Life

Gold Rush! Dueling Pianos to benefit Friends Together

ALPENA ­-- Rush on down to the APlex for an enjoyable evening of live entertainment, and a chance to win a ton of prizes!

Not to mention, it all supports the great cause of Friends Together, a cancer support center serving Alpena and the surrounding areas.

Tickets are on sale, in advance only, for the annual Dueling Pianos fundraiser, to be held Friday, Feb. 18. Tickets are $25 each, available at Friends Together. To purchase advance tickets, visit Friends Together at 105 Prentiss Street, or call 989-356-3231.

This year's theme is Gold Rush! Western wear is encouraged, but not required, for this night full of music, fun, comedy and games, for ages 21 and up.

"It's our annual comedy night for Friends, and it is a fan favorite," said Shelly Gibbs, fundraising, lodging and transportation coordinator for Friends Together. "Everybody that goes, the next year, if they hadn't gone before, they're going the next time. They love it. We generally sell out."

More tickets are available this year, but Gibbs hopes to sell out again. The event had previously been held at the Knights of Columbus Hall, which is now a daycare center. This year, it will be held at the APlex, which has a higher capacity.

In prior years, the event sold out with 200 tickets. This year, 500 are available, which means more people can enjoy an exciting evening of live entertainment.

Gibbs said dueling pianos is a professional entertainment group that comes to give people a memorable show.

"They interact with the crowd," she said. "There's a lot of laughter. It's really light-hearted. And, it just a really fun way to get out and have fun with your friends."

Of course, everone is welcome to attend.

"We have reservations for tables for 8 to 10 people," Gibbs said. "So, it's a gold rush theme. We love the western wear, if you want to step back into the gold mining times."

There will be a 50-50 raffle, pull tabs, a tin can shoot for loot, in which two winners will win $500 each, a wild card 50-50 draw, and a gold diggers wanted raffle in which someone will win a "Pit Boss" grill, and someone will win two tickets for the elk viewing sleigh ride dinner, plus a golf package at Thunder Bay Resort in Hillman.

"One winner will win two tickets to our upcoming pig roast in July, and Connie's Fall Festival turkey dinner that's in September," Gibbs said.

At any rate, fun is in store.

"There's great prize opportunities, a great way to support Friends Together," she said.

Gibbs added that Austin Bros. Beer Company has made a Friends Together beer, which is "really exciting. It's going to be our signature beer that night," she noted. "It's a really refreshing pomegranete lemon flavored light beer, gluten-removed and it's absolutely amazing to see Friends Together on this wonderful brew that was made just for us."

She added that Huron Distributors partnered together to make this happen.

Gibbs is excited for the event, and hopes to spread that excitement.

"Great songs, familiar songs, comedy, laughter, crowd participation," she said. "If you dress western, you'll be entered to win a door prize. We have really nice door prizes."

Doors open at 6 p.m. Entertainment starts at 7:30 p.m. A cash bar and food will be available.

"We encourage everybody to come," Gibbs said. "We do not sell tickets at the door. This event always sells out."

She added that the main purpose of this fundraiser is to support those with a cancer dignosis.

"There's no financial requirement to say that you have a need," Gibbs said. "If you have cancer, you have a need. If you have cancer, Friends Together helps you."