Keillor to perform with symphony

Garrison Keillor, America’s favorite storyteller, brings himself and his longtime accompanist, Rich Dworsky, to Schuler Performing Arts Center on the North Idaho College campus on Saturday, Sept. 14, to benefit the Coeur d’Alene Symphony.

Keillor is paying his own expenses and donating his talents. All ticket sales go to the symphony.

The evening will begin with Keillor joining the symphony on stage for the opening night of the newly refurbished Schuler Performing Arts Center for “A Young Lutheran’s Guide to the Orchestra.” A favorite of Keillor’s, he will provide the narration to the symphony’s music. The narration provides an explanation of how the sounds of music are important in everyone’s lives. Keillor does this with his unique insight and his trademark humor.

The show continues as Keillor, accompanied by Dworsky on the piano, brings to life the characters from “Lake Wobegon,” “Guy Noir, Private Eye,” and “Tales of the Cowboys” with his award-winning monologues and his choices of songs from folk to cabaret to classic.

Twenty people in the first-row center seats who donate $500 each will continue the evening with a private champagne reception with Keillor. These VIP tickets are available from the Coeur d’Alene Symphony office at 208-765-3833 or on its website, cdasymphony.org.

Keillor is donating his time and talent, and he has insisted that half of the seats in Schuler be sold for not more than $35 to make the event affordable.

Tickets at $35 to $75 are available at ticketswest.com or by phone at 800-328-7327.