Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/765213
22 | MACON MAGAZINE DECEMBER/JANUARY 2017 Briefs GARRISON KEILLOR COMING TO MACON This January, one of the most prolific American storytellers of all time, Garrison Keillor, will take the stage to amuse and delight audiences in Macon. He will be performing Jan. 7 at the Macon City Auditorium. Offering insight and stories from his journey as one of America's greatest teller of tales, Keillor typically captivates audiences with his unique blend of comedy, charisma and wisdom. The writer and humorist is best known for his popular live radio variety show, "A Prairie Home Companion," which he hosted from 1974 to 2016. The Minnesota Public Radio show attracted over 4 million listeners on more than 600 public radio stations each week. Keillor created the fictional Minnesota town Lake Wobegon as the setting of many of his radio skits and books. Keillor is also the host of the daily radio and online program, "The Writers Almanac," and the editor of several anthologies of poetry, most recently, "Good Poems: American Places." A best-selling author, he has published more than two dozen books. In 2006, Keillor played himself alongside a cast that included Meryl Streep, Lily Tomlin and Kevin Kline, in the critically acclaimed film adaptation of "A Prairie Home Companion," directed by Robert Altman. With Grammy, ACE, and George Foster Peabody awards to his credit, Keillor has also been honored with the National Humanities Medal and elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Keillor began his radio career in 1969 with Minnesota Educational Radio, which later became Minnesota Public Radio. He aired a show he called "A Prairie Home Entertainment" during drive time on KSJR FM at St. John's University in Collegeville, Minn. The show departed from the station's usual presentation of classical music, and created a stir. In 1970, his first story appeared in The New Yorker. Keillor resigned from the radio show in February of 1971 protesting what he saw as management's meddling in his playlist. On one broadcast, he only played the Beach Boys' "Help Me, Rhonda" when it was time for a musical selection. When Keillor returned to the station, his show was called, "A Prairie Home Companion." He's said that "PHC" was inspired by the 1973 story he wrote about the Grand Ole Opry for The New Yorker. He had been featuring local musicians playing live on his morning radio show at that time, but then moved it to Saturday night in 1974 to begin a live variety show featuring musical guests, a cast, a series of running skits and sponsor parodies. In 1987, Keillor took a break from "PHC" to host a live radio show in New York City, but in 1992 returned to St. Paul, again using the "A Prairie Home Companion" name, to broadcast on Saturday nights for the next 24 years. Keillor took the radio company on the road broadcasting from theaters throughout the country and around the world. More frequently, Keillor has appeared in a one- man show, in the style of Will Rogers or Mark Twain, telling stories and giving his audiences non-stop, double-barreled doses of his humor. He has said that he particularly enjoys this format, and that the end of "PHC will now allow him time to perform this way in more places. "PHC" has continued with Chris Thile as its host. Tickets for the Garrison Keillor show at the Macon City Auditorium are available at ticketmaster.com and the Macon City Auditorium box office.