SUN CITY – The goal of 2007’s Sun City Idol competition was to choose one winner to compete nationally, but a group formed by 13 of its contestants are still enjoying success.
The Idols Encore members (left to right) Marsha Kapchinski, N.10A, Carolyn Kleen, N.2, and Karen Landis, N.7. will sing songs by the Andrew Sisters at this year’s performance. (Photo provided)
A spirit of camaraderie thrived in the competition, bonding the singers into a group called The Idols Encore. Last year, the group debuted with two sold-out shows.
“It was a fabulous show last year, and believe it or not, we are going to top it this year,” Marsha Kapchinski, Director, N. 10A, said.
This year’s shows on July 21 and 22 at 7 p.m. in the Drendel Ballroom, span musical genres and eras, offering plenty of depth.
“It’s quite the variety show,” Kapchinski said. “We go from country to ‘50s and ‘60s. We do some modern things, but overall we run the gamut.”
Where: Drendel Ballroom
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 21 and Thursday, July 22
Tickets: $12
Extra: Ticket holders receive 15% discount at the Walleye Grill for dinner on the show dates.
More group performances will also offer changes of pace throughout the show.
“There are more duets; there are more trios,” Kapchinski said. “We have a quartet; it’s just a fabulous group that has gotten together. We’re all supporting each other and working together to put on a fabulous show.”
Although Kapchinski is thrilled for the show, she is keeping some details under wraps.
“Our opening number is gonna be so fabulous that we’re not letting out what it is,” she said. “That’s how good it is. It’s gonna be so shocking to everybody.”
A love of music and performing has kept The Idols Encore together, making a group of would-be competitors into collaborators.
“Even though we were competing against each other, our group gelled, and we all formed this bond that we wanted to help each other out,” she said.
This year’s shows include performances by Kapchinski, Carolyn Kleen of N. 2, Ray Thomas of N. 23, Joe Alengo of N. 20, Holly Veach of N. 18, Tom Snyder of N. 28, John Schmidt of N. 10, Harriet Blake of N. 38, Karen Landis of N. 7, and Bev Perkins of N. 21.
“One of the best things we want to tout is we are an all-Sun City group,” Kapchinski said. “We don’t have anybody that works on The Idols Encore that is not part of Sun City.”
Kapchinski said that The Idols Encore is not a charter group and added that the production could not exist without the help from its volunteers.
“This is not a one-person endeavor by any means,” she said. “We’ve got people that work backstage—those are volunteers, all our ushers and ticket takers are volunteers.”
Kapchinski encouraged all members of the community to see the shows, whether for the first time or not.
“If they saw it last year, we are going to top last year’s performance,” she said. “If they didn’t see it, this is the show not to miss. And if they talk to anyone who has seen any of our performances, they will know what they’ll miss out on if they don’t see it.”
