Photograph courtesy of Kidz on Tour
Sunnyvale resident Kristen Shaw, 14, will perform with Kidz on Tour July 4 at the San Jose America Festival.
By ANNE GELHAUS
Like many teens, Kristen Shaw will be spending Independence Day at a big community celebration. But the 14-year-old Sunnyvale resident won't just be watching the fireworks at the San Jose America Festival; she'll be performing in a rock & roll revue with the eight-member group Kidz on Tour.
This is the second straight summer that Shaw, who will be a sophomore at Homestead High School next fall, has performed with the tour group. This year's show is a song-and-dance medley of popular tunes from the '50s, '60s and '70s. Shaw says she likes the music better than what she had to perform last summer.
"Some of it was really slow," she adds, "but this show is more fast and upbeat, and that's my style."
A veteran of children's theater productions, Shaw joined Kidz on Tour to augment her performing skills.
"By being in the group, you get a lot more confidence," she says. "Our group's pretty supportive of each other. It helps you believe in yourself more."
Shaw also gets a lot of support from her family: Her younger sister Kara has performed with Kidz on Tour, and her parents attend every show and help the group raise funds for out-of-town gigs.
"I think they like being involved," Shaw says, "and it's easier for me because they're there."
Kidz on Tour director Jennifer Howell says she appreciates everything the Shaw clan has done for the group.
"They're a very hard-working, giving family," she adds.
In addition to the America Festival, Kidz on Tour's season includes shows at similar community events, as well as area schools and convalescent hospitals. Howell says the group performs anywhere from 20 to 40 times during a six-month period, and members learn the entire show so they can stand in for absent soloists.
"They learn to adapt to different situations," she adds. "Lots of times, you don't get that experience in children's theater."
"You have to spend a lot of time memorizing the show," Shaw says, "so you develop some good habits."
Howell considers Kidz on Tour a community service organization as well as a performance group. At a recent show at Agnews Developmental Center, she says her young performers were daunted at first by their audience, which was made up of developmentally disabled youths.
"They were scared to death when they got there," she adds, "but after the performance, they realized that the kids really liked it and that it meant something to them. When they're onstage, they can see how important their show is to the people watching."
Shaw says she enjoys the community service aspect of the group.
"You feel really neat that you're doing good [in the community]," she adds.
Kidz on Tour will perform July 4 at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. and July 6 at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. at the San Jose America Festival in downtown San Jose.
This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, July 3, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.