Archive: Arts & Entertainment

On March 24, 2018, Kitchen Theatre Company (KTC) presented its first ever Lip Sink Spring Fundraiser. Celebrating M. Bevin O'Gara's first season as Producing Artistic Director at KTC, the evening brought the community together in support of the theatre. Teams of performers chose songs to lip sync and dance to, and fundraised on behalf of the theatre, culminating in an incredible show, delighting the audience of KTC supporters. The event was hosted by longtime Kitchen Theatre actor and local favorite Karl Gregory. The fundraising celebration featured an open bar, buffet, and a dance party (DJ Gibran).

The newest iteration of the KTC Spring Fundraiser format (previously known as "Dance the Night Away" and "Ithaca's Got It"), Lip Sink featured teams competing to present the most entertaining lip sync performances and raise the most money. A total of nine groups performed: CFCU Electrifies (Cathy Benson & Mark Kenjerska), Team Heartbeat (Ryan Mitchell & Gina Giambattista), Nutloaf (Nancy & Joel Malina), MBJM (Catherine Weidner), Loose Lips Sync Sinks (Thom Dunn), The Freudian Lips (KTC Staff), Team Johnson MBA (Brian Balduzzi, Steven Cheng, & Lauren Dowler), The Kennel Club (Jamie Morrisey & Bevin O'Gara), and NSINK (Matt Carcella, Rob de la Fuente, Stephen Nunley, & Zachary Sweet). Host Karl Gregory added to the night with an impromptu Elaine Stritch-themed performance.

Teams competed to win one of four prizes: Fundraising All-Star (awarded to the team that raised the most funds), and three Fan Favorite prizes (determined by audience votes). NSINK won the Fundraising All-Star award; its four members raised over $6,000 for Kitchen Theatre Company. Nutloaf was awarded 1st-Place in the Fan Favorite competition, and NSINK and The Kennel Club were recognized as First- and Second-runner ups, respectively. Ryan Mitchell was the top individual fundraiser for this event, raising over $2,500.

The lead sponsor of 'Lip Sink' was CFCU Community Federal Credit Union. Also sponsoring the event were C.S.P. Management, Cayuga Medical Center, Tompkins Trust Company, Karen Eldredge, Travis Hyde Properties, and Cornell University Hospital for Animals, along with beverage sponsors Treleaven Wineries and Liquid State Brewing Company.

All told, the event raised over $40,000 for the work of the Kitchen Theatre Company.

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