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"(Phipps) was just rubber-faced, rubber-limbed," said Lapeer County's treasurer. "The first show I did with him was 'Phantom of the Kapers.' He was the phantom and had an outrageous mask and voice. It was hard to describe what Gary could do with his body.

"Fabe was sort of the straight man, and just as funny. They did so many great characters and skits. A lot of people are talking about a dental routine that had people rolling in the aisles."

Memories like these are the theme for this year's event of the longest running community fundraiser in Lapeer County. The Lapeer Kiwanis Club's 60th Annual Kiwanis Kapers: A Look Back will take place at 7 p.m. April 9-12.

While looking back, this year's production will mark a new beginning for the club. The event will be performed in its brand new home in the auditorium of Lapeer East High School. The White Junior High building in Lapeer will no longer be used due to the ongoing saga of what Lapeer Community Schools plans to do with the building.

"We really enjoyed working in the White building," said Rob Skousen, President of Lapeer Kiwanis, who will be entering his sixth year as a member. "(Now) we have better seating, it's more accessible for special needs people, and there's a bigger stage."

Skousen, who is a chiropractor for Affordable Chiropractic in Lapeer, joined the club shortly after attending a Kapers event. He said it looked like a lot of fun, so he wanted to be a part of it. One of his favorite skits is the Kiwanis Kuties act, where the men dress as women.

He also directed a Las Vegas-themed Kapers event.

"We have a fantastic group of musicians in our club," he said. "I've been in several skits I've really enjoyed. When we had 'My Big Fat Kiwanis Wedding,' I was the groom."

The idea to bring back some of the nostalgia from past events came from those who attended, Skousen added. Patrons have mentioned some of their favorite skits or acts, like The Whistler, where an actor will wear a big top hat and paint his stomach region to look like lips and 'whistle' out his bellybutton. The Kiwanis crew decided to resurrect some of classics, along with adding new material.

But to do that, they need help from those who've attended in years past. Those who would like to share their memories can mail them to Lapeer Kiwanis Club at P.O. Box 501, Lapeer, MI 48446, or e-mail them to Tori Duve at tduve@ibcp.com.

"It's a neat, variety type show," said local resident Gary Dixon, who was a Kiwanis member for 10 years. "I enjoyed the singing part of it. One skit I did was with Dr. Fred McAlpine, a chiropractor. It was a Little Red Riding Hood type of thing."

Tickets for the event are $7. All proceeds from the performance will benefit children of Lapeer County through a multitude of grants given by the club.

Organizations that have benefited by Kiwanis Kapers include Family Literacy Center, Pregnancy Resource Center of Lapeer, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Michigan Christian Youth Camp, Lapeer Area Citizens Against Domestic Assault (LACADA), 4-H, Lapeer East Key Club and many others.

"On stage, everybody lets everything go," Eilersen said. "People will do everything and anything to help the kids. There's a lot of good, fun memories. Watching the Kiwanis Kids do various numbers, and seeing new kids come each year. Watching some of them blossom, watching them as young adults."

For more information, contact Skousen at (810) 664-1111, or attend a meeting beginning at 12:15 p.m. any Wednesday at the Lapeer Center Building, 425 County Center St.

Jeff Hoard can be reached at (810) 664-0811, Ext. 8127 or jeff.hoard@lapeergroup.com