Tag Archives: Prudence Johnson

Flappers, Miners & Moonshiners — February 7

Crossings brings Dan Chouinard and Prudence Johnson to Zumbrota's State Theatre on Saturday, February 7 at 7:30 pm for "Minnesota in the 1920s: Flappers, Miners and Moonshiners."

Tickets are $18 in advance, $20 at the door, and can be purchased online or by calling 507-732-7616. Doors open at 6:30 pm.

Join Prudence and Dan on a journey back to Minnesota in the Jazz Age, featuring songs, vintage photographs and stories. Audience members are invited to sing along to “My Blue Heaven,” "Ain’t We Got Fun?,” “Side by Side,” “Stardust,” and many more as golden-voiced Johnson and pianist and accordionist Dan Chouinard travel back in time through music and stories of life on the farm, on the reservation, in the nightclubs of St. Paul, and the mining towns of the Iron Range.

Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) listeners will recognize Johnson as a regular on “A Prairie Home Companion” weekly radio show. Her more than 30-year music career has taken her from nightclubs and honky-tonks to Carnegie Hall, from the theater stage to the Silver Screen (Robert Redford’s “A River Runs Through It” and “A Prairie Home Companion” the movie), from the Midwest to the Middle East.

Chouinard is a Minneapolis native who plays, tours and records regularly with an ever-expanding roster of local and national performers. Chouinard regularly creates special programs which blend storytelling, interview and music, many of these for Minnesota Public Radio. He recently appeared at the State Theatre headlining, for the third year, a hometown holiday performance and sing-along that also features local talent.

The State Theatre is located at 96 East 4th Street in Zumbrota. For more information call 507-732-5210.

The Love Show — February 15

Crossings brings a Valentine Treat to the State Theatre on Saturday, February 15:

The Love Show

Starring Kevin Kling, Dan Chouinard, Claudia Schmidt, Prudence Johnson, Simone Perrin and Dane Stauffer.

Tickets are $25 in advance, $28 at the door and can be purchased online or by calling 507-732-7616. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Show starts at 7:30 pm.

Few storytellers can take you from the brink of tears to a belly laugh as adeptly and delightfully as storyteller and playwright Kevin Kling. Joined by talented singers and actors Claudia Schmidt, Simone Perrin, Dane Stauffer and Prudence Johnson, along with pianist and accordionist Dan Chouinard, Kling explores the ups and down, thrills and spills of love.

Whether for a first — or 50th — Valentine’s date, “The Love Show” promises to be an evening of fun for sweethearts and friends alike!

National Public Radio commentator Kling and friends create a night of extraordinary storytelling and music. Schmidt, Perrin and Johnson are known for their silky-smooth vocals expertly applied to a wide range of genres. Schmidt’s a virtuoso of the 12-string guitar, and Perrin is a self-taught accordionist. As a teen, Stauffer studied at the Minneapolis Children’s Theatre, and is known as “Hugh” from San Diego’s longest running show ever, “Triple Espresso.”

Chouinard is a Minneapolis native whose special programs blending storytelling, interview and music have been heard on Minnesota Public Radio, with some shows also playing on Twin Cities public television.

Kling himself is best-known for his commentaries on NPR’s All Things Considered. He also is the creator of several books and CDs of recorded storytelling. He dubs himself “author, playwright, teller of tales.”

Kevin Kling

The State Theatre is located at 96 East 4th Street in Zumbrota. For more information call 507-732-5210.

Tiptoe Through the ’60s — March 9

Join "child of the sixties" Prudence Johnson and fellow musician Dan Chouinard as they perform the music of a revolutionary decade in "Tiptoe Through the '60s" on Saturday, March 9, at 7:30 pm. Crossings is bringing the concert to Zumbrota's State Theatre. Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 the day of the show and can be purchased by calling (507) 732-7616. Doors open at 6:30.

"Tiptoe" features the triumphs, tragedies and trends of the 1960s with over 300 images on two giant screens. Audiences can sing along to songs such as, "Hit the Road Jack," "Surfer Girl," "Blowin' in the Wind," "Hey Jude," and "Hello Dolly." Stories will be shared, and there's even a chance for audience members to become part of the experience by submitting personal stories and song ideas online. Submit your memories or suggestions here!

Prudence Johnson is a true child of the sixties, emerging from the decade freshly graduated from high school and ready to join a hippie commune. However, her life took a different turn. She became a professional singer, recording more than a dozen albums, working in films such as "A River Runs Through It," and "A Prairie Home Companion," touring across the country and the world, and appearing on and off on Garrison Keillor's live weekly radio show. These days, she loves pursuing her passions for history, literature and music as a writer, producer and performer in multi-media shows like "Tiptoe Through the 60s."

Dan Chouinard was born in 1961, too late to remember anything about JFK but in plenty of time to memorize every word of the "Mary Poppins" soundtrack LP. He grew up in Richfield and Lindstrom, learning music along with a houseful of brothers and sisters. He lives in St. Paul and works not only as a pianist and accordionist, but also as the creator and host of live shows for Minnesota Public Radio, the Minnesota Historical Society and many others. When not performing he can be found bicycling interesting places with his tent and accordion.

Dan and Prudence were last seen delighting audiences at the State Theatre for the sold out "Hometown Holiday Show" in December.

Tip Toe Through the 60's!

Prudence Johnson

Dan Chouinard

This activity is made possible in part by a grant provided by the
Minnesota State Arts Board through an appropriation
by the Minnesota State Legislature from the Minnesota arts and
cultural heritage fund with money provided by a vote of the
people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.

Hometown Holiday Show — December 15

Pianist/accordionist Dan Chouinard and singer Prudence Johnson will headline the Hometown Holiday Show at Zumbrota's State Theatre on Saturday, December 15, at 7:30 pm. This community-wide variety show and sing-along will feature performances by the Zumbrota-Mazeppa High School Jazz Band, members of the Rochester Male Chorus, Heroes Choir, Zumbrota Dance Studio students, The Plaids, and other local musicians. Attendees will be greeted by carolers and may be surprised by a visit from Santa Claus.

This concert is a joint production between Crossings and the Zumbrota Area Arts Council to raise funds for improvements to the historic State Theatre. The theatre is an intimate venue whose vintage atmosphere is praised by audiences and performers alike. Planned renovations include weatherizing the exterior, restoration of interior finishes, upgrades in sound and lighting equipment, seating improvements, and an eventual addition to the building for handicapped accessible restrooms, a larger lobby and dressing rooms.

Chouinard turns up regularly in Zumbrota playing a supporting role for performers like Johnson, Peter Ostroushko, Ann Reed and others. Both he and Johnson are regular contributors to Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion radio show and had a part in the making of the film A Prairie Home Companion by Robert Altman. Johnson is a seasoned jazz and folk vocalist and inductee into the MN Rock and Country Hall of Fame. She also appeared in Robert Redford’s film, A River Runs Through It. Johnson will join Chouinard in performing traditional holiday music as well as some Swedish/Scandinavian, French, and Italian songs.

Chouinard has hosted similar community-based holiday shows in Lanesboro every year since 2007, drawing on local talent to fill most of the show's roster of musicians and storytellers and always featuring a performer friend from the Twin Cities as a special guest. He regularly creates special programs which blend storytelling, interview and music, many of these for Minnesota Public Radio. He recently dubbed Crossings “my favorite SE Minnesota haunt.”

Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 at the door. Student tickets for ages 18 and under are $5. To reserve tickets, call 507-732-7616 or stop in to Crossings at 320 East Avenue in Zumbrota. For more information, visit www.crossingsatcarnegie.com