Bob CollinsThis really shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to public radio watchers, but the descendant of the show that put St. Paul on the national map is heading for the bright lights permanently.
“Live from Here,” once known as “A Prairie Home Companion,” will call New York City home full-time, host Chris Thile announced Monday.
About 25 shows will be held in New York.
“This season has been a dream for me and I’m chomping at the bit to build on it,” Thile said. “Next season, our public radio listeners and live-stream viewers will get the best and broadest selection of music and musicians we can possibly present, and they can also expect an expanded range of spoken word content, including poetry, literature, comedy and storytelling.”
The program has mostly been a touring show in recent seasons but still performed in the Twin Cities for about a half-dozen programs.
The writing was on the wall for St. Paul, though, once Thile became host for the retiring Garrison Keillor three years ago, and, later, once Keillor was embroiled in a sexual harassment controversy with his onetime employer, Minnesota Public Radio. Last summer ago, the show’s long-time staff was fired.
And last year, MPR agreed to sell the Fitzgerald Theater to the owners of First Avenue.
