Gala Palmer Volunteer firefighter’s association fundraiser set for Sunday

PALMER — The Palmer Volunteer Firefighter’s Association hosts its largest fundraiser of the year Sunday, Dec. 17 at at Wasilla’s Teeland Middle School Auditorium and members are asking for the community’s support while doling out a family evening of fun in return.

The 13th annual event has a Las Vegas Holiday Family Spectacular Musical Concert and Magic Show theme this year and is entitled “Salute to Broadway, and Rock-n-Roll Holiday Concert”. According to event organizers, the performance is best described as a Las Vegas family spectacular family music concert.

Among the performances are renowned Las Vegas impersonators including: George Thomas--Elvis and “Danny” from the musical Grease, and Holly Beavon--Marilyn Monroe and “Sandy” from Grease, Alaska’s own Marky and Friends.

Beavon has more than 2,000 international celebrity lookalike performances under her belt. She’s received the nod from Monroe’s estate for her impersonation and is a recipient of the lookalike industry’s “Reel Award”. Beavon serves as the “star Marilyn” for Universal Studios’ press events. Beavon is touted as one of the most in-demand Monroe lookalikes in Hollywood. Her repertoire includes more than 80 international film and television appearances including the movie Dickie Roberts, History’s Mysteries, the TV Guide Channel and Entertainment Tonight.

She is also a top Madonna lookalike and brings more than 30 TV appearances as the rock-pop star. Melding art and craft, she’s designed her own replica costumes and, adding memorable moves to the performance, she brings to life Madonna’s most iconic moves. The Wall Street Journal calls her performances “spot on”.

Thomas has been featured in the film “Elvis Returns”, and as Elvis in the music videos “Walking in Memphis” with Cher and “Waking up in Vegas” with Katy Perry. Thomas also starred as the crooner lead in the film “Elvis Returns”. He was also featured as Elvis in the television show “Las Vegas” with James Caan and Tom Selleck and the PBS series “Shining Time Station” with Ringo Starr and George Carlin. He has been featured at the Sands Hotel on Vegas and list performances for Shriners Children’s Hospital and before former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev at his birthday party.

Mark William “Marky” is described as your average Alaskan man, with the small exception that he sometimes wears silks, satin and makeup, but only on the job. That’s when he transforms into Marky d Clown. With more than 25 years of experience, Marky’s fan-base has expanded greatly from his beginning in the Mat-Su and Anchorage areas. In 1992, he added balloon art and face-painting into his act.

Marky centered his troupe around the talents of his wife, former Miss Alaska PJ “Peaches” Williams .

Based out of Wasilla, Marky and Friends have performed globally spending two years in Japan where he was featured both in theme parks and television. The troupe is also a staple on Alaskan television.

A performer at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer for more than two decades, troupe members come from as far as Florida to get in on the act.

Performances include numerous costume changes and singing “...all of your favorite rock and roll and holiday hits”. Performers expect the audience to sing-a-long during much of the show.

Proceeds will go toward purchasing much-needed equipment, firefighter training to make department members better prepared for local fires and other emergencies, and the department’s annual holiday food baskets and toys for the needy campaign.

The event kicks off at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 and available at the door. Each ticket admits one adult or two children 12 and under.