Sandhills Secrets, Sandoz story, Scott Kirby and more…

·57 min·5 clips

Photographer Alan Bartels reveals the weird and obscure secrets hidden in Nebraska's 20,000 square mile Sandhills.

The episode opens with host Genevieve Randall introducing photographer and writer Alan Bartels, who has a new book titled 'Secret Nebraska Sandhills: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure'. Bartels discusses the Sandhills as a magical region where wildlife thrives and families work hard, sharing anecdotes like helping turtles cross roads and photographing rare prairie fringed orchids. He reveals that 75% of the photos in the book are new, taken specifically for this project, and mentions events like the book release at Plains Trading Company in Valentine. Bartels highlights obscure finds such as fulgurite (fossilized lightning) in Long Pine and Nebraska's last dry county, McPherson County, which prohibited alcohol for 114 years. The conversation shifts to theater, with Karim Muasher and Carrie Brown from Animal Engine discussing their adaptation of Mari Sandoz's 1939 novel 'Capital City'. They explain that the novel, set in a fictional state blending Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa, explores pre-World War II pro-Nazi sentiment and labor struggles in the Midwest. The directors note changes made for the stage, such as making the main character more active, and draw parallels to contemporary issues like disillusionment with government. Next, Maury Enders, retiring executive director of Lincoln Community Playhouse, reflects on his tenure, mentioning over 150 shows and initiatives like the Penguin Project for performers with disabilities. He shares a poignant story about a hug from an autistic performer, emphasizing community theater's role in providing a 'spot' for everyone. The episode also includes a film review by Waquita O'Drea of the documentary 'Billy Preston: That's the Way God Planned It', highlighting Preston's collaborations with the Beatles and Rolling Stones. Poet Nathan Ertzner reads original works, including 'The First of Sin in the Fear of Man'. Finally, composer and artist Scott Kirby discusses his multimedia show 'Main Street Souvenirs', which combines ragtime music, watercolor paintings, and local history from towns like Red Cloud, featuring interviews and footage integrated into the performance.

As heard by us

A brisk Nebraska arts hour that turns a Sandhills book release into a wider tour of local reading, film, and theater.

Friday Live sketches a Nebraska arts map through places, books, films, and the people bringing them into public view. Alan Bartels opens with Secret Nebraska Sandhills, his guide to the weird, wonderful, and obscure, and the conversation gets its most useful shape from stops in…

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Why you'd press play

You want Nebraska places, book talk, and arts listings with enough practical detail to point you toward your next cultural stop.

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