucson as part of the NBC Daydream Tour.

About 25 NBC-daytime actors and actresses came to town as part of University of Arizona Homecoming festivities. Giddy fans eagerly waited on the UA Mall to sneak a peek at their favorite soap stars.

"This is just great because things like this don't happen all the time," said Helene Plotz, who has watched "Days of Our Lives" for at least 10 years.

"I'm just excited to see the stars," she added.

The actors and actresses came to town last week in an effort to boost ratings in southern Arizona for the three NBC soap operas: "Sunset Beach," "Another World" and "Days of Our Lives."

Fans got a heavy dose of the daytime stars during appearances in UA classrooms, the Tucson Mall, several UA Homecoming festivities, the New West, a local dance club, and a celebrity basketball game.

Fans could snap pictures and grab autographs from as many stars as they could track down.

"I am excited about this," said sociology junior Liz Garcia as she stood in line at the Tucson Mall for autographs. "When you watch the show every day, you get pumped when you can see them in real life."

But fans weren't the only ones impressed last weekend.

"Sunset Beach" actor Clive Robertson said UA Homecoming was unlike anything he'd seen before.

"We just don't have these kind of things," he said of his British homeland. "This has been a whole new experience with alumni, fraternities and sororities."

Aside from the celebrity sightings, 18- to 24-year-old females had the opportunity to take their shot at the spotlight as casting and daytime programming directors held an open casting call Saturday and Sunday at the Tucson Mall.

Kathy Talbert, NBC East Coast daytime programming director, said they were looking to fill a new role on "Days of Our Lives" and were seeking out the perfect person for the part in Tucson.

"Even if they are not the right type for this part, but we feel the camera will love them, we may call them back," she said.

Talbert said if they believed a person had acting potential, they would be asked to read a scene on camera.

"We do remember people and if we have them on tape we may be able to use them for something later on," she said.

Several actors also went into the classrooms to answer questions and give advice about the daytime show business.

"Sunset Beach" actress Kathleen Noone told a room full of Arizona Repertory Theatre actors and actresses that age didn't matter if you believed in yourself.

"I'm here to tell you that if you are over age 52, you can make a living if you have your craft, your drive and your passion," she said.

Part of the tour also included charity events including the celebrity basketball game benefiting Toys for Tots on Thursday and a fall sweep of the Tucson Centers for Women and Children on Sunday.

"It's important to give back to the community," said Jensen Ackles, a cast member of "Days of Our Lives." "It's such a big part of how youth is raised."