Overall winner of Lip Sync Battle 2.0 Kristen Shrider took to the audience, much to their delight, as part of her compilation of musical divas Whitney Houston, Tina Turner and Cher at Lakeshore Recreation, October 22.
Hub Staff
It was a full house and a night of entertainment - and more than a few surprises - at Lakeshore Recreation in Port Elgin October 22 as they played host to Lip Sync Battle 2.0.
The sold out crowd saw a total of 12 lip syncing performances, live and silent auctions, a 50/50 draw and booze bucket prizes, all aimed at raising funds for the Caitlyn Cobean's Community Crusaders (CCCC) in support of Tara “Boom” Houston Children’s Foundation (TBHCF).
“All proceeds from tonight go to Caitlyn Cobean's Community Crusaders,” said Rona Cobean. CCCC is the Grey Bruce division of TBHCF, a foundation based out of St. Thomas, Ontario whose coverage extends from just outside of Windsor up the peninsula to Tobermory. “Any money we raise in Grey and Bruce stays in Grey and Bruce.”
Cobean and her husband lost their daughter Caitlyn in 2008 to brain cancer at the age of 15. “This community raised a ton of money for us so that we could be there with her,” she said. “I could take time off work, I didn't worry about that, the bills were paid, all that stuff was paid and we didn't have to worry about a thing, but unfortunately there isn't this community everywhere,” said Cobean.
Through their work through TBHCF, the CCCC becomes that community of which Cobean spoke. By helping families with critically ill children, families are afforded the opportunity to spend time by their child’s side. “We’re there to help them pay [their bills], just put their mind at ease,” said Cobean.
TBHCF's Sheri Houston, Tara's mom, said that her family shared the same story to the Cobeans. “We lost our daughter when she was 7 years old,” said Houston. “We have the same support in our community that raised thousands and thousands of dollars so that we could look after our daughter.”
Houston said they started the foundation, a registered charity, so they could help other families. “It goes from covering their household bills to getting transportation to and from medical appointments or whatever it is they need. All kinds of things that OHIP and families can’t afford for the situations they're dealing with.”
The evening's entertainment got underway with Master of Ceremonies Brian Longmire from 98 the Beach introducing the panel of local judges, Janet Dawson, Scott Rowland and Trevor Wardrop.
Dawson, who had stepped in at the last minute to judge, explained that the October 22 event was different from the first Lip Sync Battle, which took place in May, 2016, as there were now five trophies instead of just one. “The criteria is slightly different for each one, so it’s kind of nice. You get recognized depending on your strength,” said Dawson.
See: Performers brought it to Lip Sync Battle
A whole range of acts took to the stage with Northport Elementary School teachers Jackie Ewing, Wendy Cumming and Andrea Rideout being the first to perform with their version of Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy followed by Tina Turner, a.k.a Emily Paulin, lip syncing Tina Turner’s rendition of Proud Mary.
The first of the evening's surprises took place after the second act. Longmire explained that there had been “a very important trophy” presented to the winner of the first Lip Sync Battle back in May. “Somehow that trophy went missing from its rightful owner,” said Longmire.
“There's been an ongoing investigation into this. Saugeen Shores Police Services and their finest officers have been on the case for quite some time and we believe the culprit might be in the room this evening.” As Longmire said this, Officers Rose Witteveen and Zach Zadow came in and began wandering through the audience, eventually handcuffing Brenda Yourth, one of the original Lip Sync performers, and carting her off.
The arrest was all in fun and had the crowd laughing and applauding. Karen Fehr, winner of the May event along with her partner Colin Morano with their duet of Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers’ Islands in the Stream, explained.
“At the last Lip Sync my team won it but the Kiss group thought they should have won it,” said Fehr. “I had the trophy sitting in my office and one of the people, Brenda, from that group came and stole it and posted it on Facebook that it was now with its rightful owners and I haven't seen it since that time until tonight.
The show continued with more acts including Val Morano, who came crawling hands and knees onto the stage as Lady Gaga performing Poker Face and Greg Nicholson grabbing his guitar as he theatrically performed Lionel Ritchie's Running With The Night. Cathy Gruberbauer, as Carly Rae Jepson, backed by Jenny Scongnack, Julie Stark and Jennifer Rollinson, included some audience participation in their act and even got Lakeshore Recreation’ owner Gord Mackay involved.
Before the first intermission Judge Trevor Wardrop said he would donate $50 to the evening's charity if Master of Ceremonies Brian Longmire would perform. Judges Dawson and Rowland said that they too would donate $50 apiece to see him lip sync. Longmire responded that he would even sing if more people donated. That spurred Auctioneer Pat O'Connor, who was in attendance, to the stage to start the audience bidding and, hundreds of dollars later, Longmire, wearing an Eminem shirt, performed the Hip Hop artist's The Real Slim Shady.
More acts followed with Bernhard Schropp, Colin Rideout, Keith Dyke and Dave Griffiths bringing some Uptown Funk to the stage; Peggy Clazie and Lori Ashton did their rendition of Meatloaf's Paradise by the Dashboard Light and on the stage for the second time that evening, this time as a performer, Ol' Blue Eyes, Pat O'Connor crooned his way into the hearts of many as Frank Sinatra performing I've Got You Under My Skin.
Kristen Shrider, who chose a compilation of musical divas Whitney Houston, Tina Turner and Cher, took her performance on a walk through the audience; and another compilation followed with Emily Paulin, Janice Klie and Sue Kelly performing as Diana Ross and the Supremes, with songs such as Baby Love, Ain't No Mountain High Enough and Stop in the Name of Love.
The final act of the evening came from Lip Sync 1.0 winners Colin Morano and Karen Fehr, who took gender-opposite roles as Olivia Newton John and John Travolta performing You're The One That I Want from the musical Grease.
At the end of the show, all performers were brought on the stage together and the winners were announced.
Best Costume and Props: Jackie Ewing, Andrea Rideout and Wendy Cumming from Northport Elementary School for performing Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.
Best Stage Presentation: Emily Paulin for her rendition of Tina Turner's Proud Mary.
Fan Favourite: Bernhard Schropp, Colin Rideout, Keith Dyke, Dave Griffiths for Uptown Funk.
Honourable Mention: Greg Nicholson for Lionel Ritchie's Running With The Night.
Overall Winner: Kristen Shrider for her compilation of musical divas Whitney Houston, Tina Turner and Cher.
“This community is the best community ever,” said Shrider after receiving her award. “I am so proud to call this home and we do things for people that we don't even know,” she said. “This is fantastic, this is awesome.”
After the awards Longmire took the time to mention local girl Kyleigh Buckton, who is currently awaiting heart surgery in Toronto's SickKids and the Kisses for Kyleigh campaign to raise money for Kyleigh's family for their added expenses and lost wages from time off work.
Kylie's grandmother, Sue Buckton, a driving force behind the first Lip Sync event and also one of the judges in May, had planned on being part of the October event but decided to be with Kyleigh.
A letter from Buckton was offered and, in part, read:
“As I sit here at the hospital I watch families sleeping on chairs because they don't want to leave their kids or because they can’t afford a hotel. They're wearing the same clothes that they came in, because they can’t or won’t leave to get new stuff. I can’t even imagine the cost of the cell phone calls or the meals they're having to purchase and the bills they're worrying about paying at home. The look of raw fear is everywhere.
So, from the bottom of my heart and the hearts of all the families you're helping this evening, thank you. I hope you enjoyed the show because laughter is the best medicine and so is donating, so thanks for all your support.”
At the time of publishing, the exact amount raised at the October 22 event was not available but Fehr estimated it to be between $8,000 and $9,000.
The Kisses for Kyleigh gofundme page to date has raised over $15,000. Click here for more.
The panel of judges scored each performance on a variety of categories from their stage presentation to their costumes to audience reaction. Left to right, Scott Rowland, Janet Dawson and Trevor Wardop.
Master of Ceremonies, 98 the Beach's Brian Longmire, performed as Eminem, raising hundreds of dollars for the evening’s charity.
Saugeen Shores Police Officer Rose Witteveen handcuffs Brenda Yourth October 22 for stealing the trophy from the winners of May’s Lip Sync Battle 1.0.
Some of the Caitlyn Cobean's Community Crusaders at Lakshore Recreation, Port Elgin where Lip Sync Battle 2.0 was held October 22. Left to right, Diane lutz, Sandra Carter, Nancy MacLeod, Barb DeBoer, Kerri McLean, Rona Cobean.
Overall winner Kristen Shrider was presented with her award from Brian Longmire at Lip Sync Battle 2.0.
For more photos see Lip Sync Battle 2.0 in picutres
