An annual 1950s and 1960s era dinner and dance at the Highland County Senior Center will have a different twist this year. It will be an appearance by Elvis Presley impersonator Tyler Christopher.
A Decade Dinner & Dance of the ’50s & ’60s will be held March 25 at the senior center on Muntz Street in Hillsboro. It will include dinner and dessert, a 60- to 90-minute Christopher performance, and then dancing until 9 p.m.
“This is not just an Elvis concert,” said Mechell Frost, executive director of the senior center. “This is a whole night of ’50s and ’60s rock n’ roll. After the Elvis show, Deejay Rockin’ Ron will be playing music and taking requests, we’ll have a congo line and a Hula Hoop contest, and more.”
The doors open at 5 p.m., the same time a dinner of hamburgers and cheeseburgers with all the toppings, French fries, cole slaw and a drink will start being served. There will be ice cream sundaes for dessert.
The Elvis performance will start a little after 6 p.m. But before he takes the stage Elvis (aka Christopher) will ride down Muntz Street and arrive at the front door of the senior center in a limousine. Frost said the idea is to have people lined up in front of center waving signs and such as he enters the building.
Frost said Christopher is an award-winning, nationally known Elvis impersonator.
“He is young and known for his dance moves and genuine Elvis voice,” Frost said. “He is going to be depicting a young Elvis and will be doing songs from the early part of Elvis’ career.”
She said the center will be transformed into a 1950s soda shop/dance hall for the occasion with black and white checkered walls, decorated tables, streamers, special lighting and more.
Tickets went on sale Monday and Frost said that by early afternoon the center had already sold 30. They are $15 presale and can be purchased at the senior center from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, or online at www.highlandseniors.com. At the door the night of the show, if there are tickets left, they will be $18 each.
All proceeds go toward operating the center.
The event is sponsored by Crestwood Skilled Nursing, Thompson Funeral Homes, Littleton Respiratory Home Care, Weastec and East Ambulance.
For more information call the center at at 937-393-4745.
Reach Jeff Gilliland at 937-402-2522 or on Twitter @13gillilandj.