The Kids from Wisconsin will perform in Shawano for the 17th consecutive year Wednesday in the Shawano Community High School auditorium.
Though this year’s group does not feature performers from Shawano, local show coordinator Nathan Falk said it is still a fantastic opportunity to see a high-energy performance.
“It’s a great program that has been able to continue on through generous donations and a great support staff,” Falk said.
The Kids from Wisconsin tour was created in 1969 under the sponsorship of the Wisconsin State Fair to showcase talented performers ages 15-20. The group consists of 20 singer/dancers and a 13-piece show band that perform close to 60 shows over the summer at fairs, festivals and conventions.
This year’s show, “Can’t Hold US!” features music spanning several decades.
Falk, who performed with Kids from Wisconsin in 1998 and 1999 while attending Shawano Community High School, said the program is great for young performers.
“It just showcases the talent that’s available, and it gives kids a chance to sharpen their skills,” Falk said.
Shawano had two representatives in Kids from Wisconsin in 2012 and 2013: Jerot Ritter and Brittany Sperberg.
Ritter, 19, who played trumpet with the group, is entering his sophomore year at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He is involved in two singing groups and hopes to try out again for Kids from Wisconsin.
Sperberg, 21, who is entering her senior year at UW-Madison and majoring in music education, said the tour was a great way for her to learn to enjoy the entertainment side of performing.
“(The tour) helped with having more confidence on stage and not letting stage fright get the better of you,” Sperberg said. “It was really cool. I was seeing the Kids when I was little, and I always wanted to be a part of it.”
Sperberg played trombone on the tour and currently plays with numerous groups, including school ensembles and her band, the Dairyland Jazz Band, which performed in Shawano last year.
This year’s Shawano performance is a fundraiser for Shawano Area Young Professionals, which was formed last year.
Reserved seating costs $15; general admission at the door is $12. General admission tickets are also available at CoVantage Credit Union, BMO Harris Bank, the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce and online at www.saypro.org.
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