UPDATED: Open Mic performers rock the house to help local charity

La Tasha Dozia-Earley Sings / Photos by Heather Davis

FRONT ROYAL—On Saturday, November 18, more than 15 local performers strutted their stuff to combat homelessness in Warren County by supporting the nonprofit Roof Over Their Heads (ROTH).

ROTH strives to end homelessness in Warren County by providing housing and supportive services to members in the community through non-judgmental and non-discriminatory assistance. The event, titled Open Mic for a Cause, brought musicians, poets, fiction writers, dancers, singers and comedians together to share their art with over 100 audience members.

A raffle of over 30 donated items and donations brought in $1,000 for ROTH. The evening began with an introduction by event organizer Tammy Ruggiero and ROTH board member El Phoenix, who reminded the crowd to resist common stereotypes that portray the homeless as lazy or criminal.

To help connect the audience to the people being served by ROTH, videographer Jennifer Avery showed a short film she created that features local homeless people telling their stories. This moving video set the tone for the evening and helped spread awareness of the real challenges facing our most vulnerable neighbors.

Artist performances followed the film and were introduced by emcee Kip Ramos, whose wacky humor kept the audience laughing. Featured performers included local duo and couple Gabe Schneider and Willow Lovecky of Draumr. They created gorgeous harmonies and “high lonesome” sounds that accompanied Schneider’s crisp acoustic guitar playing. Local rock musicians Noah Waggener and Mike Shotton of the Daycare Swindlers, along with bassist Rafe Ruggierio, unveiled their new project Generation Executioner. Their set included several new originals songs as well as a rollicking cover Gogol Bordello’s “Start Wearing Purple” on accordion.

Also featured was the Maryland-based poet Alan King, whose rich voice and musical delivery entranced listeners. Missi Magalis, a local fiction writer and an English teacher at Diversified Minds of Warren County Public Schools read the first three pages of her new novel, which ended with an exciting cliffhanger. La Tasha Do’zia-Earley, the founder of Selah Theatre Project, brought patrons to tears with her rendition of a song in the voice of a homeless woman.

Other performances included 25 different impersonations by Paul Martin, music by Mark and Celia Cooley, poetry by Heather Davis, an original music composition by Tammy and Rafe Ruggiero set to a poem by Jose Padua, German and Spanish folk songs by Astrid Register, a spiritual by Lynne Arnold and Irish dancing by Jig N Jive dancers accompanied by Kira Treutlein on fiddle.

Speaking after the event, Tammy Ruggiero said,  “Over 100 people showed up to support this fun event full of our stunning array of talent and good vibes. We raised over $1,000 dollars along with awareness for ROTH. People will eat and have warmth and shelter because of our work.

This worked because the community jumped in to volunteer, encourage, support, and show up.”

The event was sponsored by Stover Insurance, Jenspiration, and What Matters W2/Beth Waller, Realtor KW Solutions-Keller Williams and co-hosted by ROTH and United ShenValley Artist (UVSA). The Daily Grind stayed open late to serve audience members.

To coordinate the event, Tammy Ruggiero worked with ROTH board members Darlene Clark, Kathy Leonard, Diana Lieber, Melinda Clark, El Phoenix and Wendy Rutledge, who gathered a fantastic group of raffle items from generous donors. The funds raised will help ROTH provide tents, sleeping bags and survival gear to homeless people. It will also help fulfill client’s basic needs and offer access to area resources.   ROTH’s long-term goal is to buy land upon which they can build “tiny houses” to serve as housing for the area’s homeless.

A short documentary about the homeless in Front Royal also by Jennifer Avery can be found here: Front Royal homeless documentary by Jennifer Avery.

Information about ROTH: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ROTHofFR/.
Information about What Matters W2: What Matters W2.
Information about United ShenValley Artists:Selah Theatre Project.

United ShenValley Artists is looking for sponsors and partners who would like to help support several more performance events in the coming year to benefit community groups and worthy causes. If interested, please contact hdavis67@gmail.com.

Thank you to everyone who performed, organized and donated!  Watch the video with clips from the night:

Watch the video with interviews of a few homeless people in our community who we had the honor to spend time with and learn from:

Heather Davis contributed to this article.

Tammy Ruggiero and Rafe Ruggiero perform at Open Mic for a Cause

Fiction Writer Missi Magalis

Jig N Jive Dancers

Crowd at Open Mic for a Cause /Photo by Alan King