DOVER-FOXCROFT – The Shiretown Homecoming Committee and Foxcroft Academy have joined forces to sponsor a gong show and comedy night at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at Center Theatre.

The homecoming committee had been planning a gong show as a fundraising event, and Foxcroft Academy intended to hold a comedy night to raise funds for the drama program.

“We realized that there could be two good programs, or we could combine them to produce something truly amazing,” said Shane Ellis, FA music director. “We talked it over and decided it would be a great fit to have the academy comedy program kick off the gong show.”

The event is modeled after “The Gong Show,” a variety game show aired in 1970s featuring great and not-so-great acts, along with a panel of celebrity judges and the one-of-a-kind host, Chuck Barris.

The Shiretown Homecoming Gong Show aims to be a tribute to the original while showcasing some of the truly great talent in the area. Along with performances by Sandra Beaulieu’s belly dancing class, the cast of “Fiddler on the Roof” and many others, patrons also will see the Unknown Comic, Gene Gene the Dancing Machine and other regulars from the TV show.

FA students will take the stage before the gong show performing funny sketches, skits and stand-up comedy. The students also are creating short videos that will be used as commercial breaks during the show.

Tickets for the event are $8 for adults and $4 for students, and are available at the Center Theatre, the Dover-Foxcroft town office and Foxcroft Academy. For more information, contact the Center Theatre at 564-8943.