ArtZany! - Radio for the Imagination

Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes Pauline Jennings, the Performing Arts Manager at the Northfield Arts Guild and singer Erin Schwab to visit about the upcoming 411 Concert Series. 2025 – 2026 is the fourteenth 411 Concert Series season. (411 is the address of the theater!) This series features regional and nationally-recognized artists in the intimate venue of the Northfield Arts Guild Theater and offers a truly unique listening and viewing experience. Toward the Guild’s goal of lifting up the young and aspiring, every show includes a talented local young musician(s).

https://northfieldartsguild.org/arts/music/411-series/

Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes guests from the Paradise Community Theatre to highlight the upcoming production of Kill Me, Deadly with Zeke Brooks and Kandi Lingle. A play with romance, intrigue, and murder, this detective noir is a smart parody that will keep you guessing until the end!

https://www.paradisecenterforthearts.org/theater

Kill Me, Deadly

Presented by Paradise Community Theatre

By Bill Robens

Directed by Patrick Braucher

Charlie Nickels has a hard life as a...

Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes guests from the Paradise Center for the Arts:  Julie Fakler, Executive Director and Will McIntyre, Performing Arts & Education Director. We’ll preview upcoming events and discuss the Arts & Nature membership option.

https://www.paradisecenterforthearts.org

Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes director Susan Dunhaupt and actors from the Northfield Arts Guild production of Little Wars. In this drama Agatha Christie, Gertrude Stein, Dorothy Parker, Alice B. Toklas, Lillian Hellman and more are together for the dinner party of your dreams.

https://northfieldartsguild.org/northfield-arts-guild-66th-theater-season/

LITTLE WARS*

Written by Steven Carl McCasland

Directed by Susan Dunhaupt*

THIS PLAY CONTAINS MATURE MATERIAL AND MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AUDIENCES.

JANUARY 30TH – FE...

Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes poet, performer, essayist, and storyteller Thadra Sheridan to preview the first installment of Narrative: Storytelling at The Grand. This event is an open mic for stories in prose, poetry, or music. The evening is hosted by Thadra Sheridan and features the iconic, hilarious, and legendary Tom Cassidy.

https://www.thadrasheridan.com

Narrative: Storytelling at The Grand

Grand Event Center, 315 Washington Street, Northfield, MN

Hosted by Thadra Sheridan

Storytelling Open Mic featuring Tom...

Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes musician Ray Coudret, Kristen Twitchell from the Northfield Fine Arts Boosters, and performers Quinn Flannery and Emmett Norrie to preview the fundraiser Northfield Musicians Perform the Music of Bruce Springsteen. 

https://www.northfieldfab.org

https://www.facebook.com/NorthfieldFAB/

Northfield Musicians Perform the Music of Bruce Springsteen

Saturday, January 10, 2026

5:00 PM Doors Open

6:00 PM Music Starts

Armory Square Event Center, Northfield, MN 

Admission: Suggested donation of $20

Th...

Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes Pauline Jennings, the Performing Arts Manager at the Northfield Arts Guild to visit about the upcoming 411 Concert Series. 2025 – 2026 is the fourteenth 411 Concert Series season. (411 is the address of the theater!) This series features regional and nationally-recognized artists in the intimate venue of the Northfield Arts Guild Theater and offers a truly unique listening and viewing experience. Toward the Guild’s goal of lifting up the young and aspiring, every show includes a talented local young musician(s)

.https://northfieldartsguild.org

411 Concert Series – The Si...

Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes guests from Bows, Strings, & Contentment Orchestra to preview their Winter Walk concert ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas at the Grand Event Center.

Bows, Strings, & Contentment

String Orchestra, Conductor Laura Geissler

Holiday Concert: ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas

Featuring Guests: Mark Heiman and The Jingle Bell Kids

Thursday, 11 December 2025 @ 7PM

The Grand Event Center, 316 Washington Street, Northfield

Doors open at 5PM, Dining hours 5PM - 7PM

Free Conc...

Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes guests from the Northfield Arts Guild Purple Door Youth Theater production Winnie-the-Pooh! Guests include director Rachel Haider, theater techs Kyra Reverman and Emily Taubman, and actor Miles Mazzariello.

https://northfieldartsguild.org/event/winnie-the-pooh/2025-12-14/

PURPLE DOOR YOUTH THEATER: Winnie-the-Pooh

December 12th– 21st, 2025

Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 and Sundays at 2:00

Christopher Robin has just moved into a new neighborhood and he isn’t happy. To bring him out of his shell, his father A.A. Milne tell...

Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist previews the upcoming show Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music at the Paradise Center for the Arts in Faribault with Linda McComas-Wood, Bob McComas-Wood, and Sarah Wilder. Enjoy this timeless story and irresistibly charming score.

https://www.paradisecenterforthearts.org/theater

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music

Presented by Paradise Community Theatre

Music by Richard Rodgers, Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, 

Book by Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse

Directed By Shelley Fitzgerald

Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes Cannon Valley Regional Orchestra (CVRO) conductor and founder Paul Niemisto and violinist Paul Huppert to preview the In Memoriam concert honoring the Life of CVRO’s Clark Ohnesorge.

https://northfieldartsguild.org/arts/music/cvro-2/

The Northfield Arts Guild Presents the Cannon Valley Regional Orchestra

In Memoriam Conducted by Paul Niemisto

Honoring the Life of Clark Ohnesorge

Featuring Violin Soloist Paul Huppert

Saturday 15 November at 3PM

St. John’s Lu...

Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes members of Bows, Strings, & Contentment to preview the Fall Concert – Music of Latin America. In the first segment, guests from the concert include conductor and co-founder Laura Geissler, bassist Jeff Guerney, cellist Beth Hagemeister and then for the second segment, the guests will be arranger and violinist Laurie Stegner, violinist Michael Provancha, and bassist Becky Gillette.

Bows, Strings, & Contentment

String Orchestra, Conductor Laura Geissler

Fall Concert: Music of Latin America

Music of Latin America in...

Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes theater artist, storyteller, writer, teacher, slam poet Michael Shaeffer to preview his show World’s Greatest Zombie at the Northfield Arts Guild Theater. For this one-man show, he will perform 17 skits in about an hour that feature Halloween, horror and pop culture references.

https://northfieldartsguild.org/arts/theater/lab/

Northfield Arts Guild presents a Halloween Lab Show!

World’s Greatest Zombie

Created, Acted and Directed by Michael Shaeffer

Friday, 31 October at 7:30pm

Satu...

Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes Mary Carlsen and Susan Lohmann from the End of Life Choices Collective (EOLCC) to discuss the upcoming Advance Care Planning Open Houses at Fifty North.

Advance Care Planning Open House

Tuesday, October 28, 1:30-3:00pm

Don’t leave anything to chance! Planning is key. Who will advocate for you if you become physically or mentally unable to speak or make healthcare decisions? Do something now! Start, review, complete, and distribute your Advance Care Directive. Join Barbara Krause and other trained facilitators in community service from th...

Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes Michelle Brant, Program Coordinator at FiftyNorth to share upcoming events and a view from a community of 50+ adults that stay active, engaged and connected.

https://fiftynorth.org

Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes Pauline Jennings, the Performing Arts Manager at the Northfield Arts Guild to visit about all the upcoming happenings, shows, and events and of course we will celebrate creating and stories.

https://northfieldartsguild.org

Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes watercolor artist Kathy Miller, woodturner David Peterson, and fabric and quilting artist Kathy Weed from the Studio ARTour. The 2025 tour features 15 locations and 31 artists around Northfield, Dundas, and Faribault.

https://www.studioartour.com

2025 STUDIO ARTOUR

Saturday, 4 October from 10AM – 6PM

Sunday, 5 October from 10AM – 5PM

Some Studios also open Friday, 3 October from 4PM – 8PM

ARTOUR REGION: Northfield, Dundas, & Faribault
The South Central MN Studio ARTour showcases individual visual artists in their...

Today in the ArtZany studio Wendy Nordquist sits in for Paula Granquist and talks with Shari Setchell about her SEMAC Capstone event entitled “You do not have to be good…” happening September 12-13th at the Northfield Arts Guild theater. Later, Wendy talks with Paul Niemisto and Donna Hendricks from the Cannon Valley Regional Orchestra about their performance at Defeat of Jesse James Days on Saturday, September 6th.

Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist features The Fesler-Lampert and Acoustic Roots Performing Arts Series with Tami Resler and Dr. Benjamin Downs from the Shattuck-St. Mary’s School and composer, arranger, and pianist Kavyesh Kaviraj who will be featured in all three of the Jazz Series concerts within the series.

https://www.s-sm.org/news-events/fesler-lampert-performing-arts-series

https://www.kavyeshkaviraj.com/about

The Fesler-Lampert and Acoustic Roots Performing Arts Series features an exciting array of musicians and entertainers. Events are open to the public. This year, we...

Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes documentary filmmaker Paul Krause and musicians Amy & Adams to preview the new film Lights On! – the Making of “In the Garden” to be shown at the Weitz Center in Northfield, MN. The short documentary explores how music touches the heart and lights the soul –especially for those in retirement communities, families dealing with memory loss, and congregations.

https://www.youtube.com/c/paulallankrause-dancing-sun-multimedia

https://www.amyandadams.com/home

Documentary Screening

Lights On! – the Making of “In the Garden”

Weitz Center...

Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes David Carter, Founder and Board Chair of the Bridge Chamber Music Festival. This year the festival celebrates Artaria String Quartet’s 40th Anniversary, showcases the Young Artist Recital, and features tango music with the Charles Gorczynski Tango Quartet.

https://bridgechambermusicfestival.com

Bridge Chamber Music Festival

2025 Festival Highlights:
·       Tuesday, August 19 – Artaria Quartet, 7:30pm at Carleton College
·       Thursday, August 21 – Young Artist Recital, 7:30pm at St. John’s Lutheran
·       Friday, August 22 – Tango Night with Charles Gorczynski Quartet, 7:30 pm at The Grand Event Center
·       S...

Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes ceramic artists Kelly Connole and Parker Garmiño from the Cannon River Clay Tour. For this 9th year of the tour, four sites around Northfield, Minnesota will host local and national clay artists: Holmquist Pottery, Connole Studio, Larchill Farm, and Eureka Pots. Visit the website for the Cannon River Clay Tour Map of the sites.

https://www.cannonriverclaytour.com

Cannon River Clay Tour

Saturday 16 August 2025 10am – 5pm &

Sunday 17 August 2025 10am – 5pm

The ceramic artists of the North...

Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes visual artist Mark Daehlin to share his artistic journey and the stories behind his Freedom Road Heroes series. These paintings are a vibrant, visual tribute to the courageous people who have worked for human rights, civil rights, abolition, and an end to the subjugation of oppressed minorities in the United States and beyond. The Freedom Road Heroes are on display at the Northfield City Hall and Fifty North through August 2025.

https://markdaehlinart.com

https://www.freedomroadheroes.com/

Freedom Road Heroes<...

Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist previews the next Vintage Band Festival with board members Paul Beck, Vicki Scott, and Randy Ferguson. The 2025 Vintage Band Festival in Northfield, MN will feature 13 hours of music and 11 bands!

https://vintagebandfestival.org/vbf-2025-schedule/

Vintage Band Festival

vintagebandfestival.org

Saturday, 2 August 2025 from 9AM – 10PM

Bridge Square, Northfield, MN

Family Friendly. Free Admission. Donations accepted.  

Since 2006 the Vintage Band Festival has presented fantastic wind band music from across the region in Bridge Square along the...

Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes Elizabeth Olson from the Northfield Garden Club and photography artist Gail Gates to preview the Northfield Garden Tour. Each of the six sites for this public garden tour is hosted by members of the Northfield Garden Club and features amazing local gardens for self-guided tours and each site is paired with a talented artist showcasing their works.

https://www.thenorthfieldgardenclub.org

2025 Northfield Garden Tour

Saturday, 12 July from 11 am to 4 pm

Sunday, 13 July from 11 am to 4 pm

https://www...

Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist previews the Paradise Center for the Arts show Assassins with the director Eric Parrish, Will McIntyre, Performing Arts and Education Director of the Paradise and actor in the show, and actress Elin Odegaard.  Discover Assassins, a multiple Tony Award-Winning show by Stephen Sondheim that delves into America's fascination with celebrity and the extreme lengths some will go to achieve it.

https://www.paradisecenterforthearts.org/theater

Paradise Community Theatre Presents: Assassins

Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

Book by John Weidman 

Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes actors Kyle Roth, Greta Porath, and Jenna Schlatter from the Northfield Arts Guild production of Flora & Ulysses. This play takes us on a zany adventure that begins with Flora, a cynical girl and reader of The Illuminated Adventures of the Amazing Incandesto! comic book and the special issue bonus comics entitled TERRIBLE THINGS CAN HAPPEN TO YOU! She and her super-hero squirrel Ulysses seek to explore his powers and travel the neighborhood to make sense of their situation. It’s a fun show for the whole family!

https://no...

Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes interdisciplinary artist and independent filmmaker Wendy Placko to share the story of her new documentary Down to Zero: Net Zero Transitional Housing at Hillcrest Village. The film highlights the team that imagined and built this Northfield neighborhood of townhomes designed according to sustainable Passive House building standards and the issue of housing insecurity.

https://wendyplacko.com/events/down-to-zero-film-premiere

Down to Zero Documentary Film Premiere

A Film by Wendy Placko

The Grand Event Center 316 Washington Street South, Northfield, MN. 

Sunday 29 June 2025 3:00p...

 Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist features two upcoming music events in Northfield. First, Richard Collman will preview the Northfield Noontime Organ Recitals that begin the first week in July. There will be seven recitals for this 18th season.  Then guests from Bows, Strings & Contentment Orchestra share the story behind their concert Music from American Roots which includes gospel, blues, jazz, swing, and rock. 

Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes authors Kelly Corrigan and Claire Corrigan Lichty to celebrate the publication of their new picture book Marianne the Maker. This marvelous story introduces you to a girl with a crackerjack imagination that will inspire readers of all ages to take some time to enjoy your imagination and make a something!

Host Paula Granquist highlights the Cannon Valley Regional Orchestra with CVRO conductor Paul Niemisto, council president Laurie Stegner, and council member Heather Scott. We will preview the upcoming Summer Sounds Concert. 

 Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes musicians Ray Coudret and Bo Aylin from Fred the Bear to share the story of the new album Just Because. Recorded at the iconic Pachyderm Recording Studio, this record is a heartfelt collection of songs about life, love, and everything in between—capturing the spirit of Fred the Bear like never before. 

Paula Granquist welcomes from the Northfield Arts Guild production of Shakespeare in Love director Rachel Haider and cast members Will Martin (William Shakespeare), Sara Cronk (Viola DeLesseps), Andy Artley (Lord Wessex), and Brendon Etter (Richard Burbage). 

 Paula Granquist welcomes Alyssa Herzog Melby from St. Olaf, Alexus Kreft from the Northfield Public Library and the Northfield History Center, and St. Olaf students John Lutterman and Owen Schwalm to preview the Celebrate Asia Pasifika event at the Northfield Public Library. 

 Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes Northfield poets Becky Boling (Here Beyond Small Wonders) and Susan Jaret McKinstry (Tumblehome) to preview their upcoming event at Content Bookstore. Celebrate National Poetry Month with us and discover the joy, wonder, glory, and wisdom of poetry. 

 Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes novelist Peter Geye to discuss A Lesser Light. Set on the rocky shores of Lake Superior at the turn of the 20th century, this is the story of Theodulf, a master lighthouse keeper, and his new wife Willa, a well-educated young woman and a reluctant bride with her eyes to the night sky. The book explores how selfhood and determinism develops: is the future what we’re handed or what we make of it? 

 Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes director Will McIntyre, costume designer Abby Engbrecht, and actor Cody Jensen from the Paradise Center for the Arts production of tick, tick... BOOM! This hit musical by Jonathan Larson of Rent fame takes us through his musical theater journey and reminds us to hold on to our dreams. 

 Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes director Marc Robinson and the cast of the Northfield Arts Guild production (Felicia Crosby, Maggie Muth, Jonathan Larson, and Paul Gleason) of The Glass Menagerie. This Tennessee Williams drama shares the story of a former Southern Belle, her son and daughter and their struggles to build a future. 

 Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes guests from the Cannon Valley Regional Orchestra (Paul Niemisto, Deesa Staats, Richard Collman) and the FiftyNorth Band (Dan Bergeson, Sandra Voelker, Eric Johnsrud) to preview their upcoming spring concerts. 

 Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes author Christopher Johnston to discuss his new novel Where you Come From is Gone, a family story set in Northern Minnesota that explores the bonds, pride, legacy, and life cycles of these hard-working commercial fishermen and mink ranching farmers. These characters cope with the trials of rural life, the dangers at work and play, and the games of politics. This story and their struggles will leave a lasting impression.