MetroBall
MetroBall 18
June 6, 2025
Celebrating GDMAF’s 30th Anniversary.
S4 Nightclub to host the Iconic Event.
The Greg Dollgener Memorial AIDS Fund (GDMAF) is excited to announce the addition of two amazing performers to the 2025 MetroBall lineup. Along with the previously announced headliner, David Archuleta, we are thrilled to welcome Thea Austin, formerly of SNAP! and emcee Cassie Nova to this highly anticipated event.
MetroBall 2025 will take place on June 6, 2025, at S4 Nightclub in Dallas, TX, with all proceeds benefiting GDMAF’s efforts to support people living with HIV/AIDS.
David Archuleta, renowned for his powerful voice and heartfelt performances, rose to fame as a finalist on “American Idol” in 2008. Since then, he has released numerous albums and toured internationally, building a dedicated fan base and becoming an advocate for causes such as LGBTQ+ rights and mental health awareness.
Joining him is Thea Austin, an iconic member of the legendary dance group SNAP!, known for their international hit “Rhythm Is a Dancer.” Thea has also enjoyed a successful solo career, bringing her dynamic energy and powerhouse vocals to stages across the globe. She is excited to be returning to share her love with MetroBall.
The night will be hosted by Cassie Nova, Dallas’s beloved drag queen. Known for her sharp wit, infectious personality, and dedication to HIV/AIDS awareness, Cassie is the ideal emcee to guide the event and keep the audience entertained.
Entertainers
David Archuleta
Since first stepping into the pop spotlight at age 17, David Archuleta has embodied the kind of genuine star power that can’t be manufactured. After years of dazzling audiences with his radiant personality and phenomenal voice—a journey that’s included turning out multiple platinum-selling hits, achieving global acclaim as a captivating live performer, and emerging as an undeniable fixture on the pop-culture scene.As shown on his recent single “Hell Together,” Archuleta has dramatically expanded the landscape of his songwriting and devoted himself to making pop music with equal parts uncompromising emotion and exhilarating impact.
With his latest triumphs including winning the 2024 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist and landing a book deal with a HarperCollins imprint for his forthcoming memoir, Archuleta has brought a sublimely dance-ready sound to songs like “Afraid To Love” and “I’m Yours” (a 2023 single whose video earned such illustrious awards as the Best Music Video prize at the Cannes World Film Festival).
As he continues to unlock new levels of freedom in his music and beyond, Archuleta has found an endless source of inspiration in his growing passion for dancing, raves, and festival culture. With his recent live experience including making his musical-theater debut in 2022 as the lead in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat—and joining the likes of Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons, Grammy Award-winner Victoria Monet, and Lauv for the 2023 LOVELOUD tour—Archuleta routinely brings that open-heartedness to a high-energy live show that fosters an extraordinarily close connection with the crowd. Over the past few years, he’s also deepened his relationship with his fanbase by bringing his effortless charisma and disarmingly warm presence to social media platforms like TikTok, where he’s now spurred numerous viral videos with millions of views.
Archuleta is continuing to unveil more of his inner life in his songwriting. With more new music due out soon, he notes that uncovering his most authentic voice has involved finding self-assurance in unexpected places.
Thea Austin, formerly of SNAP!
Thea Austin fits many categories – platinum selling recording artist and writer, sultry diva, powerful vocalist, producer, lyricist, stunning beauty, international performer. She is an icon in the global music community and has worked with the brightest the industry has to offer and achieved the highest possible chart success multiple times. In the late 1980’s singing led Austin to Los Angeles, CA where she immediately began working in studio with R&B heavyweights like Sami McKinney, Alan Rich and Michael O’Hara and her work soon led to live performances and recording opportunities. Her travels led her to Penny Ford , the former lead singer of SNAP!, who was working on a solo project. Thea was whisked to Germany to begin work on SNAP’s album The Madman’s Return together with the rapper Turbo B. She not only sang, but co-authored many of the cuts including the multi-generational anthem “Rhythm Is A Dancer.” That song has lived on through 25 years and continues to be a hit as Austin tours with the “I Love the 90s” show singing it worldwide. Big gigs aren’t new to Austin. In 1992 Thea and SNAP! had the distinct honor and privilege of opening for the King of Pop himself Michael Jackson, at his concert in Bucharest, Rumania, during his Dangerous tour. As the lead singer of SNAP! she took the world by storm. The first single, Colour Of Love, soared into the top 10 across Europe and reestablished SNAP! as a force with which to be reckoned. Thea played venues from Italy to Germany, Turkey to the Red Sea. The second single Rhythm Is A Dancer, was even more successful, taking a firm grasp on the #1 position on numerous Billboard charts including the Euro-chart, Hits of the UK charts and in Germany, Italy and other nations with the video landing at MTV Europe #1. In 1993 Austin began working with other Dance producers and Niki Harris took over in the group.
Cassie Nova
Cassie Nova is show director for Caven Enterprises, emcee for the legendary Rose Room drag shows and host of Cassie’s Freak Night shows each Monday at JR’s Bar & Grill. Each December, she hosts a special Freakmas to raise money to buy gifts for underprivileged children at Sam Houston Elementary School. Cassie is known for her sharp wit, infectious personality and dedication to HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ issues and awareness.
