TheBuzz
TheBuzz
One of Minnesota's proudest entertainment exports is returning to the islands for the first time in 15 years. Live from Hawaii
-- a Minnesota exportThis column is not about Gov. Jesse Ventura.
Garrison Keillor and the entire cast of Minnesota Public Radio's "A Prairie Home Companion" will wing into the islands from their mythical homebase of Lake Wobegon for the first time since 1986 when they did a show at the Waikiki Shell. The year before that, the PHC crew did a broadcast from the Blaisdell Concert Hall.
The show combines old-fashioned radio show production techniques with host Garrison Keillor's heartland-based, Americana-inspired insight and humor.
The single performance will be staged at the Hawaii Theatre Center Jan. 5, and sales of discounted tickets were launched last night for members of Hawaii Public Radio and the Hawaii Theatre -- with sales opening to the general public Dec. 1. Prices range from $25 to $65.
The launch of ticket sales was announced by Hawaii Public Radio President Michael Titterton at last night's presentation of "P.D.Q.Bach and Peter Schickele: The Jekyll and Hyde Tour" at the Hawaii Theater.
The Schickele show, part of HPR's 20th birthday celebration, will be reprised tonight at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center.
The long-awaited return of Garrison and the gang will unfold beginning at 12:45 p.m. with the live broadcast to kick off at 1 p.m. Guest performers, which will likely include local talent, have not been announced.
The daylight timing of the show in Hawaii is to coincide with the 6 p.m. start of the live broadcast on the East Coast.
In Hawaii, the show will air at in its usual Saturday timeslot from 6 to 8 p.m. on 88.1 KHPR FM-Honolulu, 90.7 KKUA FM-Wailuku and 91.1 KANO FM-Hilo; it will be rebroadcast Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. on 89.3 KIPO FM-Honolulu, which carries Hawaii Public Radio's other program stream.
The show is beamed and streamed through state of the art satellite technology and the Internet to 3 million listeners per week.
That could very well be why the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau is on board as a major sponsor, as is the DoubleTree Alana Hotel in Waikiki.
Minnesota Public Radio, the show's parent organization, had tentatively scheduled the Hawaii performance several months ago, but estimated production costs made its Hawaii counterparts reluctant to announce it until sponsors could be rounded up.
HVCB's contribution is about $20,000 to offset the increased costs of airing from Hawaii.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com