Kenner-Metairie Picayune

“Family sticks together to entertain children”

Tiffany Powell (Contributing writer)
Sunday, October 26, 2003
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Children were clapping their hands, dancing in the aisles and singing along with entertainer Dennis Berner, Bernie the Bear and other members of the Berner clan at a recent release party for a new CD by Dennis and Company.

Dressed in overalls and accompanied by a bear on percussion, lead singer Dennis Berner of New Orleans had audience members on their feet at the Children's Castle in Kenner as he played acoustic guitar and the kazoo to “Shake a Leg,” “Hop, Hop, Hop,” “The Apple Pie” and other selections from “Dancin' and Dreamin' with Dennis.”

“It is educational,” said Nan Goodman of Kenner. “Even 1-year-olds and 2-year-olds enjoy it.” Goodman takes her granddaughter, Catherine, to the Children's Castle twice a month. “The bear added so much to it.”

Dennis and Company has been performing for 15 years, getting a start when Dennis Berner began writing songs that his wife, Connie Berner, a preschool teacher at the Academy of the Sacred Heart, could sing with her students. The couple formed Berner Publishing Company in 1987 and began recording the music.

The newest CD “Dancin' and Dreamin' with Dennis” is their fourth project. One of their CDs won a Parent's Choice Honors Award.

Today, the company has grown into a family affair that plans to spread the music throughout the South and points beyond.

The Berners' children, Kyle and Emily, handle the marketing and public relations for the company, and 12-year old Julia is a back-up singer.

“I was very shy when I was little,” said Emily Berner, who has performed with her family since age 6. “This helped me through life not to be as shy. Since then, I have done musical theatre, music…and I minored in music in college. It stayed with me my whole life.”

Family members choreograph each production number so audience members can move with them.

“It's fun to sing and make little kids happy,” said Julia Berner, who has been performing since age 4. Cousin Katharine Harris, 12, also sings with the group.

Working with the family is the only way the Berners know how to make music. In fact, Julia was the impetus to get the family back into the studio after a hiatus of a few years. The album is dedicated to her.

“Julia came along and I said, ‘Dennis, we have to make another for Julia,'” Connie Berner said. “Emily came up from college and joined, and Kyle joined the family, too. We are all together.”

Berner said the Children's Castle is his family's favorite place to perform.

“The castle is perfect,” he said. “It is an exemplary place. I love playing here. It is nice and cozy. People can hear and see the performance very well. It has the right ambience, plus the place looks like a castle, and people can see it a great place for children and families to come.”

“Our emphasis is to make children happy,” Dennis Berner said. And that falls right in line with the mission of Rivertown's Children's Castle.”

Children's Castle talent coordinator Jill Jeskin said the Berners are among several performers who offer family entertainment for children of all ages.

“Dennis and Company has a tremendous following of families,” Jeskin said. “All the families that come to the castle are really looking for that type of music that they can sing along together. After they go home, they will remember the songs.”