By SAVANNAH BARR

s.barr@bradfordera.com

Kiwanis Kapers, Bradford’s local variety show cum fundraiser, has been going strong for 67 years. Next, the project will shine in an international spotlight.

Earlier this year the show received recognition at the state level, receiving first place in the Special Project Recognition competition. Due to that award, club members have been asked to present the project at the 2025 Kiwanis International Convention.

‘It is a wonderful thing that Kapers is receiving this recognition because there are so many people over the years who have contributed to making it great,’ said Dick Dryden, Kiwanis Club of Bradford president. ‘It is definitely a team effort.’

Dryden credits fellow Kiwanians Nancy Dryden and Pat Ryan with submitting the project for consideration at the state level.

‘They were really the movers and shakers who got the entry submitted,’ said Dryden. ‘All 1 did was a little bit of proofreading.’

Now, the project has been chosen for the international spotlight at this year’s international convention in Pittsburgh Kiwanis… page A-8

Joe Fitz, David Fitz and David Merwine, as Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, argue over what America’s national bird should be during “Kiwanis Kapers Country,” a previous performance of Kiwanis Club’s only fundraiser, staged annually since 1958. The variety show is up for an international Kiwanis award.

Era file photo by Wade Aiken this June. Members of the local Kiwanis Club will discuss the project and detail how they have made it a success over so many years.

“We were already excited because this is the first time ever that the convention has been in Pittsburgh and then this presentation on top of it is just icing on the cake,” said Dryden.

It is one of 10 projects chosen for this opportunity. Ten other “tier two” Kiwanis Clubs — those with 40 members or more — have been asked to present as well. The top three presentations will receive an award, which includes a monetary prize.

Kiwanis Kapers is the club’s only annual fundraiser. No two shows are the same, so it takes a huge amount of collaboration and coordination to make Kapers run smoothly year after year. “We start around this time each year having an organizational meeting,” said Dryden. “Then we have to line up all the people who help make the show possible — everyone from the director to the producer, lighting people, people in charge of ushers, people to help with the children, the list goes on.”

Next the club holds auditions. Everyone from local dignitaries to young children participate in the show.

“This past year we had Dean Bower, who is still an active participant in Kapers at 92 years old,” said Dryden.

“Then, I think there were youngsters as young as 3.”

Inclusivity is an important part of the show. Members of the Kiwanis Club have always wanted to include as many locals as possible, including performers of all abilities.

“We have many performers from our Aktion Club, which are individuals who are physically or mentally challenged in one way or another,” said Dryden. “We also have performers from Evergreen Elm and they regularly tell us how much they enjoy participating.”

Kiwanis Club members are assisted each show by Key Club kids, who hold their own fundraiser in the hallway between acts.

“Each year members of the Key Club go down and bake cookies at John Williams European Pastry Shop that they sell during intermission,” said Dryden.

“People really look forward to that sale; it is one of their main fundraisers.”

The spirit of Kapers is really the spirit of the local community, Dryden points out.

“It’s a variety show of homegrown talent where neighbors are performing for neighbors,” said Dryden. “For many people — like me — it is the only type of performance I get involved with the whole year but it is always a lot of fun.”

As the project is more than 60 years old, it has touched the lives of generations of Bradfordians. There was even a Kiwanis Kapers held digitally, during the covid pandemic.

Many current members of the Kiwanis Club of Bradford grew up performing in Kapers.

“We estimate we get about two new members each year because of Kapers,” said Dryden.

“We have a number of people who are integral members of our club who were first introduced to Kiwanis as young kids in Kapers.”

Publicity is no small task, either. Local businesses and individuals all contribute financially to the show. Kiwanians use every outlet available to let people know about the show, which is always held the second weekend in November.

“We get yard signs out there and try to get mentioned in the newspaper, on the radio and through digital media,” said Dryden. “Luckily we have had some very generous donors who support us every year and we remain thankful for them.”

As of last year, Kiwanis Kapers has raised more than $900,000 in donations over the life of the project. Kiwanians distribute those donations across dozens of local organizations and initiatives, including booster clubs, Beacon Light Behavioral Health, CARE for Children, Bradford City Police Department, Bradford Township Volunteer Fire Department, Girl Scouts of America, the Friendship Table, Kids and Cancer, Pumpkinfest of Bradford and the Victims’ Resource Center.

Dryden hopes the presentation at the international conference will inspire other Kiwanis Clubs to host their own Kapers and join in the fun.

“We want to encourage other Kiwanis Clubs to come to us if they want any tips or tricks on how to host their own successful variety show,” said Dryden.

“It just keeps getting more popular — this past year we sold more tickets than we have in decades.”