By Laura Latzko
Flight attendants serving drinks and demonstrating seatbelts often have hidden talents that they don’t get to showcase on a daily basis. A charity event lets American Airlines employees and community members demonstrate their lip-syncing and live singing abilities.
The second annual
LipSync Idol variety show, an all-ages event, will take place this year on Oct.
2 at the Mesa Arts Center.
This year, LipSync Idol will have a Disney theme, so performers will do themed numbers with Disney, Marvel, or Pixar spins. They have a choice of performing in or out of drag, but many performers choose to don wigs, costumes, and makeup.
Audience members
vote for their favorites online, and the performer with the most votes receives
a crow, title and sponsor gifts.
The fundraiser will
be filled with moments of interaction between the performers and audience
members. Members of the crowd may also win prizes for answering questions or
have their birthdays and other milestones celebrated.
The event will have special guest performances from celebrity guests Ada Vox from American Idol, Porkchop from RuPaul’s Drag Race, country singer and Glen Campbell’s daughter Debby Campbell, Professional Singing Princess Joanna Bertalan and YouTube star JJ McBride.
With VIP tickets,
attendees receive perks such as swag bags, premium seating and meet-and-greets
with celebrity guests.
For the second year, the fundraiser will benefit the Wings Foundation, an organization that provides financial assistance to flight attendants dealing with illness, disability, or injury.
The event is
organized by husband-husband team Efrain and Steven Cooper, who work for
American Airlines and JetBlue, respectively. The couple also gives back through
charity bingo events.
“We feel so blessed
in our lives. We just like paying it forward,” Efrain said.
During LipSync Idol,
Efrain will host and perform. As production manager, Steven handles technical
aspects of the show.
Efrain said with
events such as LipSync Idol, he and his husband are able to help others and
showcase drag outside of a bar setting.
“Our goal is to
bring the community together in an environment of love and inclusion outside of
a bar environment. I feel like in Phoenix, there isn’t enough of that when it
comes to drag entertainment,” Efrain said.
Many of the participating airline employees have performed at one time or another in their lives, and LipSync Idol lets them sing or lipsync on a concert stage. In the past, Efrain acted and modeled while living in Chicago.
Efrain said it is always surprising to see co-workers onstage for the first time.
“It just amazes me
the talent that they have. It constantly reminds me how talented our workforce
and our community is,” Efrain said.
Lipsync Idol takes place at 7 p.m. on October 2 at Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. Admission is $20 to $100; VIP experience available. Free for kids two and younger.