On June 4, at the Ice Palace, Grove performers, pouring out their hearts, gathered at the Ice Palace to raise funds to assist Broadway singer and dancer Jerad Bortz (“Wicked,” “Pirate Queen,” “Mamma Mia,” “Chess”), largely paralyzed in an automobile accident in the Poconos earlier in the year, and his spouse Steven Skeels, our Cherry Grove neighbors. Ariel Sinclair hosted the performance; DJ Chuck McTague was responsible for music, lights, and sound; and a total of $1,168 was raised.
Ariel opened the show with “Friends;” gave us Sandi Patty’s rousing “Praise” medley; and favored us with signature song “(My vagina is) Eight Miles Wide.” Newcomer Davida Jones offered “Davida loca,” her adaptation of “La Vida Loca,” during which she gave this writer something of a lap dance; proceeded to “Fabulous, Baby!” from “Sister Act,” complete with a split; and acted and sang “Wig in a Box,” from “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” with Jerad contributing a verse. Saying, “This is for my baby,” Steven moved us all by singing “I Love You” to Jerad.
Reigning Miss Ice Palace Victoria Falls drew on “Wicked,” for “The Wizard and I,” with Davida assisting, and “Popular,” and then added “River Deep, Mountain High.” Sonny Shores gave us Monty Python moments, singing “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” and “You Won’t Succeed on Broadway (if you don’t have any Jews);” capped these with “Dentist!” from “Little Shop of Horrors;” and somewhere in there, organized a kick line to assist.
Porsche sang some of ABBA’s “Fernando,” as Cher and Liza Minnelli; some of “Xanadu,” with Jerad-on-wheels’ participation; “Rose’s Turn,” from “Gypsy,” as Ethel Merman; and “Little Girls,” from “Annie,” as Bette Davis as Baby Jane Hudson—prompting Jerad to reveal his pertinent “But ya are, Blanche” t-shirt—and as Carol Channing.
There were a guest appearance by dancer Tinker Puss and a raffish game of Jerad Bortz and Broadway trivia, followed by a raffle drawing for prizes donated by Grove businesses and Lips restaurant. For a grand finale, cast members collaborated on “I’m a Woman (W-O-M-A-N).”