Photography by Airwind Creative

This year, Fuse Project hosted its 4th annual Lip Sync Battle fundraiser, presented by Infirmary Health, at Soul Kitchen on Thursday, April 25th, 2024. The event was a spectacular showcase of talent, creativity, and community spirit, drawing participants and spectators together for a night of unforgettable performances and camaraderie.

What is a Lip Sync Battle?

For those unfamiliar with the concept, a Lip Sync Battle is a high-energy, entertaining event where participants perform popular songs, lip-syncing with precision while delivering captivating and often humorous renditions. Contestants take the stage, channeling their inner rock stars or divas, and deliver captivating performances through exaggerated expressions, dance moves, theatrical flair, and a whole lot of fun, making it a night to remember for performers and spectators alike. The atmosphere is electric, filled with excitement and laughter as participants compete for the Champion title. Judges score the teams based on their lip-syncing prowess, creativity, stage presence, crowd appeal, fundraising efforts, and participation in pre-event challenges.

A High-Quality Production

This event is no ordinary talent show; it’s a full-scale production featuring lights, screens, and stage graphics. Teams, comprising 5-15 members from various corporate and social groups, spend weeks preparing their performances, perfecting choreography, props, and dynamic visual effects. The anticipation and excitement culminated in a night that was packed with some of the best performances in the history of the event.

The Line-Up

This year, seven teams took the stage to compete for the coveted trophy: YPofMOB, Austal USA, Spring Hill Baptist Day School, iHeart Radio, Order of Fuse (Fuse Project’s own member organization), Bay City Boot Camp, and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office. The competition featured a mix of veteran teams and enthusiastic newcomers.

Team Rosters (in order of appearance)

Team YPofMOB (Young Professionals of Mobile) 

Bess Morgan Baluyut, Caroline Choe, Jacey Curington, Abbey Hugulely, Mary Emma Peavy, Asia Schnoes, and Bree Williams

Team Austal USA 

Jason Campbell, Sonja Dennis, Adam Overstreet, Rodney Patrick, Tony Tharpe, Brad Vickers, and Jessica Wofford

Team Spring Hill Baptist Day School 

Allison Blaylock, Kaila Bush, Hannah Bush, Denise Chaney, Minnie Dixon, Adrean Eldridge, Portia George, Lexi George, Cameron Melson, Audrey Merity, and Gloria Turner

Team iHeart Radio 

Derik Anderson, Ronnie Bloodworth, Mary Booth, Lauren Carter, Jay Carter, John Carter, Grant Dukes, Gail Filotei, Randy Kennedy, Missy Lynam, Ariel McSwain, Shelby Mitchell, Melissa Overstreet, and Jennifer Steiniede

Team Order of Fuse 

Graysi Gartman, Jen “Bunny” Head, Allison Lerner, Kelly McKinley, Amber Saltz, Cara Stapleton, Katie Wilkinson, and Maddie Wright

Team Bay City Boot Camp 

Tiffany Catchot, Brandon Catchot, Jessica Collins, Brooke Colomb, Carla Davis, Kayla Gollotte, Trell Griffin, Trevor Herman, Jessica Lee, Eddie Loggins, Christian Shelter, Amber Smith, Emily Washburn, and Mollie Wheeler

Team Sheriff 

Chris Autry, Darren Brackens, Sheriff Burch, Terri Hall, Jenn Hiestand, Zandra Jackson, Lori Myles, Andrew Peak, Sarah Percy, Josh Pounds, Jordan Rhodes, and Darbie Weaver

Each team put on a show that was nothing short of spectacular, with standout moments that had the crowd cheering and the judges captivated.

Special Guest Performances

In addition to the competing teams and to break up the competition throughout the evening, the event highlighted a few special guest performances that added an extra layer of excitement and entertainment.

Dance Without Limits (former Fuse Project grant recipient) showcased their inspiring work with individuals with special needs, delivering a heartwarming and inclusive dance performance.

Dyversatile Dance Crew brought the house down with their impressive breakdancing skills.

Bronson Webb, a local singer-songwriter, performed during intermission, enchanting the audience with his acoustic renditions of "Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman, "Coming Home" by Leon Bridges, and an original song. 

Blow House Brass Band, known as "the Sound of Mobile Mardi Gras," infused the atmosphere with the festive spirit of Mobile and entertained the audience during the judge's deliberation.

The Judges and Criteria

The judging panel was a mix of local celebrities and experts who provided valuable feedback and insightful critiques. This year’s panel included:

Lenise Ligon, News Anchor at Fox 10 WALA

Meredith Hicks, Local Musician

Symone French, Local Musician

Kalenski Adams aka DJ Dirty Dan, Executive Director of Opportunity 4 EntertainERS & Performing Arts

Ryan “Pablo” Foster, Senior Marketing Manager at the Saenger Theatre

Diana Brinson, Infirmary Foundation Director

The performances were judged based on six criteria:

• Lip Sync Abilities: Precision in mimicking the song’s lyrics and emotional nuances.

• Overall Creativity: Originality and inventiveness in theme, props, choreography, and visual effects.

• Appearance & Stage Presence: Commanding presence, cohesive look, and expressive performance.

• Crowd Appeal: Engagement and interaction with the audience, generating enthusiasm and excitement.

• Fundraising: Points awarded based on the amount of money raised through sponsorships, donations, and ticket sales encouraging teams to gather support for their cause.

• Participation: Points for participating in weekly challenges leading up to the event, fostering a sense of commitment and community involvement.

Behind the Scenes

The success of the event was made possible by the dedicated Lip Sync Battle Planning and Advisory Committee and a host of volunteers who ensured everything ran smoothly. Their efforts in securing sponsorships, coordinating with teams, and handling logistics were instrumental. These committee members spearheaded the volunteer efforts of the evening to ensure everything ran smoothly from front of house admission and hospitality to back of house check-in and stage assistance. 

Behind the scenes, the teams enjoyed a celebratory atmosphere with a tent set up for them behind the venue, featuring dinner from Moe’s Original BBQ and Big Bad Breakfast. A live stream allowed them to keep up with the stage action while they prepared for their turn in the spotlight. 

Show Highlights

Soul Kitchen was vibrating with excitement as the crowd mingled and enjoyed specialty cocktails and sponsors and VIPs enjoyed exclusive seating and food from The Noble South and Velvet Pig. At 7 pm, the show kicked off with a dynamic video montage of past performances and a countdown, followed by a high-energy introduction from emcee Mary Frances Clarke (Fuse Project’s Development Director).

The intermission featured a live musical performance by Bronson Webb. His soulful voice was accompanied by a slideshow showcasing Fuse Project's impactful work in the Avenue community, highlighting programs like the Academic Support Program and SPARK Summer Camp. This moment added an introspective touch to the evening, creating a perfect counterbalance to the high-energy lip sync performances. It also served as a reminder of why this event and the funds raised from it are so important as the faces of lives impacted scrolled by with smiles.

Later in the show, came a heartfelt segment with Mary Frances Clarke and Principal Regina Flowers of Florence Howard Elementary School, discussing the direct impact of donations on students' lives. This was followed by the exciting announcement of The Branch, a new housing development in the Avenue. (Click here to read more about The Branch Announcement.)

These moments underscored the importance of the event and the funds raised by highlighting how they are used to create transformational opportunities.

“Drumroll, Please…”

The audience was treated to a thrilling performance by Blow House Brass Band while the judges deliberated and last-minute donations came rolling in. Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for: the announcement of the winners.

Determined by earning the most in donations and ticket sales, Team Order of Fuse was announced the Crowd Favorite! 

Then Mary Frances called the top three teams to the stage for the final results – iHeart Radio, Order of Fuse, and Team Sheriff.

The runner-up title was awarded to iHeart Radio, and the Grand Champion trophy was claimed by Team Order of Fuse, earning them the ultimate bragging rights!

The After-Party Celebration

After the show, the event continued to rock on in the front room of Soul Kitchen with an After-Party Celebration featuring DJ Rodski. Teams and guests alike danced and mingled, reveling in the success of the event.  It was an absolute blast! Meanwhile, our dedicated volunteers and staff worked hard to break down the event and clear out the venue. 

The Impact

We are excited to announce that the year’s Lip Sync Battle raised a total of $76,000 to expand education, community wellness, and housing opportunities in the Avenue. The success of the event was a collective effort made possible by the dedication of sponsors, teams, committee members, volunteers, special guests, and everyone in attendance.

As we look ahead to the next Lip Sync Battle, we are filled with gratitude for the support and enthusiasm of our community. Each year, this event grows stronger and more impactful, and we are excited to see what the future holds. Thank you to all our sponsors, teams, committee members, volunteers, special guests, attendees, and everyone who made this night a shining example of what a community can achieve together. 

We can’t wait to see you next year for another night of fun, laughter, and community spirit!