Lip Sync Wars benefit scheduled for Thursday
Lip Sync Wars to benefit People’s Place, Center for Creative Education
Kingston Mayor Steve Noble is relieved about at least one thing these days. He won't have to sing.
KINGSTON, N.Y. » Mayor Steve Noble is relieved about at least one thing these days. He won’t have to sing. Noble and his wife, Julie, are set to perform in Thursday’s “2017 Ulster County Lip Sync Wars,” a fundraiser to benefit The People’s Place and the Center for Creative Education. The event is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. with appetizers and a pasta bar at The Chateau at 240 Boulevard (state Route 32) in Kingston.
“Julie and I are very excited for this event,” Noble said in an email. “I’m especially excited that this is a lip syncing competition instead of actual singing. While Julie has the voice of an angel, I do not.”
Noble would not say what song the two will lip sync.
“We’ve been sworn to secrecy on our song selection, but I can tell you that it’s a song close to my heart,” Noble said. “I hope that the crowd will sing along with me — they should know the words!”
Christine Hein, executive director of the People’s Place, a thrift store and food pantry at Broadway and St. James Street, said her agency and the Center for Creative Education serve similar populations.
“After collaborating on other community projects, we realized that we serve many of the same population,” Hein said in an email. “During one of our conversations about the importance of fund-raising, we realized we had the same concept for an event.”
“Because both of us have a strong sense of what the value of working together can bring to the community, we decided it would be a great opportunity to partner together,” Hein said.
Besides the Nobles, the contest will also include performances by Kingston Police Chief Egidio Tinti and his wife, Elisa, a former Kingston alderwoman, and Ulster County Sheriff Paul Van Blarcum, according to a press release.
In addition, the battle will include performances by Terri Lee and Jay Misasi; Bri Olsen and Joseph Maggio, Lisa Lynds, Bar-
bara O’Brien, and Eva Tenuto and Julie Novak.
The Master of Ceremonies will be Lady Esther Gin. Additional performances will be staged by Energy Dance Company and Executive Directors Bryant “Drew” Andrews and Hein.
Hein said all of the contestants were extremely receptive
to performing.
“They loved the idea and were very excited to participate and support our missions,” said Hein, who noted that the event’s fundraising goal is $20,000.
“The funds raised at this event will help cover our food pantry and our 17 other programs provided at People’s Place,” Hein said. “With the threat of substantial federal cuts to programming directly effecting our population, we are preparing
for an increase in demand of our services.”
Tickets are $50 per person in advance and $60 at the door. VIP tickets cost $100.
Tickets are available online at www.peoplesplaceuc.org.
Hein said the contestants are taking the lip sync battle seriously.
“Chief Tinti and his wife Elisa are definitely committed to making their act entertaining!” Hein said “There is even talk of props!!”