Hutchinson — Oh, hear that old piano ... from the Kansas State Fair grandstand, where Garrison Keillor's weekly "A Prairie Home Companion" will broadcast live next Sept. 10.
The two-hour, Saturday evening variety show reaches more than 4 million listeners weekly on 558 public radio stations as well as American networks in Europe and the Far East.
David Horning, general manager of Hutchinson-based Radio Kansas, said Monday he had been working for months to bring the Minnesota-based show to the state. The State Fair date was confirmed last week, he said.
"I'm really excited for us and the city and the state; it's a great deal for everybody," Horning said. "I expect it will be very well attended, with a lot of people coming to the fair who do not normally come."
The show opens weekly with Keillor singing the theme song -- "Oh, hear that old piano, from down the avenue ..." -- and moves on to comedy skits, acoustic-based music, commercials for make-believe products and Keillor's signature monologue, "The News from Lake Wobegon."
Denny Stoecklein, manager of the Kansas State Fair, said the program broadcast live from the Minnesota State Fair this year and had been looking to continue airing from such events.
State fair officials said they were still searching for a sponsor for the "Prairie Home" broadcast.
Tickets are expected to go on sale sometime in spring, Horning said. Prices have not yet been determined.
Hundreds of thousands of people turn out for Kansas' state fair, which runs Sept. 9-18 next year.
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