Kiwanis Kapers – a staple of Bradford entertainment – will
dazzle audiences with three performances that are sure to be
“choice.”

The Kaper’s Choice Award, the 48th Kapers, takes the stages with
7:30 p.m. performances Friday and Saturday and a 2 p.m. performance
on Sunday in the Bradford High School Auditorium.

This year, organizers decided to try a variety show theme.

“We just brainstormed,” Barb Pedersen said. “We looked for ideas
and came up with the variety show format.”

Once that happened, they decided to do a spoof of the American
Music Awards.

“The Kaper’s Choice Award was born,” Pedersen said. Pedersen and
Jonathon Brooks are co-directors of this year’s program.

The variety show format will have something for everyone,
Pedersen and Brooks said Wednesday afternoon.

“There’s a nice variety of acts,” Pedersen said.

“It covers every genre,” added Brooks, who was in charge of the
music, which ranges from Broadway to country to rock to oldies.

There are more than 100 people taking part in this year’s
Kapers, which is the Kiwanis Club’s only fund raiser. Proceeds are
used to support a variety of local causes, with emphasis on
children’s charities.

In rehearsal since the beginning of October, performers came
with a song they’d like to perform. Pedersen said they’d listen to
what people wanted to sing and if it didn’t work, they tried
something else.

As far as any break-out performances, both agreed there’s more
than just one.

“You will be surprised,” Pedersen said. “We have more than one
that will really get you excited, get tingles.”

Pedersen did tease a little by saying the Hank Williams’ classic
“Hey, Good Lookin” will be memorable.

“That one will surprise you,” she said. “And we’ll leave it at
that.”

In the past, Kapers performances have included scripts and other
formats. This year, the production committee decided on the variety
show format.

While some people came to the committee with ideas, “nothing
seemed to fit, so we thought we’d try a variety show,” Pedersen
said.

Another change is the addition of another group of youngsters to
take the stage.

Kids ages kindergarten through second grade will have their own
song – “Do the Wiggles Groove.”

Older children – in grades three through five – will do a song
from “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”

This will enable the children to be spotlighted more since the
stage will be less full.

“We could accommodate more kids,” Pedersen said. “It’s a nice
change. They enjoy having their own songs.”

The schedule has also changed. Generally, Kapers performances
are Thursday, Friday and Saturday. This year, Kiwanis dropped the
Thursday show, which usually had a lower attendance, and added a
Sunday show. They hope the Sunday show will attract more people,
such as the elderly, who may not want to go out at night.

For now, the co-directors are ready to go and entertain
Bradford.

“We’re doing it together as we can do,” Brooks said. “There was
a few rocky spots, but we jumped in … we haven’t sunk yet.”

Even though some things have changed, there is one constant –
the Kapers Kuties, who will perform. The Kuties, as well as
hometown talent.

“I hope to give the public a really good show and have them
leave here feeling good,” Pedersen said.

Tickets may be purchased at Graham Florists, Mayer Brauser’s,
Movie Magic and Northwest Savings Bank on East Main Street.