Kitchen Theatre Company Dazzles, Delights, And Raises Dollars With LIP SINK

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. The Kitchen gives a big thank you to all the businesses and individuals who made it possible-with over 450 gifts!- including the Kitchen Theatre Company's Event Committee (Chairs: Jim Bouderau & Susan Johnston, Members:Lindsay Hahnes * Joel Malina * Sally McConnell-Ginet * Beth Putnam).

ABOUT THE KITCHEN THEATRE COMPANY

Bold, intimate, engaging... Kitchen Theatre Company (KTC), now in its 27th season, is downtown Ithaca's critically acclaimed and nationally recognized year-round professional theater company, specializing in regional and world premiere plays. KTC's intimate 99-seat theater is in a beautifully renovated, LEED-certified building in the West End neighborhood of downtown Ithaca, New York. KTC is the first not-for-profit recipient of the David R. Strong Memorial "Small Business of the Year" Award from the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce and receives public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency, and the Tompkins County Tourism Program. The Kitchen Theatre Company also receives general operating support from the Shubert Foundation.

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