For the first time in its history, the GEM Theatre box office opened on Thursday, Jan. 3 at 10 a.m. with a long line of customers banking Wall Street as it released ticket sales for Mohawk Presents Calhoun’s Dancing with the Stars.

The two-show fundraiser benefiting United Way of Gordon County and the GEM Theatre will open on Friday, March 15 at 7:30 p.m. and the finale will follow on Saturday, March 16 at 7:30 p.m. The finale will also be broadcast via live-feed to Velo Vineyard.

“By noon on Thursday, we had sold all but 25 of the March 16 finale tickets in the theatre, all but 50 for the Velo Vineyard live-feed and well over half the opening night tickets,” said Sarah Husser, Director of Marketing for the GEM.

Sixteen dancers representing a diverse field of business interests will compete in two-partner teams as they dance for dollars in the competition, which mimics the wildly popular television show, still going strong after years on air. Last year’s dancers are expected to waltz their way across the stage during the event and four dance experts will serve as judges for the finale.

Teams not only will compete against one another on the dance floor, but in the business community as they scramble to raise funds for the benefit. Each team is charged with its own fundraising events, limited only by their imaginations. Last years’ contestants held dances, sold t-shirts and raffled off items as they sought to increase their solicitations.

Supporters may vote for the team of their choice by making online donations at www.gordoncountyunitedway.org using MasterCard, Discover or Visa credit cards. During the shows, volunteers for Friends of the GEM Theatre will work the aisles as “Top Hat Collectors” and literally pass the hat after each team performance. Sponsorships for the event are sold out but program ads will remain on sale through February 01, 2013.

The sixteen dancers are Liza Bohannon Allen, Matt Barton, Dr. Cynthia Brown, Fran Burns, Michael Clark, Ryan Duke, Tracy Farriba, Dave Hawkins, Clint Hayes, Jenny Hayes, T.J. Hettsmanberg, Dr. Kirby Peden, Dr. Ted Pennel, Trey Pierson, Meagan Walraven and Lynn Whittenburg.

“We are just thrilled at the response we have received to this exciting event and know that it will be the show of the year. Last year, we broke fundraising history in Gordon County and everybody involved is looking forward to breaking that record,” Husser said.