Announcing Our 2007
Troupe
July, 2007
A week in the life of the KIDS from Wisconsin:
I recently had the sheer delight of traveling for a week with the 2007 KIDS from Wisconsin. This is a terrific group of Wisconsin's finest, and they are having one of the most remarkable summers ever.
I joined the troupe in Mayville, a town that has provided us no less than 8 KIDS since 1998 from the fine music program at Mayville High School.
As I drove into town, I noticed the population - a whopping 4,902 people. At the two shows we performed, there was a total of over 600 people - 12% of the population! The KIDS were greeted with standing ovations at both shows, with enthusiastic cheers for John Dobbratz and Jenny Kruger, local Mayville students in this year's troupe.
From Mayville, we traveled to the north woods and the beautiful new performing arts center at Northland Pines High School in Eagle River - an absolutely gorgeous theatre. At this show, the KIDS performed for a sold out crowd (about 750) - and this in a town of about 1500 permanent residents (and quite a few vacationers)! A special highlight was to be greeted by Kelly Trumble, Secretary of Tourism for the State of Wisconsin, in town to mark Eagle River's Sesquicentennial (150 years) as a city. The KIDS show kicked off a week of celebration.
From Eagle River, we headed to Shawano, another huge city in Wisconsin - population 8351. And, you guessed it, a near sellout crowd of 700 people greeting our KIDS with yet another standing ovation. Kudos to Nathan Falk, who has brought the KIDS to Shawano every year since he was a troupe member himself in 1998.
From Shawano we headed to Manitowoc, where the KIDS have played for 20 years in the beautifully restored Capitol Civic Center - two shows, both well-attended and packed with loyal audience members from the area. Manitowoc has sent us many talented KIDS through the years. From Manitowoc, we headed to Southern Door High School near Brussels, to a show sponsored by Cory Vandertie, a KID in the early 90's and now a 5th grade teacher in that area.
And my week with the troupe ended with the Summer Arts in the Park at Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee, the only outdoor show of the week - over 2,000 people in attendance at this wonderful summer afternoon event.
All told, over 5000 took in a KIDS show during my week of touring with the troupe. Many of these show sites immediately rebook the KIDS for the next year, and do so year after year. I was so proud of our KIDS as they delivered what I believe is one of the premiere entertainment values in the U.S. today.
I have the best job on earth!
Mark Dorn
KIDS Producer
Dear Mr. Terrien:
Congratulations on the choreography of this summer's Kids from Wisconsin numbers.
Absolutely oustanding. Also, it has been wonderful to enjoy these productions each summer for
36 years and appreciate your association with the group for that length of time. It is quite
amazing to note the talent you assess and gather and in a matter of days put together the quality,
high-energy, disciplined numbers you create.
My husband and I visited Branson, Missouri, last week and attended the Andy Williams Theater
where Andy Williams performed with Ann Margaret. Andy did a half-hour; Ann Margaret did a
half-hour of her Las Vegas revue; and both performed together for the last half hour. Ann
Margaret had three male dancers in her act. After a few minutes, my husband and I looked
at each other, and commented that Tom Terrien's male "Kids" would have outshone
these three. You could have worked wonders with these three, we think.
We also atended another show at the Mickey Gilley Theater. It was the Les Brown Band
of Renown, a marvelous big band of outstanding musicians. They played Benny Goodman's
Sing, Sing, Sing, and it recalled our joy at your choreography of that number this summer.
Also, the Kids' drummer did a tremendous job on that, too.
Thank you again for the enjoyment you provide us with involvement with the Kids From Wisconsin
each summer!
Sincerely yours,
C. S.
Dear Kids from Wisconsin,
As a person grows a bit older, he comes to appreciate many more of the precious things in
life. Having an opportunity to see you perform, as I did this year at the Grant County Fair, is
a truly delightful experience.
It's one thing to perform a "technically perfect" show. It's completely another
to perform a show that shares emotion and touches the audience's heart. Indeed, your
performance was one filled with spirit, which captured the heart of every audience member in the
grandstand.
I had an opportunity to peruse your website today, and noticed one of the "prerequisites"
to becoming a Kid. It requires you to "be willing to represent the 'image' of the Kids from
Wisconsin". In various contexts, the term "image" can take on different
definitions. I'm convinced, however, that any image, as long as that image is positive, breeds
respect.
I can tell you that the image your group presented to me was nothing but positive. The
image of your group sheds the picture perfect truth that dedication, perseverance, and most of all,
teamwork, truly do pay off. I commend you on 35 years of sharing that positive image, and
have faith that God will grace you with all the support you need to continue this tradition for a long
time to come.
As for those "precious things", you've been blessed with the power to touch the hearts
of all those you come in contact with. Keep creating those lasting moments of beauty through
that delightful music and your energetic attitudes.
Thank you, congratulations, best wishes, and God bless!
Sincerely,
D.A. "Chip" Eveland
Partner, Internal Operations Director
The Naupricot Communications Group
Home Office: 213 West Spring Street, Dodgeville, WI 53533
Headquarters: 322 North level Street, Dodgeville, WI 53533
- What an exciting evening of entertainment we experienced watching
"The Kids" perform at Wisconsin Rapids. The show was dynamite from beginning
to end. The talent of these young people is unbelievable. Their energy on stage was
remarkable. The band was top rate, costumes were colorful and the musical
selections were varied and appreciated. "The Kids" were so professional.
- We are very close to the "Kids". My father was on the State
Fair Board the year the "Kids" were "born "and I well remember his
excitement at being part of establishing this marvelous group of young ambassadors for the state of
Wisconsin. Then (and how I wish my dad had been alive to know this) in 1986 our son,
Steven Haines, proudly became a member of "Kids" and toured for four seasons with
the group as a trombone player. They were exciting years for our entire family.
- I've watched many "Kids" shows and I've loved them all but I have
to say that last evening's performance was TOPS. -- Sincerely, Mary Haines
- Cool breezes and a warm reception greeted the Kids from Wisconsin on
Wednesday as the musical group rocked the Sauk County Fairgrounds grandstand.
Fueled by the young performers' energy, the show dazzled the local audience with
expressive dancing, glitzy costumes and explosive sound. A professional-caliber band complete
with brass, guitars, drums and keyboards provided backup as singers moved seamlessly from one
medley to another. Mixing dance routines with exquisitely blended harmonies, the troupe
performed numbers ranging from country and western selections to Broadway show tunes and
television theme songs. Generating boisterous applause were medleys of songs popularized
by the Beatles and Paul Simon.
The group's performance marked one of the highlights of the 2001 Sauk County Fair,
which runs through Sunday. The Kids from Wisconsin is a 33-member troupe of singers and
musicians ages 15 to 20. After auditioning for parts in the group and undergoing a rigorous
17-day training camp, the Kids embarked on a tour that runs from late June through Labor Day.
By the end of the summer, the group will have performed nearly 70 shows in about nine
weeks, including 22 shows during the Wisconsin State Fair's 11-day run.
While the group already has more than a dozen shows under its belt, bass guitar and
clarinet player Karl Busch said the Baraboo performance marked another step toward perfecting
the routines. "After a few shows it tightens up a bit," said Busch, who along with brother
Luke is one of three Lancaster natives in the ensemble. "It keeps getting better."
- On Friday of the State Fair, the KIDS performed for over 8000 people in one
day! The KIDS started their day with a standing room only lunch hour show at the 5000-seat
Miller main stage, and then packed out the International Amphitheatre at 5:00 and 6:15 later that
afternoon.
Producer Mark Dorn has been asking audiences at the International stage, "How
many of your have been coming to KIDS shows for longer than 10 years? 20?
30?" Hundreds of hands go up for the 10-year mark, and quite a few go up for the
30-year mark. And, of course, there are new audience members at every show. Clearly,
the KIDS are an institution at the Wisconsin State Fair and in our state, and are truly Wisconsin's
"Musical Ambassadors."
- My name is Tim Niehaus and I am a member of the 2001 Wisconsin State Showcase
Singers and a loyal supporter of the KIDS From Wisconsin. I saw the KIDS show 5 times at
the State Fair this year and was thoroughly impressed each and every time with the high levels of
enthusiasm and willingness to perform that I felt from each Kid. I would like to give special
thanks to Gina Witkowski, Ted Williams, Matt Leavitt, the two female backup singers, and the
entire KIDS stage band for continuing their performance in the pouring rain until they could go no
more due to safety issues. I would also like to thank the rest of the KIDS for finishing their
bows and staying around to talk after their show had finished. THANKS KIDS!
- Governor Proclaims Kids From Wisconsin as "Musical
Goodwill Ambassadors" for the State
- Personal note from former Governor Tommy Thompson.
- "We just caught the 2001 show tonite at River Falls. I had never heard of the group
before, I was just so impressed. What a nice idea to showcase talented youth and feature
interesting musical arrangements and fantastic choreography. I couldn't believe the costume
changes and high energy level especially at 90 degrees. Kudos to everyone who makes the
show possible, it was just an enjoyable evening. Thank you." --Marilyn J.
Owen
- "What constitutes the "Greatest Show On Earth?" I'm not sure, but after
recently watching the "Kids from Wisconsin" perform for two solid hours, I think these
Kids should be given some consideration for this award. They certainly have my vote.
What a tremendous show!"
- "I have visited State Fairs in Texas, Minnesota, Indiana, etc. None of them compare
with Wisconsin's and its all because of the talents of the Kids from Wisconsin, whom I have seen at
least ten of Wisconsin's State Fairs."
- "Hi, my name is Emily Wenzel and I saw the "Notes from Fans" section.
I'm a member of the 4-H Showcase Singers and I went to the Kids show 5 times at the state fair last
year. They are so energetic on-stage and off, they are all friendly and I’m close to many of
them now. We really appreciate that they all came to support us last year. I know I’ll
be in the front row every day again this year." --Emily Wenzel
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