2nd Annual Lip Sync Battle Raises Over $18,000

Southeastern Technical College was filled with excitement, music, and laughter on Thursday, September 18, as the second annual Lip Sync Battle took to the stage, and raised over $18,000 for the Altama Museum of Art and History.

Community members for various organizations, groups, and employers came together to battle it out with their best dance moves and lip syncing for a chance to take home the Golden Hairbrush. Dot Foods General Manager Tim Truxel, former Altama Museum of Art and History Executive Director Jenn Martinez, and Downtown Vidalia Association Executive Director Tonya Parker served as judges for the event, while Vidalia Mayor Doug Roper and Micah Williams entertained the crowd between performances as 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 continued from page

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 the “Code Bluez” — made up of Memorial Health Meadows Hospital Nurses Lawson Paradice, Caleb Williams, and Trey Burke – who took home the Golden Hairbrush with their performance of “Sexy Back.”

“I speak for all of the Code Bluez when I say we enjoy it so much because it brings so much joy to the town. Being able to have so much fun while also raising money towards so many charities that assist the people we see everyday is a blessing,” Paradice emphasized. “It really is just a group of friends who get to have fun together and bring a spotlight to these amazing local organizations that we have. Our practices were always so much fun, and we have so many great memories from doing the lip sync! I do want to give a huge thank you to Mrs. Maria Gibase, Mrs. Jennifer Sutton, and Mrs. Renae Braddy – they made this whole thing possible and poured so much time and love into us guys!”

The “Disco Glam Express” – made up of Lunch Bunch Members Beth Busch, Angela Lane, Sara Brown, Jordan Robins, Makaylee Randolph, and Josh Green – won the audience over with their groovy routine to Dancing Queen Medley, and took home both second place and People’s Choice Champion honors.

Robins spoke on behalf of the Disco Glam Express, saying, “The Lip Sync Battle is one of our favorite events! There is no such thing as a comfort zone, and everyone’s routines were creative and hilarious. It gave us all a chance to be silly, forget the worries of the world for a little while, and rock the stage while raising money for a great cause!”

The “Disco Glam Express” selected the Altama Museum of Art and History as their charity, so the museum will receive all of the $18,000 raised.

Other Performances The Altama House Band started the night off with excitement, as the Altama Museum Board of Trustees performed “Don’t Stop Believin’” as Journey.

Leigh-Anne White & Company, LLC., sent “The Whole Fam Dam-ily” to perform “We Are the World.”

The Downtown Barre performed “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” as “Mac Daddy & the Barre Babes.” The group consisted of Cassie Neal, Beth Busch, Mac Suber, Pam Langston, Jacquie McKay, Olivia Ferrara, Breanne Morris, Mary Beth Bolt, Logan Manning, Ellen Walter, Sara Ellis Walker, Donna Spikes, Julie Spivey, and Helen Baird.

“Jada Braddock and her Gardens of Hope Family” rocked out to “Hey Ya!”

The Oxford of Lyons “Gurlz” performed “Run the World (Girls).” The group consisted of Meka Cook, Tosha Hobbs, Tameria McLendon, Kimberly Powell, Melody Bryant, Shanna Anners, Rosa Lara, and Lniyah Vann.

The Vidalia Federal Savings Bank “Soggy Bottom Bankers” changed the genres, as they performed the bluegrass hit “Man of Constant Sorrow.” The group was made up of Brandi Hardiman, Laura Dowd, Madison Beasley, Lisa Chesser, and Sandy Hattaway.

“The Kilgore Girls” of Kilgore Animal Hospital transformed into the Spice Girls, as they performed “Wannabe.” This group consisted of Meagan Hardee, Blake Coleman, Lacey Stacks, Maddy Creamer, and Abbie Hughes.

Shree Walker, Casey Statum, Brandy Flanders, Eliza Hunt, Makayla Miller, Regina O’Neal, and Lisa Strickland came together as the Ameris Bank “Teller Monkeys” to perform “The Lazy Song.”

The Boys and Girls Club Board of Directors showed off their best dance moves to “Happy.”

The Southern Nuclear Plant Hatch “Atomic Angels” – Sara Waters, Desiree Drawdy, Marcie Rogers, and Easter White were “Holdin’ Out For A Hero” with their epic performance on Thursday night.

Reflections

Altama Museum of Art & History Executive Director Donna Belcher reflected on the night, as she thanked Maria Gibase for putting the event together, as well as Stage Manager Tiffany Yancey, Sound Engineer Leon Stalls, Projection Operator Gage Holland, Lighting Board Operator Norm Munthe, Event Support Person Lori Mertz, and more.

“Our Second Lip Sync Battle was an incredible success – a packed house, entertaining performances, and the most hilarious emcees!” she emphasized. “We’re thrilled to see so much support for both the arts and the local charities our acts were representing.”

PEOPLE’S CHOICE CHAMPIONS – The Lunch Bunch – who came together as “Disco Glam Express”— not only won second place, but took home the title of People’s Choice Champions at the 2nd Annual Lip Sync Battle. L to R: Josh Green, Angela Lane, Sara Brown, Makaylee Randolph, Beth Busch, Jordan Robins.Photo by Evan Riekhof