Annual Variety Show Celebrates Talent While Raising Money for a Local Food Bank

For two evenings in March, residents and staff members fill the Life Enrichment Center at Siena Lakes, an Erickson Senior Living community in Naples, Fla., for Siena's Got Talent, one of the community's most anticipated annual traditions.

The variety show features musical performances, comedy routines, skits, and games presented by residents, staff members, and student dining servers. While the event is designed to entertain, it also brings the community together in support of an important cause.

Although admission is free, attendees are encouraged to donate to The Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida. This year's show raised $5,200, which was matched by a benefactor, bringing the total donation to $10,400.

"That was so exciting for us and the food bank too!" says resident Diane Ketcham, who organizes and emcees the annual event.

Bringing the show to life

Diane's background in entertainment and journalism made her a natural fit to help bring the event to life four years ago. While working for The New York Times, Diane became involved with the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, where she organized games and competitions during annual conferences.

When she and her husband, Terry, moved to Siena Lakes four years ago, Diane quickly found a new outlet for her creativity and humor.

Audition ambitions

Siena's Got Talent welcomes everyone who auditions and does not feature judges.

"Everyone here has some kind of talent. When folks say they don't have talent, I tell them that talent is in the eyes of the beholder, and that my eyes aren't so great," Diane jokes.

She adds that the goal of the talent show is to encourage participation and make everyone feel comfortable.

Tons of talent

Over the years, the show has featured a wide variety of performances. Diane created the Siena Lakes Cheerleaders, a resident group that performs a themed skit in each production.

For this spring's show, the group dressed as Mouseketeers, complete with mouse ears and personalized costumes, while performing the theme song from "The Mickey Mouse Club."

The show also features a mix of musical acts, comedy performances, and audience favorites that return each season. A resident ventriloquist and his dummy, Lester, have also become regular crowd favorites. The Doo-Wop Boys perform classic hits.

In one production, Diane displayed photos of residents whose names matched the songs being performed. This year, during "Puppy Love," photos of residents' dogs appeared on screen. This offered an opportunity for Diane's miniature Bernedoodle, Finley, to make an appearance.

"I put her photo toward the end so I wasn't accused of nepotism," Diane says with a laugh.

Staff's savvy skills

Siena Lakes staff members also play an important role in the production, helping with lighting, audio, and onstage performances.

Resident Life Director Matt Verborn serves as Diane's backstage assistant.

"The problem is we have no backstage, and he's my only crew!" she says. "I keep bringing him out and telling the audience that we're like Martin and Lewis, Abbott and Costello, and Burns and Allen. Then Matt says, 'I don't know who they are.' People love it!"

High school students who work as restaurant servers at the community also participate in the show. Past performances include a lighted baton twirler and members of a student band performing its first show outside their family's garage.

One memorable performance this year featured a dining server singing "Let It Be" by the Beatles.

"He did it with such feeling that we gave him a standing ovation, and all the other servers were in the back, cheering him on," Diane says.

Taking the stage

Even Associate Executive Director Varun Kakar has become known for his enthusiastic performances in the show. Last year, he dressed as one of the Big Bad Wolves during a skit set to the song, "Lil' Red Riding Hood." This year, he returned as one of the monkeys in a performance of "Aba Daba Honeymoon."

The management team also participates in a group dance each year. For the past two years, Executive Director Mike McCormick has appeared dressed as Elvis Presley.

This year, Diane introduced "The Anniversary Game," inspired by the television show "The Newlywed Game," where resident couples tried to guess one another's answers.

The evening concludes with residents, staff members, and the audience singing along to Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline," led by Kakar waving a baton from the stage.

"At Siena's Got Talent, the residents see the staff in a new light because they're on stage being silly," Diane says. "We have such a vibrant community here, and this show is a lot of fun!"

To learn more about senior living at this vibrant community, request your free brochure to get the scoop on amenities, floor plans, and so much more.

By Michele Wojciechowski