Garrison Keillor is set to kick off the thirty-fourth season of A Prairie Home Companion.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: David O'Neill
Prairie Home Productions
Phone: 651-999-1095
E-mail: davido@prairiehome.us
September 11, 2007
(Saint Paul, Minn.) Autumn is in the air. So is the sound of music, not to mention the aroma of meatloaf. Garrison Keillor is set to kick off the thirty-fourth season of A Prairie Home Companion. The opening show and street dance will be held on Saturday, September 15—the live broadcast from the Fitzgerald Theater in downtown St. Paul, followed by the street dance on Exchange Street, right in front of the Fitz.
Actress Sue Scott, Tim Russell (the man of many voices), and sound-effects wizard Tom Keith will be on hand, along with the Guy's All-Star Shoe Band, led by pianist Rich Dworsky. Special guests The Jerry Douglas Band, The Derailers, Robin and Linda Williams, and Prudence Johnson will provide the music, and everyone can catch up on the news from Lake Wobegon during Keillor's signature monologue.
Following the broadcast, Keillor and many of the musicians head outside for the annual Prairie Home Street Dance. There will be food (the famous $5 meatloaf dinner) and fun (contests, prizes and more), with Garrison leading the festivities. This event is open to the public and free — save a small charge for refreshments.
A Prairie Home Companion has made Minnesota's way of life and the fictional small town of Lake Wobegon part of American popular culture. The show is heard on more than 580 public radio stations nationwide, with a weekly audience that tops 4.3 million listeners. The program can also be heard on the Armed Forces Network Europe, the Far East Network, and in dozens of European cities via the Astra satellite network.
A Prairie Home Companion is produced by Prairie Home Productions and presented by American Public Media. The show is sponsored nationally by Toyota, the Sleep Number Bed by Select Comfort, and Pillsbury Oven Baked Biscuits and Dinner Rolls. Audio clips, scripts and more information on A Prairie Home Companion can be found online at www.prairiehome.org.
There will be four live broadcasts of A Prairie Home Companion at the Fitzgerald Theater this fall: September 15, 22, 29 and October 6. In addition, there will be three Friday-night performances: September 14, 21 and October 5. Go to www.prairiehome.org for more details.
WHAT: 2007 Season Opener of A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor, followed by the annual (and free) Street Dance!
WHO: Garrison Keillor, with Tom Keith, Tim Russell, Sue Scott, and the Guy's All-Star Shoe Band. Plus special guests, The Derailers, The Jerry Douglas Band, Robin and Linda Williams, and Prudence Johnson
WHEN: A Prairie Home Companion Saturday, September 15, 2007, 4:45 p.m., followed by the Prairie Home Street Dance, 7ñ10 p.m., rain or shine
WHERE: The Fitzgerald Theater, 10 East Exchange Street (at Wabasha) in downtown St. Paul (Street Dance on Exchange Street, in front of the theater)
TICKETS: Tickets to A Prairie Home Companion are available online at prairiehome.org or by calling Ticketmaster at 651.989.5151. The general public may purchase tickets in person at the Fitzgerald box office. Minnesota Public Radio members may order tickets by phone at 651.290.1221. Rush tickets are sold at 4:15 p.m. on day of show ($15 each, limit of two, cash only)
FOR MORE INFORMATION: go to www.prairiehome.org or contact David O'Neill at 651.999.1095.
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