By Colter Hettich, Features Editor
Those who cannot attend A Prairie Home Companion’s Oct. 18 performance at ACU need not worry. The variety show will be broadcast live from Moody Coliseum on more than 500 public radio stations, including KACU-FM.
The administration wanted A Prairie Home Companion, (PHC), to perform a live broadcast two years ago for the Centennial celebration, but booking issues kept it from coming together; a PHC broadcast has been in the works for more than two years.
As a public radio station, KACU must raise two-thirds of its budget. Terri Peterson, KACU membership director and business manager, hopes this event will serve as a significant fundraiser.
“For a small, public radio station like us, [PHC] is a huge thing,” Peterson said.
As of Monday morning, KACU had 1,346 tickets for sale, although it sold out of the $50 tickets. The $70 seats are still plentiful, but Peterson said a limited number of the $25 tickets are still available.
KACU advertised across Texas and surrounding states, especially in Tulsa, Okla. As arbitrary as it may seem, KACU focused on Tulsa for good reasons. The weekend after its Abilene appearance, PHC will perform in Tulsa’s Chapman Theater. The Tulsa show has already sold out, and Peterson said Tulsa fans of PHC have no problem driving to Abilene for one performance.
“The Tulsa tickets sold out two weeks ago, and there are twice as many people there
as in Abilene,” Peterson said. John Best, KACU-FM and KUF-TV general manager, has seen the variety show live and is not surprised people would travel hundreds of miles to witness it for themselves.
“Going to the show live is a great experience,” Best said. “When you’re there, people are entering and exiting the stage, just like you would imagine an old radio show.”
Although guest musicians and the traditional format generally appeal to the older generations, Best said the timeless qualities of the show’s entertainment and humor rise above cultural trends.
“You’re going to go for two hours and you’re going to laugh for two hours,” Best said. “And there are moments where you think you’re going to cry . The show has tremendous
energy and is tremendous fun.”
