2023 WATERFRONT PLAYHOUSE AQUA IDOL
By Jimmy Olson
I’m hopefully going to be one of MANY in Key West, who are taking the time to thank (and give a standing “O”) to Lynda Frechette, for ALL of her tireless and amazing work she put toward this year’s Aqua Idol fundraiser event for the Waterfront Playhouse in Key West!!
She began by asking various talented singers she’d either heard personally singing around town,or was told of their talent by others in the community, if they’d like to participate in a fun event called Aqua Idol, modeled after the long-standing TV vocal competition, American Idol. It should be noted that this was the first year, since COVID hit, that Aqua Idol was brought back by the Waterfront Playhouse..
Lynda was able to assemble 17 talented vocalists from Key West who agreed to participate in this Fundraising Event. The competition began on Feb. 20, 2023 and culminated with the Finale on April 10. Each week there were different challenge themes like Broadway, Country, Duets, etc. Most contestants donned costumes and had choreography in their performances. Some invited others up on stage to perform small skits and dance moves! Real production numbers! and TOTALLY FUN!. Laurie Thibaud was the emcee, Jimmy Harcup was the sound & lighting technician, and each week there were celebrity guest judges. It was SRO every week by Playhouse supporters and fans of the vocalists.
This is how Idol works…..While each singer performs audience members place money in their tip buckets to show their support of a favorite singer. Each week the vocalist raising the least amount of money is eliminated. On April 10, after eight weeks, the six finalists were Dominic Paollilo, Jessica Mian-Kruel, Richard Carraway, Jordan Upchurch, Jess Wachs, and Samuel Costilow Each sang two songs, one of their own choosing and one, a song made famous in the Movies. At the end of the evening, the finalists were called onstage. All six were presented with cash and substantial prize packages valued at over $44,000. The vocalist who came in First and won the coveted title of 2023 Waterfront Playhouse Aqua Idol was Jessica Miano-Kruel, daughter of Kate Miano.
It takes a Village to orchestrate an event as this. Congratulations and thank to everyone involved in this original and mega fun-fundraiser! Thanks to MichaeL Ingram owner of Aqua Nightclub and manager, Tyler McNab, for the hosting venue for this long-running fundraiser and for the staff. Thanks to Bunnie Smith who was in charge of money counting every week. And thanks to the audience members who supported this event right from the start. Rarely has something like this gained traction and been as successful as the Waterfront’s Aqua Idol. WHY? Because of the AMAZING Lynda Frechette, her husband, Robert Frechette… and even their daughter Melissa Lang who got involved as part of Bunnie’s team of money counters!
Lucky that Lynda has been front and center in making this one of the BEST fundraisers in Key West, bar none!! THANK YOU ! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Lto EVERYONE who worked so hard in either performing in, contributing funds to, and/or donating to this fantastic, fundraising lalapalooza event!! At the end of the night on April 10, over $28,000 was raised at the finale alone…. and in Total for the entire event, over $54,380. It takes a Village!
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