Garrison Keillor News

Grammy-winning storyteller, humorist, and host Garrison Keillor is back on the road with the nation's premier live radio show, A Prairie Home Companion (APHC). Now in its 39th season, APHC returns to the Filene Center where Keillor will lead an ensemble cast through comedy sketches and musical interludes, as well as perform his signature monologue, "The News from Lake Wobegon."

Pioneer Theatre Company presents the epic musical LES MISERABLES. Due to popular demand, the production's run has been extended by two weeks. Performances take place tonight, May 3 through June 1, 2013.

Based on the humorous novel Growing Up Lutheran by Janet Letnes Martin and Suzann Nelson, CHURCH BASEMENT LADIES is dishing up laughs at Boulder's Dinner Theatre now through May 12th. CHURCH BASEMENT LADIES features four distinct characters and their relationships as they organize the food and confront the problems in a rural Minnesota church. From the elderly matriarch to the young bride?to?be learning the proper order of things, the story and music give us a touching yet funny look at their lives as we see them handle a record breaking Christmas dinner, the funeral of a dear friend, a Hawaiian Easter Fundraiser, and a steaming hot July wedding.

Pioneer Theatre Company presents the epic musical Les Miserables. Due to popular demand, the production's run has been extended by two weeks. Performances take place May 3 through June 1, 2013.

Brooke Shields has been announced as the director of the Hollywood Bowl's upcoming production of CHICAGO, which holds the record as the third longest running show in Broadway history. Rob Fisher has also been announced as the conductor of the production. Shields starred in CHICAGO both on Broadway and in London's West End and this marks her directing debut. Fisher's association with the show began with the 1996 Broadway revival and he continues to be supervising music director of CHICAGO productions around the globe.

From to madcap stand-up to storytelling humorists to the wacky world ofparody, the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center's comedy series will tickle anyone's funny bone! This hilarious, heavy-hitting lineup showcases some of the biggest names in the industry, including: Mario Cantone, Jay Mohr, Kathy Griffin, Ron White, Tracy Morgan, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, Tom Cotter, Rita Rudner, Lewis Black and Garrison Keillor.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) announces the appointment of Didi Balle as the organization's first-ever Playwright in Residence. Balle (pronounced 'BAHL-ee) is a writer and director whose credits include the creation of a new genre for orchestras and actors: the Symphonic PlayTM. This position formalizes the partnership that the BSO under Music Director Marin Alsop initiated with Balle in 2008 when the BSO commissioned and performed Balle's 'CSI: Beethoven.'

Steve Martin's banjo and bluegrass music has earned him numerous accolades - including a 2003 Grammy Award for Best Country Performance and, most recently, a Best Bluegrass Album Grammy for his 2009 solo debut, 'The Crow.' His second full length bluegrass album with the Steep Canyon Rangers, "Rare Bird Alert" features 13 new Martin-penned tracks, including a live version of "King Tut.". The Steep Canyon Rangers, from Asheville, NC, have built a reputation as an engaging acoustic quintet seasoned by constant touring. The Rangers were named 'Emerging Artist of the Year' in 2006 at the IBMA awards ceremony in Nashville, TN, and their album "Nobody Knows You" won the 2013 GRAMMY Award for Best Bluegrass Album.

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is proud to announce two additional shows of the 2013 Outdoor Summer Concert Series, Harry Connick, Jr. and Garrison Keillor. The complete lineup will be announced Thursday, April 11th and promises to be the largest and most eclectic to date.

The term "art house" takes on new meaning with a special theatrical series of events as NCM Fathom Events, BY Experience and PhilGrabskyFilms.com bring the world's greatest art exhibitions to U.S. cinemas this year. The "EXHIBITION" cinema series will feature high-definition tours of fine art exhibitions created for movie theater audiences beginning with "Manet: Portraying Life" on Thursday, April 11 featuring a career-encompassing collection of the works of Edouard Manet which is currently on exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts, London. The series then celebrates the 150th anniversary of Edvard Munch in "Munch: Munch 150" on Thursday, June 27 as the National Museum and the Munch Museum in Oslo host this "once-in-a-lifetime" exhibition of the greatest number of Munch's works ever. The final exhibition in the series, "Vermeer and Music: The Art of Love and Leisure" on Thursday, Oct. 10, comes from the National Gallery in London where audiences will see a unique perspective on the masterpieces of Johannes Vermeer. Each cinema event is hosted by art historian Tim Marlow who will go beyond each gallery with exclusive behind-the-scenes footage. The series is supported by DSAT Cinema.

The Virginia Arts Festival from today, March 17 thru June 2, 2013, will present a season with extraordinary arts experiences not only in theaters, concert halls and historic churches, but in city streets and parks. It will be a season of artistic celebrations featuring a performance of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring, presented on the exact day of its 100th anniversary. Dance is a signature element of the Virginia Arts Festival, and this year Britain's esteemed Birmingham Royal Ballet travels for the only US performances in 2013 with its beguilingly danced production of Coppélia.

Mac has Asperger's. Iris is autistic. Jacqueline Schultz directs Jeanie Hackett, Virginia Newcomb and Dan Shaked in the West Coast premiere of a funny, touching and unconventional romance. On the Spectrum by Ken LaZebnik opens at The Fountain Theatre tonight, March 16. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Two-time Tony Nominee Christine Andreas, Tony Nominee Emily Skinner, Drama Desk Nominees Kerry O'Malley and Jeffry Denman, and two-time Nightlife Award Winner Scott Coulter starred in The Broadway Musicals of 1961 at Town Hall last night, March 11th. The critically-acclaimed new Broadway by the Year Chorus joined them in performing songs from Carnival, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Subways Are For Sleeping, Sail Away, Milk and Honey, and more! BroadwayWorld was there for the concert and you can check out photo coverage below!

Two-time Tony Nominee Christine Andreas, Tony Nominee Emily Skinner, Drama Desk Nominees Kerry O'Malley and Jeffry Denman, and two-time Nightlife Award Winner Scott Coulter will star in The Broadway Musicals of 1961 at Town Hall on Monday, March 11th at 8 PM. The critically-acclaimed new Broadway by the Year Chorus will join them in performing songs from Carnival, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Subways Are For Sleeping, Sail Away, Milk and Honey, and more! The concert will be directed and choreographed by Jeffry Denman; the Broadway by the Year Chorus is under the direction of Scott Coulter; musical direction will be by Ross Patterson. The show, as always, will be written and hosted by series creator Scott Siegel.

KUT 90.5 and Texas Performing Arts present a live broadcast of Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion," Saturday, April 20 at Bass Concert Hall. Tickets ($54.50-$79.50) go on sale Friday, March 1 at 10:00 a.m. at authorized ticket outlets, which include the Bass Concert Hall Box Office, most H-E-B stores and all Texas Box Office outlets, online at www.TexasPerformingArts.org, or by calling (512) 477-6060 or (800) 982-BEVO.

The Virginia Arts Festival from March 17 thru June 2, 2013, will present a season with extraordinary arts experiences not only in theaters, concert halls and historic churches, but in city streets and parks. It will be a season of artistic celebrations featuring a performance of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring, presented on the exact day of its 100th anniversary. Dance is a signature element of the Virginia Arts Festival, and this year Britain's esteemed Birmingham Royal Ballet travels for the only US performances in 2013 with its beguilingly danced production of Coppélia.

Riders in the Sky is galloping into the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts (CCPA) for a fun-filled, family-friendly show celebrating classic cowboy music. The excitement hits the CCPA stage on Friday, February 1, 8:00 PM. Get your tickets, $55-$20, at the CCPA Ticket Office, by calling (562) 467-8818, or at www.cerritoscenter.com. The $55 seats are sold out.

Yesterday afternoon, the Association of North American Performing Arts Managers and Agents (NAPAMA) awarded Peter Zimmerman, Wolf Trap's Director of Program and Production with the highly coveted award for Excellence in Presenting the Performing Arts. Bestowed yearly upon a distinguished arts presenter colleague for their many contributions to the field, the award is presented at the annual APAP Conference in New York City by a NAPAMA board member.

Yesterday afternoon, the Association of North American Performing Arts Managers and Agents (NAPAMA) awarded Peter Zimmerman, Wolf Trap's Director of Program and Production with the highly coveted award for Excellence in Presenting the Performing Arts. Bestowed yearly upon a distinguished arts presenter colleague for their many contributions to the field, the award is presented at the annual APAP Conference in New York City by a NAPAMA board member.

The past year has taken the Steep Canyon Rangers to new heights. In March 2011, the band released its first collaborative record with Steve Martin, "Rare Bird Alert" which debuted at #1 on Billboard's Bluegrass Chart and at #43 on the Billboard Top 200. In 2010, the latest solo record from Steep Canyon Rangers, "Deep In The Shade", remained in the Bluegrass Top 10 on Billboard for 18 weeks.