August 1, 2011 - Euan Kerr interviews Minnesota poet Robert Bly about his collection "Talking into the Ear of a Donkey." Bly reads from book. Segment also includes commentary about Bly from fellow poets Jim Lenfestey and Garrison Keillor, and wife Ruth.
June 1, 2011 - MPR’s Euan Kerr visits the shoreline of Lake Superior to interview Duluth-based author Danielle Sosin about her book "The Long-Shining Waters." The novel intertwines the stories of three women living next to the big lake at different times in history. The highly praised book took Sosin eight years to complete.
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.
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.
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?
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 5, 2011 - MPR’s Euan Kerr talks with St. Paul poet Jim Moore about collection "Invisible Strings." Moore reads from book.
March 14, 2011 - MPR’s Euan Kerr talks with Ojibwe writer Jim Northrup. For almost 22 years, Northrup has entertained and chastened readers of his syndicated “Fond Du Lacs Follies” newspaper column. He's covered everything from the rise of casinos and treaty rights, to his love of tapping trees for syrup, and harvesting wild rice…and he always included lots of jokes.
February 11, 2011 - Learning you have breast cancer is never easy, but for members of the deaf community, the diagnosis can be particularly isolating. Now a group of Minnesota film makers are trying to change that with a documentary called "Signing On." The film will be previewed this weekend in St. Paul, but Euan Kerr reports the film is already attracting attention internationally in the deaf community.
February 4, 2011 - MPR’s Euan Kerr reports on Minnesota guitarist Dean Magraw and tabla-player Marcus Wise, and their 30 years of collaboration culminating in CD "How the Light Gets In."