Altama Lip Sync Battle Raises Over $16,000

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The Altama Museum of Art and History hosted their first ever Lip Sync Battle fundraiser on Thursday, September 19, as the event raised over $16,000.

The Southeastern Technical College auditorium was packed on Thursday night, as community members gathered to see their friends and families perform their best lip sync songs for a chance to take home the Golden Hair Brush. Juvenile Court Judge Sherri Mc-Donald and Mike Williams served as judges for the event, alongside local celebrity characters Shaunda and DeaNae (played by Ann Owens and Dawn McDaniel Owens), while Vidalia Mayor Doug Roper and Lyons Mayor Willis NeSmith Jr. served as the night’s emcees.

Each performance featured community members who were vying to raise money for their selected charities. Judges would comment and rate each performance, while the audience voted monetarily through donations for their favorite performances. The event crowned both a Lip Sync Battle Champion and a People’s Choice Champion, whose charity took home 10% of the total donations collected for the night.

Ultimately, it was Gardens of Hope Recovery Community Organization (RCO) that took home continued from page

the title of Lip Sync Battle Champion. Gardens of Hope RCO Youth Peer Specialist Jada Braddock spoke on the event, saying, “After being told about the event, I immediately agreed to do it. I love do ing uncomfortable things, so this fit that perfectly. ‘Grow through what you go through’ is one of our mottos [at Gardens of Hope], and helped to keep me inspired.”

She said that the group’s performance of "Intergalactic" was her hus band Kyle Keown’s idea, as he told her that if she would agree to the song, his best friend Ben LaGrange would also help in the endeavor. Soon, five residents of the Forge Men’s Recovery Center also agreed to join the trio as robot back up dancers, and the group was set.

"I will be honest I was a little nervous — the three of us (Braddock, Keown, La-Grange) live in Statesboro while the rest of the dance team were in Vidalia. That night on stage was the only night we all danced together!” she remarked. “The song is so fun and high energy; also, little choreography is needed because it’s a song where you can just be yourself.”

Braddock added, "It was all about showing that you can have fun in recov- ery. I have been in recovery for four years now, and my life is beautiful. I couldn't ask for a better community than the recovery community – everyone showed up, did their best, had fun, and won! I know today that wherever I go, I have a friend or family member in my recovery community that will shake it on a stage with me.”

She explained that the win was also exciting because of the opportunity it gives to inform the community about Gardens of Hope RCO, and to break the stigma that surrounds addiction recovery. “The recovery community is one that will welcome you with open arms,” Braddock emphasized.

The routine featured Braddock, Keown, and LaGrange, as well as Larry Haynes, Terry McCoy, Tracy Wigfall, Mike Pigford, and EJ Bailey. The group’s selected charity was Gardens of Hope RCO.

People’s Choice

Responsive Technology Partners and Pineland Telephone Cooperative joined forces to form “The Secure Connections,” who performed “Jessie’s Girl” by Rick Springfield. The performance earned the group – made up of John Gilliams, Leon Pounds, Casey Yarbrough, and Steven McComas – the title of People’s Choice, and won $1,600 to donate to the Boys & Girls Club of Toombs County.

Other Competitors

Also among the top three performances of the night were the Memorial Health Meadows Hospital “Code Bluez,” who performed “The Git Up” by Blanco Brown. The group included Lawson Paradice, Eli McClellan, Caleb Williams, Jason Newton, and Trey Burke, who came together in attempt to raise money for The Altama Museum. The performance ultimately took home 2nd place. continued from page

In 3rd place was Ox ford of Lyons’ performance of "Proud Mary" as Ike and Tina Turner. The group consisted of Meka Cook, Randy Yarbourough, Lisa White, Flora Torres, and Angie McDaniel, and selected the Boys & Girls Club of Toombs County as their charity.

Franklinia Playhouse’s “The Frankies” performed “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree,” as they gave a sneak peek at the group’s upcoming production of Elf later this year. Several members of the theatre troupe came together for a chance to raise money for the Salvation Army; these members included Adam Futch, Donna Futch, Kairi Futch, Sadie Dasher, Mikayla Dasher, Bonnie Davis, Gracie Davis, Katie Nichols, Karter Toole, and Bailee Stalls.

Gerald Nagle, Marilyn Edkin, Doris Clemons, and Tesla Bivins came together as “The Bethany Home Breakouts,” as they performed “Untamed Melody” for a chance to win money for Mercy Medical Clinic and Foundation.

Allena McCoy represented Leigh-Anne White & Company with her performance of “Rolling in the Deep” as Adele, as she selected Community Hospice as her charity.

The Vidalia Federal Savings Bank “Bank Bellas” shared their rendition of “Pitch Perfect Final Mashup,” as they performed with hopes of earning money for Gardens of Hope RCO. Performers included Brandi Hardeman, Destiny Mc-Coy, Laura Dowd, Maci LaCoss, Jessica Carter, JJ Jones, and Lisa Chesser.

The Vidalia Police Department floored the crowd with their performance of “Thriller,” as they performed to raise money for the Boys & Girls Club of Toombs County and the Vidalia High School Dance Team. The performance featured the styling’s of Chief James Jermon, Shannon Martin, Kelsey Coursey, Jasmine Pierce, Madge Collins, Dwayne Carpenter, Dallas Handsome, Oshiana Roberts, Raniya Simmons, Destinee Walton, and Mikayla Stovall.

“The River Queens from Plant Hatch” paid tribute to Dolly Parton with their performance of “9 to 5” in hopes to raise money for the Altama Museum. Performers included Loretta Bowman, Beverly Foreman, Ally Humphries, Kristi Sikes, Melissa Stanley, and Sara Waters, and a special guest appearance by “The Boss.”

Beth Busch, Amanda Higgins, Jordan Robins, Angela Lane, Sara Brown, Michael Lane, Tyler Salter, and Zac Moore – also known as “The Lunch Bunch” – performed a mashup of “Bye, Bye, Bye” and “Wannabe,” as NSYNC and The Spice Girls battled for supremacy in the performance. The group chose The Altama Museum as their charity.

Guest Performances

The Altama Museum Board of Trustees opened the event with their own special guest performance, as the group performed “September” by Earth, Wind, and Fire. The Downtown Barre also surprised attendees with a performance of “Old Time Rock and Roll.”

Reflections

Altama Museum Board of Trustees Chairman Wes Chapman spoke on the event, as he credited Maria Gibase for coming up with the idea for the unique fundraiser. “Maria Gibase was the mastermind behind this all. She came to me and asked if we could do an event like this, and I told her to take it and run with it. She’s done a fabulous job, and we have really enjoyed this,” he emphasized.

Chapman also reminded the audience of the upcoming Vidalia Porchfest event, which will feature live music, artisans, and food trucks on November 9. More information on this event will be available in the coming weeks.

BETHANY HOME BREAKOUTS – Gerald Nagle, Marilyn Edkin, Doris Clemons, and Tesla Bivins came together as “The Bethany Home Breakouts,” as they performed “Untamed Melody” for a chance to win money for Mercy Medical Clinic and Foundation.Photo by Evan Riekhof

INTERGALACTIC – Gardens of Hope RCO performed their rendition of “Intergalactic” by the Beastie Boys.Photo by Evan Riekhof

MAC DADDY AND THE BARRE BABES – Cassie Neal, Olivia Ferrara, Julie Spivey, Pattie Feimster, Staci Worth, Beth Busch, Jacqui McKay, Tammy Gingrich, Brenda Driggers, and Mac Suber performed “Old Time Rock and Roll” as a special guest performance during the show.Photo by Evan Riekhof

THE SECURE CONNECTIONS – Responsive Technologies and Pineland Telephone Cooperative came together as “The Secure Connections” to perform “Jessie’s Girl.”Photo by Evan Riekhof

LIP SYNC CHAMPIONS – Gardens of Hope Recovery Community Organization (RCO) Members gathered on stage to celebrate together after being named the Altama Museum Lip Sync Battle Champions.Photo by Evan Riekhof