Garrison Keillor Launches New Book of Poetry with Readings Recorded Live at the Fitzgerald Theater October 2 & 3

Sep 17, 2013

Author, humorist and radio host Garrison Keillor will read selections from his latest book, O, What a Luxury: Verses Lyrical, Vulgar, Pathetic & Profound, (Grove-Atlantic), at the historic Fitzgerald Theater on Wednesday October 2 and Thursday, October 3, at 7:30 p.m. "Keillor is very clearly a genius. His range and stamina alone are incredible . . . he has the genuine wisdom of a Cosby or Mark Twain." --Slate "Although he has edited several anthologies of his favorite poems, this volume forges a new path for Garrison Keillor, as a poet of light verse. He writes--with his characteristic combination of humor and insight--on love, modernity, nostalgia, politics, religion, and other facets of daily life. Keillor's verses are charming and playful, locating sublime song within the humdrum of being human." -- Grove-Atlantic

The October 2 and 3rd readings--Recorded Live for an audio companion to be released at a later date--are free and open to the public, but tickets must be obtained ahead of time, either at Common Good Books, or from the Fitzgerald Theater, (tickets picked up ahead of time will include a 20% discount off the purchase of O, What a Luxury). Copies of O, What a Luxury are currently on sale now at Common Good Books on Snelling Avenue in St. Paul, and will also be available for purchase the evening of the readings at the Fitzgerald Theater - a book signing immediately follows each of the readings.

Garrison Keillor was born in 1942 in Anoka, Minnesota, and began his radio career as a freshman at the University of Minnesota, from which he graduated in 1966. He went to work for Minnesota Public Radio in 1969, and on July 6, 1974, he hosted the first broadcast of A Prairie Home Companion in St. Paul. Today, some 4 million listeners on more than 600 public radio stations coast to coast and beyond tune in to the show each week. Keillor has been honored with Grammy, ACE, and George Foster Peabody awards, the National Humanities Medal, and election to the American Academy of Arts and Letters. His many books include Lake Wobegon Days, The Book of Guys, Pilgrims: A Wobegon Romance, and Guy Noir and the Straight Skinny (Viking). He is the host of the daily program The Writer's Almanac and the editor of several anthologies of poetry, most recently, Good Poems: American Places (Viking). In 2006, Keillor played himself in the movie adaptation of his show, a film directed by Robert Altman. He has two grandsons and in 2007, he opened an independent bookstore, Common Good Books, in St. Paul, the city where he and his wife and daughter make their home.

WHAT: O, What a Luxury - a reading with Garrison Keillor, piano by Richard Dworsky - book signing immediately following.

WHEN: Wednesday October 2 and Thursday October 3, at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: The Fitzgerald Theater, 10 East Exchange Street, St. Paul, MN 55101

TICKETS: Free and open to the public. Tickets available starting on Wednesday September 18. Tickets obtained a head of time contain a 20% discount on "O, What a Luxury"

TICKET OUTLETS:
Common Good Books -- Free tickets may also be picked up in person at Common Good Books, 38 South Snelling Avenue, St. Paul. Phone: 651-225-8989. Store hours: Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Fitzgerald Theater -- Free tickets may be picked up in person at the Fitzgerald Theater. Box office hours: Tuesday-Friday, noon-5 p.m. Tickets also available the evening of each reading at the Fitzgerald Theater.