By By KEVIN SCOTT CUTLER
Lifestyles & Features Editor
Ticket sales for next month’s Dancing With OUR Star fundraiser are brisk, and where tickets are purchased could help determine the winner.
The second annual event benefits Eagle’s Wings, a United Way agency that strives to alleviate the immediate hunger needs of the impoverished and homeless in Beaufort County.
The show is planned for Aug. 29 at the Washington High School Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $30 for reserved seating.
Tickets are available from any of the cast members, each of whom hopes to sell the most since that amount will be applied to their score. The dance team garnering the most money in ticket sales and donations will be declared the winner, according to Eagle’s Wings Executive Director Debbie Adams.
The competition is already heating up among the teams, especially in the race between the Washington Police Department, led by Chief Mick Reed, and the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Alan Jordan.
“When Alan Jordan and Mick Reed were first approached about being stars, it was a friendly conversation about the songs they would use, the fun they would have and the money they would raise for a worthy cause,” Adams said.
“It progressively became a ‘friendly competition.’ It wasn’t long until the secrets started — they were hiding out for practices at undisclosed locations. The last I heard about this rivalry is this is not a friendly competition, but an all out war!
“They are both eager to win by raising the most money for Eagle’s Wings. Mick and Alan are both bold enough to say ‘Make the check to Eagle’s Wings and put my name in the subject line!’”
The competition isn’t limited to local law enforcement agencies. The entire cast is eager to build on the success of last year’s event. Dancing With OUR Stars director Janet Cox said the performers are well on their way to doing just that.
“I was a bit nervous to try and compete with last year’s lineup of stars and actual dances — everyone did such a fantastic job,” Cox said. “I just didn’t know if we could do anything comparable, much less top it. I’m proud to say that this year’s performers are just as professional, talented, funny and enjoyable to work with.”
The next installment of Dancing With OUR Stars isn’t a repeat of last year’s show, Cox stressed.
“The show is so different from last year’s,” she said. “I’m amazed at the wonderful ideas the dancers and stars have all brought to the table. It’s almost like they’ve been working on it since last year”
This year’s stars and dancers include Neva Cashion, Shelley Gentner, Gennia Weatherington, Will Reising, Shannon Reising, David McLawhorn, Megan McLawhorn, Janet Cox, Catherine Glover, Jeremy Watson, Marcus Jones, Caroline Phillips, Ray Moore, Gayle Watson-Roper, Debbie Ainsworth, Will Mayo, Reggie Baker, Mick Reed, Kiki Hampton, Melissa Smith, Alan Jordan, Tabitha Oliver, Sean Nathan, Galina Panova, Russell Smith, Vinnie Cilluffo, Susan Sizemore, Ed Moultrie, Laurie Weston, Marc Rucquoi, Daniel Bergivien, Staci Hardison, Michael Bilbro, Billy Weaver and McKenna Cox.
Want to support your favorite performer while helping a worthy cause? Donations to Eagle’s Wings can be mailed to P.O. Box 426, Washington, N.C. 27889. Be sure to include the name of the performer on the subject line of the check.