Inspired by the hilarious lip sync competitions between comedian/TV host Jimmy Fallon and celebrity guests on his late night talk show, Emmy award winning producer and set designer Andy Walmsley came up with the brilliant idea of putting together his very own lip sync throwdown pitting some of the most popular entertainers in Las Vegas against each other.
The coveted "Drop The Mic" trophy
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn
It all came together on Tuesday night, November 17 when Walmsley presented his one night only Las Vegas Entertainment Industry Lip Sync Throwdown inside the Sayers Club at SLS Las Vegas. The lineup of celebrities lip syncing to well known pop songs included Chippendales' hunk James Davis, Jennifer Romas and the cast of Sexxy, Paul Shortino, Jeff Civillico, Murray Sawchuck and Lefty, Jan Rouven, Eric Jordan Young, Nicole Kaplan Fenton, Graham Fenton, Anne Martinez, Kathleen Dunbar, Penny Wiggins and Daniel as Elvis, each backed by The Nick Foote dance troupe.
Nicole Kaplan Fenton and Graham Fenton
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn
Daniel as Elvis
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn
James Davis
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn
Kathleen Dunbar, Brad Garrett and Heath Harmison
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn
Penny Wiggins
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn
Jennifer Romas and the cast of SEXXY
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn
Paul Shortino
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn
Murray Sawchuck and Douglas "Lefty" Leferovich droppin the mic
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn
Jan Rouven as Dolly Parton
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn
Jeff Civillico
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn
Eric Jordan Young
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn
Anne Martinez
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn
Host for the evening's event, which benefited Shade Tree’s Noah’s Animal House, a shelter for battered women and their pets, was Four Queens headliner, comedy magician, Mike Hammer who set the fun tone for the night with his humorous, sharp but harmless digs at the judges and others within eye range that had everyone laughing their socks off. Also on board for this unique event were Zowie Bowie's Chris Phillips making his DJ’ing debut as DJZB and acting as judges were Pia Zadora, Adrian Zmed, Melody Sweets, Johnny Kats, Robin Leach, and Anthony Cools, who scored the Syncers on their performance, dance skills and how well they sold it through three rounds of competition: the first round, semi finals and final.
Mike Hammer
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn
DJZB (Chris Phillips of Zowie Bowie)
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn
The panel of judges: Robin Leach, John Katsilometes, Melody Sweets, Adrian Zmed, Pia Zadors, and Anthony Cools
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn
“The purpose of the show is simply to have fun. We don’t really care about the competition element. It's just a laugh and a fun night and raising money for a really great charity,” said Walmsley.
The evening certainly lived up to expectations, if not beyond, as each talented entertainer dug into their bag of tricks, doing their best to impress everyone in the house before ending their performance by dropping their mic to the floor. Several dressed in drag, some did their best “rap” or 'hip hop interpretation” and even John Kats and Robin Leach were called on stage to try their skills at lip syncing to a hit song.
John Katsilometes
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn
Robin Leach
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn
Chris Phillips as electric violinist Lydia Ansel
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn
Among the many surprises was a special appearance by comedian Brad Garrett, who donated $500 to the worthy charity. Garrett showed up, unexpectedly, joining Kathleen Dunbar and Heath Harmison as they performed a sidesplitting lip syncing rendition of “The Time Of Our Lives” from “Dirty Dancing” with Dunbar playing the role of Patrick Swayze as Heath was decked out in a dress and long blonde wig as Jennifer Grey. However, if there was a prize for the best cross dressing lip syncer, it would have to go to German born illusionist Jan Rouven, who was totally unrecognizable beneath the big hair, heavy makeup, spike heals, and “other” larger than life attributes of country superstar, Dolly Parton, as he lip synced to her hit,“Nine to Five”.
Every one of the lip syncers did an amazing job. But, when all the scores were tallied, the winner of the first Drop The Mic competition was the duo made up of celebrity magician Murray and his on stage sidekick/master sleight of hand card trickster Lefty. As usual, they worked their magic, winning over the crowd and judges with their outrageously funny lip syncing performances to become the champs and taking home the sought after Drop The Mic trophy.
Mike Hammer declares Murray Sawchuck and Douglas "Lefty" Leferovich the Drop The Mic winners
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn
The 70-minute Drop the Mic show was FREE to the public, 21 and over, on a first come-first served basis.
Courtesy of http://www.lasvegasroundtheclock.com
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