Delightful entertainment for kids Delightful entertainment for kids (September 03, 2004)

There's music, magic and clowning around

Want to hop on a pirate ship and go to a dinosaur party? Or how about turning into a bee and buzzing from flower to flower and tree to tree? Just bring your imagination to the Microsoft Community Stage, and Andy Z will bring his world to you!

Kids will be mesmerized by this musical trip through Andyland featuring original songs from Andy's "Pockets" CD and Parent's Choice award-winning "Welcome To Andyland" CD as well as contemporary and traditional songs.

Different characters are introduced through music and narration at each "location." Musical genres include rock, pop, classic kid, country, hip-hop, the blues and Irish music. This show is ideal for kids 3- to 9-years-old, but entertaining for all.

Daffy Dave is part magician, part juggler, part trickster, part minstrel, all wrapped up in a lovable, hysterical clown character who tries to act tough, in control and smart, only to be constantly embarrassed by his own foibles and mistakes. Experience the funny slapstick-approach to magic and juggling that Daffy Dave brings to the stage. Delight in the silly audience participation that both kids and adults have come to enjoy.

Hosting the stage all weekend will be award-winning children's musician Francie Dillon. A magnetic performer known for her boundless energy and ability to captivate youngsters and their parents with her bubbly and contagious personality, Dillon has a knack for getting kids to sing-along to timeless tunes like "You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby" and "Three Little Fishes."

Jim Murdoch -- a.k.a. "Jimbo The Clown" -- first performed in the San Francisco Bay Area with the Pickle Family Circus as an apprentice clown. Everyone in the audience will smile as the gifted performer juggles fruits and vegetables and performs hilarious hat tricks, mime and dance. Kids will enjoy hands-on activities such as casting for rubber fish. He'll be presenting excerpts from his beloved clown opera "The Dogs Bark, But The Caravan Moves On."

Desert Dave's educational reptile show returns by popular demand. With his pockets full of lizards and a big smile, Desert Dave runs a critter classroom, asking children to pet tortoises, talk to exotic lizards, inspect insects and touch a slithering 10-foot snake.

"Like many kids growing up, I was amazed by reptile life. Now as an adult, it's neat to be able to teach kids about reptiles," said Desert Dave, who lives in American Canyon and owns more than 50 critters. Desert Dave's interactive presentation lies to rest the misconception that reptiles are mean.

Kids' Stage Schedule

Microsoft Community Stage (Wells Fargo Bank lot, Church and Castro Streets)

Saturday, Sept. 11

11 a.m. -- Francie Dillon, children's musician

12 p.m. -- Daffy Dave, juggling/magic

12:30 p.m. -- Francie Dillon, children's musician

1 p.m. -- Daffy Dave, juggling/magic

1:30 p.m. -- Francie Dillon, children's musician

2 p.m. -- Andy Z & The Andyland Band, children's music

2:30 p.m. -- Francie Dillon, children's musician

3:30 p.m. -- Andy Z & The Andyland Band, children's music

Sunday, Sept. 12

11 a.m. -- Francie Dillon, children's musician

11:30 a.m. -- Andy Z & The Andyland Band, children's music

12 p.m. -- Francie Dillon, children's musician

12:30 p.m. -- Andy Z & The Andyland Band, children's music

1 p.m. -- Francie Dillon, children's musician

1:30 p.m. -- Desert Dave, exotic reptile show

2 p.m. -- Jimbo The Clown

2:30 p.m. -- Desert Dave, exotic reptile show

3:30 p.m. -- Francie Dillon, children's musician

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