April 27, 2007 - If anything, playwright August Wilson's stature has been growing since his death two years ago. August Wilson, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright who spent 12 years in St. Paul, died in 2005. The one-time St. Paulite has a Broadway theater named for him. In May, the New York Times will host an event celebrating Wilson's work, and earlier in the year the Kennedy Library honored Wilson, too. The participants at the Kennedy Library Forum were actor Charles Dutton and composer Dwight Andrews, both of whom worked on Wilson's Broadway productions. Dutton got interested in acting while serving a seven-and-a-half year jail sentence for mansluaghter. He eventually won a spot at Yale Drama School, where he was introduced to Wilson's work. From there is was on to Broadway, and Dutton was twice nominated for the Tony Award for his performances in Wilson's plays. Andrews served as music director for six Broadway productions of August Wilson plays. He is a professor of music theory and African American studies at Emory University, and practicing minister.
April 28, 2007 -
April 30, 2007 -
May 1, 2007 - MPR’s Euan Kerr interviews author and teacher Wang Ping, who says her Chinese history is the result of some curious twists of fate.
May 1, 2007 - Wang Ping has an intimidating resume. She teaches creative writing at Macalester College in St Paul. She's published fiction, poetry, and an acclaimed book on the Chinese tradition of footbinding. She's just come out with a new collection of short stories. She's an accomplished photographer too.
May 1, 2007 -
May 2, 2007 - Will the session's home stretch be a grueling one? Broadcast: Midday, 05/02/2007, 11:00 a.m. With less than three weeks left in the session, the Legislature and the governor don't appear to be moving toward compromise. Which side will win the tug of war over taxes? Guests: Phil Krinkie: Former Republican legislator. Krinkie, who used to chair the House Taxes Committee, is now President of the conservative Taxpayer's League of Minnesota. Dee Long: Former DFL legislator. Long was House Speaker from 1991-1992.
May 3, 2007 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer gets an introduction to the music of local rapper Brother Ali from The Current’s Bill DeVille, Deville comments on the Brother Ali’s second album, The Undisputed Truth.
May 3, 2007 - MPR’s Chris Roberts interviews members of the Minnesota indie music group Best Friends Forever. Songwriters Jessica Seamans and Briana Smith, who go by "Jes" and "Bri," often sing about a love with some staying power…their friendship.
May 3, 2007 - MPR’s Toni Randolph reports on Graves Desecration Reconciliation Working Group, a St. Paul group that is working with U.S. diplomatic officials in Thailand to resolve an issue that has angered members of Minnesota's Hmong community. They're trying to figure out what to do with the disinterred remains of some of their relatives once buried near a Buddhist temple in Thailand.