August 4, 2016 - Ojibwe author, poet, playwright Jim Northrup died at 73, due to complications from cancer. As part of a wake, a traditional fire is being started at his residence in Sawyer. Matthew Northrup, joins MPR’s Tom Crann to talk about his father, and what it was like being raised by Jim, who was known and quoted as being a tough man.
August 2, 2016 - MPR’s Tom Crann reports on the death of Ojibwe author, poet, playwright Jim Northrup. Report includes audio clip of Northrup reading from his poem “Grandma’s Hair.”
July 21, 2016 - MPR’s Marianne Combs reports on the opening of play "Disgraced" at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. The play deals with racial politics and reflects the Guthrie's effort to stage more diverse stories, with more diverse casts. Combs reports that there's another diversity push getting underway - backstage.
July 19, 2016 - MPR’s Euen Kerr talks with Ojibwe author, poet, playwright Jim Northrup. Northrup is dying, but he's OK with it. The author of the popular Fond du Lac Follies, several books, plays and TV shows, says he's helped by his traditional life style on the Fond du Lac Reservation - and his sense of humor.
August 21, 2015 - The Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis celebrates its 40th anniversary with an unusual event. It's called “40 for 40” and features 40 different activities across the Twin Cities over the course of 40 hours. MPR’s Arts reporter Marianne Combs discusses the event with All Thing’s Considered host Tom Crann.
August 7, 2015 - Joseph Haj says he is drinking from a fire hose. Five weeks after taking over as artistic director of the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis he's immersed in learning his new job. He says he's unlikely to make major changes anytime soon, but Euan Kerr reports Haj is building on some basic principles.
June 26, 2015 - In the coming week several major arts organizations in the Twin Cities are saying goodbye to longtime directors, notably among them the Guthrie Theater. The end of June marks the end of the fiscal year for many organizations, making it a convenient time for leadership to change hands. But rarely have we seen such a confluence of major transitions.
April 17, 2015 - MPR’s Marianne Combs reports on Internationally acclaimed author Louise Erdrich’s first-ever show of visual art, titled "Asynchronous Reading." Combs interviews Erdrich about items in the exhibit.
February 17, 2015 - The Guthrie Theater announced today it has selected Joseph Haj as its new artistic director. Haj takes over from Joe Dowling who retires in June after 20 years with the Guthrie. Haj is returning to the theater after working there as an actor early in his career.
August 25, 2011 - Local humorist, author, and playwright Kevin Kling shares a tale of taking a visiting cousin to the Minnesota State Fair. It is quite a day.