Filming starts today in St. Paul on Robert Altman and Garrison Keillor’s new movie, “Prairie Home Companion.” Based of course on Keillor’s long-running radio show, the screenplay is by Keillor, with Altman directing. It’s not a documentary; rather, it’s the fictional story about a day in the life of a “Prairie Home”-like radio show whose staff has just learned they are making their last broadcast.

It will star, in addition to Keillor, Meryl Streep, Woody Harrelson, Lily Tomlin, John C. Reilly, Lindsay Lohan, Kevin Kline, Virginia Madsen, and Maya Rudolph. “Prairie Home Companion” listeners will also be happy to hear that radio show regulars Tim Russell, Sue Scott, and Tom Keith will also appear in the film, as will the show’s band. The movie will be shot at the Fitzgerald Theater, home of the real “Prairie Home Companion” and named, thanks to Keillor, after St. Paul’s F. Scott Fitzgerald.

It’s the biggest movie event in Minnesota since the Coen brothers filmed “Fargo” here. Filming will occur over a short 25-day period. See the Star Tribune article for more.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 29th, 2005 at 8:18 am and is filed under Minnesota, Movies.