KIDS Tour Diary
NOTES FROM THE ROAD
Follow our Troupe and Staff as they travel around Wisconsin this summer!
August 21, 2009
Two shows per day can be taxing on the
technical director.
August 7, 2009
A crowd full of umbrellas, ponchos, and soaking wet fans packed the 1:30 and 3:15 shows at the Cousin Subs
Stage. It was great to see the dedication of the fans, braving the cold, wet, and less than comfortable conditions
to watch our show. Thank you to everyone for your continued support of KIDS, rain or shine. You truly are
"Supersonic Fans" :) —Isaac Risseeuw - Darlington
August 6, 2009
The KIDS from Wisconsin pose for a picture with Gov. Jim Doyle and
his wife Jessica at the 2009 Wisconsin State Fair.
August 2, 2009
Click once to enlarge. Double-click to reduce.
July 29, 2009
Soprano Jenny Kruger awaits the pitch from alto Katie Bates in a KIDS kickball game
prior to the Kaukauna show. The soprano/tenor/horns team defeated the alto/bass/rhythm
section team 9-6.
July 27, 2009
So on a day off, some of us decided a day in Madison would be a great way to unwind. We explored the capitol, shopped on State St. and enjoyed a nice walk along the lake shore path. We all sang songs of Abba in the capitol because the acoustics were just too fantastic to be ignored and Calvin decided to climb a tree. Just another day in the life of a KID from Wisconsin.—Amber Boardman, Darien
July 24, 2009
Technical Director Eric Mielke gives a wave before boarding the bus in Mackinaw City, MI.
July 23, 2009
A colorful driveway awaited the KIDS at Phil Smyth's house
prior to the Stevens Point Show.
Friday, July 17
Today ended a great 3 day tour. We started off in River Falls, which is always a great crowd. A lot
of people were jammed into the small UW-River Falls theater! It was a very exciting show for me because a
friend of mine from Minnesota came. This was the first Kids from Wisconsin show he has ever seen and he was
amazed. Wednesday and Thursday consisted of two home shows, which are always fun. The crowds were
awesome! In Lancaster, they believed that they drew a bigger crowd for our show then they had when the
President of the United States came a couple of years ago!! That is so hard to believe that that many people
would come to see a KIDS show! This week was great and I can't wait for next weeks
shows! —-Mandy Rieck-Oconomowoc
July 16, 2009
A 3-day tour has carried us from all reaches of the state, from River Falls to New London and next on to Lancaster. We have had some great homeshows that have been paired with wonderful audiences! Another welcoming homestay awaits us tonight and a long restful weekend ahead. Now we are excited to be heading off to Lancaster, our first show in southwest Wisconsin. It's going to be a great Night On The Square! —Alexandra - Mequon, Isaac Risseeuw - Darlington, Kimy Rhyme - Green Bay
July 14, 2009
I just got off the road after 6 days of travel with the 2009 KIDS troupe. They are amazing! In just 6
days, the KIDS performed 8 shows in 6 cities, from Milwaukee up to Eagle River, for over 5000 very happy people
around the state. Special highlights were the wildly enthusiastic crowd in the beautiful Capital Theatre in
Manitowoc, a strong hometown crowd in Green Bay at the wonderfully restored Meyer Theatre, and a rock concert
atmosphere in Mayville. There are five - that's right, five! - troupe members from Mayville. You can
imagine the enthusiasm from that small town for their hometown KIDS. What a night, and what a
week! —Mark Dorn, KIDS Producer
July 11, 2009
Art in the Park—Wisconsin Lutheran College
July 10, 2009
Me and some of the other Kids gear up for the show
in Mayville by making a human pyramid!
—Eric Schultz - Ashwaubenon
After a restful nights sleep, the KIDS were off again to Mayville for a home show that will never be forgotten. With five hometown KIDS, the community gave us a wonderful welcome. The meal before the show was delicious and the ice cream afterward was equally as much. The audience had so much energy, which made the performance that much better. We enjoyed Mayville and look forward to coming back next year! —Alexandra Fenzel - Mequon
July 9, 2009
Manitowoc Show Photos by Doug Sundin, Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter. (Copyright protected photos)
 Manitowoc Billboard |
 Shawano Welcomes the KIDS |
Trumpeter Josh Fuchs and guitar player Phil Smyth engage in a
competitive game of chess in the morning prior to departure for the
next show site.
July 8, 2009
It was fun doing our first two-a-day performance today in Shawano. We believed it was the best show of the
season so far and the audience was great! We met some fans at Pizza Hut before the show that wished us
luck. It was nice knowing that a former KID is still bringing the troupe to Shawano.—Isaac Risseeuw
– Darlington
July 7, 2009
Great first homestay! Thank you Paul and Bonnie for making us feel welcome. It was a fun
show here in Eagle River. They even made posters with our pictures on them! 
Looking forward to a full but great week on tour! —Isaac
Risseeuw – Darlington
July 4, 2009
We had a blast meeting The Standards, an A Cappella group of five brothers from Idaho. They performed after us on July 4th in Elroy and were so much fun. Katie Bates and I compared them to a country equivalent of N' Sync...which to some may seem like a strange comparison but trust me, they're good. It's so much fun to meet other artists on the road....and talk them into taking goofy pictures! —Amber Boardman, Darien
June 30, 2009
Sunday, June 28, marked the Premiere Performance of the 2009 KIDS from Wisconsin! Those in attendance
witnessed an electrifying opening night, and the promise of another summer of great KIDS shows around Wisconsin
and the region. This is all the more significant and noteworthy given the fact that the KIDS program came so
close to shutting down in October of last year. The show's theme - Don't Stop Us Now! - is so fitting for
such a positive and energetic show after such a challenging year.
Check out the tour schedule for performances in your area!
Mark Dorn
KIDS Producer