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Published on 06/08/1998 All articles from this issue

Circus magic in store for MFM children's festival

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Town Crier Staff Report

Children's performer Linda Arnold and her latest act, "Circus Magic Under the Big Top," will headline Music For Minors' Children's Music Festival scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday at Egan Intermediate School, West Portola Aveune and San Antonio Road, Los Altos.

Arnold's appearance seems only appropriate for a festival with the theme, "Circus of the World."

"This show is like coming to a make-believe circus," Arnold said last week. "There are lots of dancers and costumes and props - and two professional clowns. I'm the ringmaster."

In conjunction with her circus act, the Santa Cruz artist is releasing her new CD, "Circus Magic," in the fall.

Besides the colorful spectacle of a circus, Arnold sees an underlying message that's good for kids: "try, try again if you want to succeed at something."

Also performing at Saturday's festival, a benefit for the nonprofit music docents organization, are singer-songwriters Lisa Atkinson and Tim Cain. Other entertainment includes Zorina and her African Drummers, Emmanuel Children's Gospel Chorus, Rigazzi Boys Choir, Balkan instrumentalists and individual clowns and jugglers.

Arnold began her children's music career in the 1980s when trying to find suitable music for her young daughter, Katy Ariel, who is now 21 and a singer in her own right. Arnold also has a son, Toby.

Her love of folk music and Broadway worked well in her children's songwriting, which led to a record deal with A&M Records in 1989. She produced four albums for A&M, including two, "Lullaby Land" and "Sing Along Stew," that garnered children's music awards.

Arnold, known as "the Mary Poppins of children's music," also regularly appears on the Disney Channel, and hosts a nationally syndicated radio program, "Pickleberry Pie."

She continues to record under her own record label, Ariel Records, and the awards keep coming.

She praised the work of Music For Minors, which, since its founding in 1975, has trained and sent docents to schools to offer music education and appreciation.

"They're so incredibly important because we don't have music in the schools anymore," Arnold said.

In addition to the entertainment, the festival will include assorted hands-on activities for the kids, and food and drink. Papa Murphy's Take 'N' Bake Pizza will be the highlight food item of the day.

Tickets are $5, available at the festival and in advance at the following locations: Linden Tree Children's Music and Books, 170 State St., Los Altos; and Los Altos Town Crier, 138 Main St. Tickets also can be purchased by calling Music For Minors, 941-9130.

Event co-sponsors include the Los Altos School District and the Los Altos Town Crier. Funding for the event was provided in part by a grant from the Arts Council, Silicon Valley.