After receiving news about a close friend’s daughter having Stage 2 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Jamie Turner was determined to help and recruited companions of the theatrical and musical persuasion to plan a showstopping fundraiser.
Two weeks prior to her high school graduation, a local Army combat veteran’s 18-year-old daughter Karen – whose last name is being kept private – was diagnosed with cancer, and the family worried about exorbitant hospital bills after treatments began.
“Karen’s prognosis is good, but treatment is very expensive, and she has a long road to remission,” Turner said. “This is the best way I know to help … this gives us a way to get on stage, use our God-given talent and have some fun while helping a close family friend.”
“Going Karen on Cancer” is a cabaret concert that will feature some of the most well-known names from Aiken and Edgefield theaters, and will take the stage during the last week of August.
“The idea for the pun [in the name] was all Karen’s idea,” said Karen’s dad. “She knows the name and what people think about it, so she plays into it a lot.”
Also inspired by Karen’s longtime interest in theater throughout high school, Turner partnered with the Edgefield County Historical Society and the Main Street Players to perform a collection of popular songs that will leave audiences laugh and singing along in their seats. The show will also conclude with a sneak peek of the Main Street Players’ opening musical of the season, “Gilligan’s Island,” which will be directed by Bradley Watts.
“If you have seen a production from Main Street Players or Aiken Community Theatre in the past couple of years, you have seen all these amazingly talented people,” said Turner. “I’m honored to call them friends, and I’m excited to share the stage with them and help a friend.”
In downtown Edgefield’s Discovery Center, located at 405 Main St., Turner will perform alongside Cara Doolittle, Karlton Timmerman, Caroline Bland, George Boyd, Rachel Hatfield, Tatum Hanna, Whitney McDonald, Eryn Fox and Turner’s daughter Abigail.
“Karen and my daughter, who will be performing with me, are only two years apart, so it was easy to put myself in my friend’s shoes, and identify with the terror of finding out your teenage daughter was just diagnosed with cancer,” said Turner. “Chemoradiation stole a lot of the senior privileges she should’ve gotten. She couldn’t go on her senior trip because her immune system was compromised.”
Turner said Karen also had to put her college education and future nursing career on hold until further notice.
“Battling cancer at any age is hard, but especially at Karen’s age just on the precipice of life. I mean she even got certified as a certified nursing assistant, and now has to put everything on pause,” she said. “But I think it’s important for the community to come together. The world is a tough place right now, but I think these kinds of things give the community hope in the worst of times; no matter our politics we can come together to support this young person.”
“Going Karen on Cancer” will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 25 and 26, and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 27.
Tickets will cost $25, and opening day will feature a night gala, raffles, followed by two hours of inspiring music. Sponsorships are available and donations of raffle items are being accepted.
“It is an intimate 70 seat theater, so don’t wait to get tickets,” said Turner. “It’s a popular list of performers, so go ahead and get your tickets now.”
To purchase tickets or help sponsor the fundraiser, please call (803) 761-7038 or visit: https://edgefieldtheatre.com/
