This collection encompasses 50-plus years of interviews, readings, speeches, and reports on the vibrant literary scene in Minnesota. Not only home to giants F. Scott Fitzgerald and Sinclair Lewis, our state has an array of incredible contemporary poets, novelists, and playwrights. Their words make up majority of this collection.
Repeatedly being named the “Most Literate City in the United States,” the Twin Cities has played host to numerous visiting national writers via book tours, festivals, and lectures. Many recordings of these are also included.
This project was funded by the National Historical Publications & Records Commission.
April 5, 2011 - MPR’s Euan Kerr talks with St. Paul poet Jim Moore about collection "Invisible Strings." Moore reads from book.
April 15, 2011 - MPR Presents "Writing Minnesota," a special program highlighting Minnesota writers and authors. Program showcases some of the exciting literary work coming out of the state.
April 18, 2011 - MPR’s Tom Crann interviews playwright Dominic Taylor, actor Dennis Spears, and director Lou Bellamy about the play "Black Pearl Sings."
April 19, 2011 - In his first three novels Twin Cities author George Rabasa tackled human-trafficking, police brutality and opera singing. Now he's moved on to teenage eccentricity. Euan Kerr reports Rabasa's new book "Miss Entropia and the Adam Bomb" is an off-beat love story set against the snow-packed wastes of Minnesota winter.
April 25, 2011 - The Southern Theater in Minneapolis has set itself a formidable task this week: it aims to raise $400,000 by Saturday. Organizers say if they fail the West Bank institution will have to close its doors. The Twin Cities has a national reputation for its theater, but the current economy has severely tested several companies, and even caused the collapse of the internationally renowned Theater de la Jeune Lune. Euan Kerr of Minnesota Public Radio's Arts Unit has been following the situation, and joins me now to look at what's been happening First of all: how did the Southern get it its current predicament?
May 11, 2011 - A Prairie Home Companion host and author Garrison Keillor speaks at the Friends of the University of Minnesota Libraries dinner about writing, performing, and how libraries are a refuge from the outside world.
May 11, 2011 - While the crowds are flocking to see the gods tussle in the movie version of "Thor," the Pillsbury House Theater in Minneapolis is about to put its own spin on struggling deities. Euan Kerr reports "In the Red and Brown Water," being presented at the Guthrie Theater, uses West African traditions to tell a very modern American story.
May 17, 2011 - The weather has taken a turn for the better, and for a lot of Minnesotans, that means turning one's attention to chores and yard work. All of which reminds essayist Peter Smith of one chore he's been putting off for far too long.
May 21, 2011 - The Current presents “Boy from the North Country: Bob Dylan in Minnesota,” an MPR News documentary which explores Bob Dylan's Minnesota roots and how they influenced the evolution of his music.
May 24, 2011 - The Mixed Blood Theater in Minneapolis announced today it will no longer charge admission for its mainstage productions. Artistic director Jack Reuler calls the new policy "Radical Hospitality." He says it just makes sense in fulfilling Mixed Blood's mission of providing theater to all.