June 10, 2003 - Opera lovers in Sioux Falls are trying to light the flame in hopes of it catching on in the northern plains. Two South Dakota natives, both of which are now opera stars, are performing scenes from several operas as a way of introduction. Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland caught up with Louis Otey, one of the performers, to talk about the efforts.
June 12, 2003 - That is Joan Rothfuss, curator of the permanent collection at the Walker Art Center. As part of the anniversary celebration, the rock band Wilco will perform in the sculpture garden tomorrow night at an event called Rock the Garden.
June 12, 2003 - MPR’s Greta Cunningham interviews author Regina McBride about her novel The Land of Women, which tells of a complex relationship between mother and daughter.
June 12, 2003 - Governor Pawlenty today signed a 237-million dollar bonding bill into law. The bill authorizes the state to borrow for construction projects, including buildings at state colleges and universities and flood relief in northwestern Minnesota. The largest single item in the bill is 25-million dollars for a new Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. Guthrie officials say the theater's inclusion in the bonding bill ends a lengthy lobbying effort. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
June 13, 2003 - MPR’s Lorna Benson interviews David King, drummer of the jazz trio The Bad Plus. While the band is based in New York, King resides in St. Paul. King says his music is influenced by dance, pop, and rock. But, he says even as a child, he was most captivated by jazz.
June 16, 2003 - Actor, screenwriter, and theater director Hume Cronyn died yesterday in his home in Fairfield, Connecticut. He was 91. Cronyn and his late wife, Jessica Tandy, were the first notable actors hired by the Guthrie Theater for its opening season. Joe Dowling is the Guthrie's artistic director. He says it was an honor to know Cronyn.
June 16, 2003 - St. Paul gym teacher and hockey coach Jon Westby spent yesterday's Father's Day holiday with two rambunctious 7 year-olds -- his twin sons, Henry and James. It was a remarkable day for Westby because there was a time when he wasn't sure his sons would overcome the difficult odds they faced. Westby writes about that experience in his new book, "They Will Know They are Loved: A Family's Life with Premature Twins." He says when he first found out his wife Catherine was having twins, he was elated. But that excitement soon turned to fear.
June 20, 2003 - Word of Mouth Round up
June 20, 2003 - Word of mouth
June 20, 2003 - MPR’s Mindy Ratner interviews pianist Kevin Cole, one of the foremost interpreters of George Gershwin’s music, while he is visiting the Twin Cities to perform with the Minnesota Orchestra. In the interview Cole discusses how he became a Gershwin fan at a very early age.