By Nick Hartmann
Famed concept disco group The Village People take the stage Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. at the Palace Theater, 34 W. Broad St., as a featured act of “The Village for Hope Tour."
The tour, a brainchild of Fame Productions and Battle Plan Promotions, is the second annual fundraiser supporting local cancer organizations in an attempt to find a cure and support the needs of cancer patients.
“Fame Productions and Battle Plan put their heads together (because) both had family issues with cancer victims in the past”, says Alfred Battle, founder and CEO of Battle Plan Promotions. “All this was prior to Stefanie Spielman’s passing, so we thought, ‘what a better time than now?'"
In just its second year, the event has set a goal of raising $50,000, similar to last year’s goal which featured Motown Miracle.
“We just picked that number out of the sky. We can always hope to overshoot it”, says Battle.
This year, proceeds will be shared with The Stefanie Spielman Cancer Research Fund and the “Dollars Allocated to Assist” (DATA) program.
The Stefanie Spielman Research Fund supports local research through endowments and school donations, namely at Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center and School of Pharmacy, both making strides in the field of modern breast cancer treatments and medicine. The DATA project serves as an informational medium for cancer patients, as well as a financial aid program to those who wish to seek immediate treatment, primarily through two funds: The General Cancer Fund for those who are in active treatment, and the Mark Hudson II Fund directed towards children in active treatment.
In addition to a performance by The Village People, the winner of Ohio’s “So You Think You Got Talent” competition will be opening the concert. This year’s winner is Jennifer Belt, who was chosen on Jan. 24 after performing in front of a live voting audience.
Belt was sent to the live-audience round, where the 10 remaining finalists performed after a previous audition in front of a panel of celebrity judges.
Tickets to the show can be purchased through at any Ticketmaster location, www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling Battle Plan Promotions at 614-328-6221.