Fargo production company Prairie Airwaves has announced that the monthly radio program Dakota Air: The Radio Show will be performed to a live audience in Minot at Ann Nicole Nelson Hall on the campus of Minot State University on Feb. 5 at 7 p.m., and recorded for broadcast later in the month on the statewide Prairie Public Broadcasting radio network.
Local performers and celebrities will join the illustrious Dakota Air cast to deliver a variety show that will highlight the talent and history of Minot, Ward County and greater North Dakota.
Merrill Piepkorn, the show's executive director, said, "We've got a magical show scheduled for the Magic City and our local talent and community partners are phenomenal. We look forward to celebrating the Minot area during the live show and showcasing it later to the entire state via the radio broadcasts."
"Dakota Air: The Radio Show" follows an old-fashioned radio variety format featuring host and executive producer Merrill Piepkorn and "The Radio Stars," a band introduced to the nation during the performance of Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion" in Bismarck in 2009. It also features original comedy by professional acting company "The Dakota Airheads" under the creative direction of humorist and writer Steve Stark. The February show will also include historical tidbits about the greater Minot community.
Other performers will include the Minot-based Celtic music group GreenMan; Minot's Gentle Winds Orchestra featuring vocalist Terri Lynn Aldrich; and Dakota Music Hall-of-Famers the J-M-B Band.
A portion of ticket sales will go to benefit the Minot Public School Foundation. Lowell Latimer, executive director of the Foundation, said, "Minot Public School Foundation is pleased to be partnering with Minot Area Council of the Arts and Minot State University as Dakota Air brings music, culture and entertainment to the stage of Minot State University Ann Nicole Nelson Hall." A portion of proceeds will also benefit the Minot Area Council of the Arts and the Division of Music at MSU.
Tickets are $16 general admission and are available at Minot Area Council of the Arts by calling 852-2787 or sending e-mail to info@minotarts.org, the Division of Music at MSU and Gate City Bank in Minot.
The mission of "Dakota Air: The Radio Show" is to provide a high-quality, live radio show that entertains, educates and inspires audiences by featuring talent from across the region while showcasing a bit of culture and history about the location from which each show originates. In addition to Prairie Public's radio broadcasts, playback of the shows will also be available worldwide on demand at (www.DakotaAirTheRadioShow.com).
First-season performances of the radio show will take place live monthly at locations across North Dakota from September through June. See (www.DakotaAirTheRadioShow.com) for live and broadcast schedules.
For more show and ticket information, contact the Minot Area Council of the Arts at 852-2787.