A Prairie Home Companion Returns to the Big Screen

A Prairie Home Companion, Garrison Keillor’s long-running live radio variety show, is pretty much synonymous with the word Americana.

The program has been on the air since the mid-1970s, broadcasting mainly from its original venue, the famed Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, Minn. Since then, it’s brought traditional folk musicians and old-timey segments like radio dramas and stories to more than four million audience members who listen from more than 600 public radio stations. Its popularity often draws a variety of guests and special episodes, even spawning a theater version broadcast.

Now, on Oct. 21, Keillor and his crew of entertainers are bringing their historic variety show back live in HD to select Cineplex theaters across Canada. It’ll be only the show’s second theater broadcast in its more than 35 year history, but that doesn’t mean it won’t see its fair share of special guests to get excited about. Sara Watkins, Old Crow Medicine Show and Joe Ely, among others, will all be lending musical hands. “I had a terrific time performing the show in February to communities across Canada,” Keillor said in a statement about the event. “Our listeners really loved getting together in movie theatres to experience the show in a new way. Next time, we’ll sing some songs with the audience. I like the idea of people standing in multiplexes around the country singing My Girl and Ba-ba-ba-ba-babara Ann.”

Tickets for the live event can be purchased here.

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