Lake Wobegon, a fictional town in Minnesota, but as real to as many fans who know and love Garrison Keillor and his writing and speaking talents. Keillor returns to Texas A&M’s Rudder Auditorium as MSC OPAS’ Season 39 offers its second smash booking in 9 days.
His vehicle is, of course, the beloved “Prairie Home Companion” and this performance is familiar as family, yet like no other. KAMU-FM HD-1 channel shares the beloved radio show each Sunday at 12 Noon, and Saturdays at 5 pm. The “Summer Love Tour 2011” promises: all things Lake Wobegon, Passionate duets, the adventures of everyone’s favorite private investigator, Guy Noir, P.I., and the ever-memorable, Fred Newman, King of Sound Effects.
What is all the fuss about? You spend an evening with people just like folks you’ve known all your life, and you leave sharing memories of quotes that made you laugh or smile because of how you can identify so easily.
Here are some favorite Garrison ‘Keillorisms’ (thanks to brainyquote.com):
- “Lake Wobegon, the little town that time forgot and the decades cannot improve”.
- “I believe in looking reality straight in the eye and denying it”.
- “Nothing you do for children is ever wasted. They seem not to notice us, hovering, averting our eyes, and they seldom offer thanks, but what we do for them is never wasted”.
- “Some luck lies in not getting what you thought you wanted but getting what you have, which once you have got it you may be smart enough to see is what you would have wanted had you known”.
- “A minister has to be able to read a clock. At noon, it's time to go home and turn up the pot roast and get the peas out of the freezer”.
- “A good newspaper is never nearly good enough but a lousy newspaper is a joy forever”.
One extra benefit is the talented singer Sara Watkins (www.sarawatkins.com) will be on this show. She's highly regarded both as a fiddler and singer. You may know her best for her work with the group, Nickel Creek. Another reason of its own to get tickets, if you don't have them already.
Thursday’s performance begins at 7:30 pm, but don’t wait until the last minute to get to Rudder’s garage. And don’t be late to your seats because...Steve Martin called out the few who rambled in a little late to last week’s show...don’t be one of those people.
As sure as Lake Wobegon is one where “all the women are strong, all the men are good looking and all the children are above average”, Rudder Auditorium is going to look a lot like the beloved little Minnesota town come Thursday. Just what the Aggies need as another exciting week of entertainment programming arrives.
If you have to miss the show, ask a friend to pick up the 2-CD set of “Summer Love” for you after the performance. It promises “A coast-to-coast concert tour featuring music and humor about romance”. To those who don’t know what all the fuss is about, try the show anyway. After you see it once, you’ll tune in faithfully each week to KAMU-FM. Only Garrison Keillor can give the news of the day and make you laugh at yourself. Call the MSC OPAS box office at (979) 845-1234 or visit www.MSCOPAS.org to purchase. Oh, and have a good time.
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