We had a BLAST in the studio last night and watched Being Elmo with the most perfect guests: Puppets and puppeteers from the Puppet Improv Project (photos from their Facebook page). Thanks to Sara Farr and Topping Haggerty for bringing Ratio, Diva, Dottie, FrankenFlower, Pink, and all the rest into the studio – our phone volunteers had their hands full all night!

In case you missed last night’s presentation, you can still donate and receive the Being Elmo DVD as a thank you gift – or even your very own Elmo puppet! The story of Kevin Clash, Elmo’s creator, is an incredible tale of perserverance, passion and exploration – it’s inspiring for everyone and a great addition to the Independent Lens film collection.

Thanks again to our volunteers, to Puppet Improv Project, and to all of you who called in or went online with your support lastnight! You helped raise over $3,000 for your Thursday night programming on KLRU!

Saturday night KLRU aired the Pearl Jam episode in the regular time slot with special guests ACL producer Terry Lickona and photographer Scott Newton. We heard great behind-the-scenes stories of their many years with the show. Phone volunteers for the evening were veteran ACL volunteers. No one needed to tell them where the restrooms were located, they know their way around the studio as well as we do!

Show your support for Austin City Limits and receive an autographed copy of “Austin City Limits: 35 Years in Photographs.”

Sunday in the studio revolved around “A Study in Pink,” the Masterpiece Mystery episode voted for by KLRU viewers. Members of the Sherlock Holmes Society of Austin (aka Waterloo Station) and the Sisters in Crime Heart of Texas Chapter graciously answered phones and helped us with Sherlock trivia. Artist and Sherlock Society member Trish McCracken brought a beautiful print reproduction of Sherlock Holmes’ residence at 221B Baker Street, London which was included in the 2009 book “The Sherlock Holmes Companion: An Elementary Guide.” One lucky viewer who knew their Sherlock trivia was able to take home the print after answer a trivia question correctly. Thank you Trish! Austin mystery writer Janice Hamrick shared information with viewers on her upcoming book and why supporting KLRU is important to the Austin community.

It’s not too late for you to donate to KLRU for Masterpiece Mystery, thanks for your support.

A big thank you goes to local writer and actor Owen Egerton who had us laughing all night long. To see more of Owen, catch his Master Pancake Christmas show happening the next couple of weekends at different Alamo Drafthouses.

Everyone in the studio was very impressed by the discipline and talent of the singers who gave a very moving performance. Posted below are some pictures from the evening and clips from the Children’s Choir singing two holiday songs.

“Nativity Carol”

“Wassail Song”

Another thing that made last night special was the support of the garden community. Central Texas Gardener has many fabulous fans and some of them came to help us answer phones. Many of them have their own blogs or community programs so check their sites listed below if you’re looking for inspiration.

Tonight we will be live in the studio during “A Company of Voices: Conspirare in Concert.” Our special guests will be the Conspirare Youth Choir who will be performing throughout the evening. The fun begins at 7p!

thanks to these folks who helped us answer phones:
Denise Delaney
Grow Green Coordinator, City of Austin

Elaine Dill
Master Gardener

Ellie Hanlon
Mostly Weeds

Caroline Homer
Shovel Ready Garden

Glee Ingram
Growing Designs Landscape designer

Eleanor Pratt
Garden of E

Roxane Smith
Master Gardener

During our live breaks KLRU staff and professors from St. Edwards helped answer the calls. They looked extra snazzy in new phone headsets the make it easier to interact with callers. We discovered one downside of the headsets though, it’s hard for the director to tell who is one the phone!

Tonight on KLRU we are pledging live in the studio for Newshour at 6pm, followed by Michael Pollan’s Botony of Desire at 7pm. We’ll have some special thank you gifts, including tickets to see Michael Pollan in person. We’ll also be joined by some fabulous Central Texas Gardener fans and garden bloggers. Don’t forget, everyone who donates now until December 12th is eligible to win an iPad.

Click here for additional photos.

Throughout the evening assistant managing editor Emily Ramshaw shared some insights on the mission of the non-profit media organization. Along with original reporting the Tribune shares open records information and databases in innovative ways on their website. In fact two of the Tribune’s most popular pages are the government employee salary database and the red light camera database. Texans like to know what others are earning and how to avoid a ticket.

Another multimedia feature of the Tribune’s is the weekly TribCast. This informal conversation amoung the Tribune staff offers an interesting wrapup and viewpoints on the week’s events. KLRU is excited to be partnering with the Texas Tribune for a TribCast Live Texas Politics Roundup event. A contribution of $100 gets you 2 tickets to this event taking place this September in the Austin City Limits studio. Find more information on our website.

Thanks to the Texas Tribune for their help tonight. We also want to thank all the community groups and individuals who made this week such a success, we’ve been overwhelmed with the response. This week you proved this really is your station. Thank you.

KLRU staff were joined in the studio with volunteers from the Austin Film Society as well as the film’s producer and director, Sam Wainwright Douglas. Throughout the evening Sam shared stories about the production of the film, how he got interested in the Rural Studio and why community support is crucial for local filmmakers.

Special thanks to our volunteers from the Austin Film Society, tireless champions of Austin’s film scene.

Citizen Architect broadcasts nationally on PBS August 23rd. KLRU is proud to be the presenting station of this film.

Audiences had the delight of seeing great performances by the McCallum Fine Arts Academy during Great Performances In the Heights. Frankly, they blew us away.

Under the direction of Julie Wright and Scott Tatum, the cast of students grades 9-12 performed two selections from their bilingual adaptation of Evita. They are preparing to take their “show on the road” to Coast Rica this July. As Julie explains:

Community building, outreach and cultural exchange are the Theatre Department’s continuing goals as their bilingual Evita hits the road this coming summer. By working with local theatre professionals, immersion specialists and civic organizations in Central America, McCallum’s Fine Arts Academy has arranged to perform Evita in Costa Rica in July while participating in a two week learning program alongside local performers and technicians.

We wish them the best on their tour and will follow their adventures online.

It’s not a surprise to say the KLRU staff regularly have the honor to work with some of the best musicians and artists on the planet and the talent performing in studio 6B tonight was no exception; thanks to them and all of our community supporters.

Please support the folks who support us. Austin Collins performs at the Ghost Room this Saturday and you can support the McCallum Fine Arts Academy by attending a performance in person or donating to their program online.