I have to admit I was a bit sad to hear that Live From Here with Chris Thile was officially moving their home base to New York City. The move isn't unexpected. Ever since Thile took over A Prairie Home Companion he has been making changes to the format and content of the show. Most notably, the name of the show changed after the show's creator, Garrison Keillor was accused of sexual harassment a couple of years ago. Then last year the original musical director and two cast members were replaced. The theme song changed a couple of times over the past three years as well as the organization of the show itself (a lot more music, a lot less monologues).
Many of these changes were good. But still, it saddens me a bit to see the show uproot from its Minnesota roots. I hate that so many of our cultural institutions are embedded in New York or Los Angeles. It was refreshing to see the midwest represented on a show of such excellence. The show has toured a lot in recent years and was only in Minnesota for a few episodes this past season. Everything being based on the coasts is so tiresome. A little geographic diversity in our American cultural institutions would be nice.
I'm progressive in a lot of ways, but there are strains of traditionalism inside me. I like traditions that connect me to the past in positive ways. It really won't make that big of difference to the format or quality of the show to be based in The Town Hall in Manhattan. But I will miss hearing that the show is emanating from The Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, Minnesota.
I guess, for better or worse, this really is the last goodbye to A Prairie Home Companion.
photo: The show bill from Live From Here's show in Austin, Texas last year.
