Book Review: Back to the Prairie by Melissa Gilbert

 

In Melissa Gilbert's second autobiography, Back to the Prairie, fans get the chance to follow along as she and her husband buy and remodel a rustic house in the Catskills during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gilbert chronicles her life during that time, how she rediscovered--like many of us--what mattered most, how she dealt with the lockdowns and how she and her family adjusted to the new normal. 

Having read Gilbert's first autobiography, Prairie Tale, I had high hopes for this book. I found Back to the Prairie to be more relatable than her first book. And as I look back on the creation of her lifestyle brand, Modern Prairie, you can see how this change to aging gratefully developed during this time as they moved to the Cabbage, raised chickens, got back to nature, and explored cooking.

Since politics run close to Gilbert's heart, there is a fair amount of her sharing how she feels about the politics of the day and the administration in power at the time. You'll also find some cursing along the way.

Despite those things, Back to the Prairie is an enjoyable read that I am glad to add to my Little House on the Prairie collection.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Gallery Books (May 10, 2022)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1982177187
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1982177188

I purchased a copy of this book from Amazon when it came out. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way. 

Modern Prairie

 

Photo from wirestock at freepik.com

In case you hadn't heard, Melissa Gilbert and trusted content creators have teamed up to create Modern Prairie. Its brand is centered around the needs of modern, mature women. They focus on topics, activities, and products by women who come from diverse backgrounds and life experiences. 

Modern Prairie also has an app that allows members of the MP community to interact with each other in a way that empowers women to learn, share, and grow. 

I love being part of the Modern Prairie community. If you want to check it out, you can find it at www.modernprairie.com

Coming in June 2024: Prairie Man: My Little House Life & Beyond by Dean Butler

 

An illuminating, insider’s journey through the world of Little House on the Prairie and beyond, from Dean Butler, who starred as Almanzo Wilder, the man Laura “Half Pint” Ingalls married—on the iconic show still beloved by millions of fans as it reaches its 50th anniversary.

With a foreword from Melissa Gilbert (Laura) and Alison Arngrim (Nellie)!

Cast just before his twenty-third birthday, Dean Butler joined Little House on the Prairie halfway through its run, gaining instant celebrity and fans’ enduring affection. Ironically, when the late, great Michael Landon remarked that Little House would outlive everyone involved in making it, Butler deemed it unlikely. Yet for four decades and counting, Butler has been defined in the public eye as Almanzo Wilder—a role he views as the great gift of his life.

Butler had been cast as a romantic lead before, notably in the made-for-TV movie of Judy Blume’s Forever, opposite Stephanie Zimbalist. But Little House was, and remains, one of the most treasured shows in television history. As the eventual husband of Laura “Half-pint” Ingalls—and the man who would share actress Melissa Gilbert’s first real-life romantic kiss—Butler landed as a central figure for the show’s devoted fans.

Now, with wit and candor, Butler recounts his passage through the Prairie, sharing stories and anecdotes of the remarkable cast who were his on-screen family. But that was merely the beginning of a diverse career that includes Broadway runs and roles on two other classic shows—Moondoggie in The New Gidget and Buffy’s ne’er-do-well father, Hank, in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Coming of age during a golden era of entertainment, Butler has evolved along with it, and today enjoys success and fulfillment as a director and producer—notably of NBC Golf’s Feherty—while remaining deeply loyal to Little House. 

The warmth, heart, and decency that fans of Laura and Almanzo fell in love with on Little House echo through this uplifting memoir, a story, in Butler’s words, about “good luck, good television, and the very good—if gloriously imperfect—people who made it so.”

Available for pre-order now at Amazon!

Wilder & Wilder on the Prairie Podcasts

 

Finished the Wilder podcast today. It is a documentary that runs for 10 episodes, plus the introductory episode. Author Glynnis MacNicol looks at Wilder's life and the Little House series through a 21st century lens, exploring...

• if the books stand the test of time,
• if they should still be read to children,
• if the flaws in Laura's narrative, like the derogatory depictions of Blacks and American Indians and the way in which Rose crafted her political messages into the Little House series, means they should be removed from bookshelves, and 
• if those who grew up reading the Little House series feel the same after reading the books as adults.

Other topics that Wilder covers are how much Rose' contributed to her mother's books, the Little House on the Prairie television series starring Michael Landon, and how Laura's books created an entire business empire that flourishes even today. Along the way, the author visited numerous historical sites and held interviews with several people, including Little House on the Prairie's Melissa Gilbert and Caroline Fraser, author of Prairie Fires. 

I also caught up this week with the Wilder on the Prairie podcast. Author Annie Kontor brings listeners back to the Little House books, each show covering one chapter in the book series. The September 11th episode covered chapter 11 from On the Banks of Plum Creek. 

This show is all about Annie's thoughts and research that tie into Laura's books. Show notes will often include photos, links to articles, videos, or recipes. Other than mentioning from time to time when offensive content might appear in a chapter, Annie focuses more on the times in which the books are set, what daily life was like, and other interesting tidbits. 

If you enjoy reviewing history through a more enlightened point of view, Wilder would be a good choice. If you're looking to learn more about Laura's life and times in which she lived, Wilder on the Prairie would be a good choice. Those performing research for school papers might also find Wilder on the Prairie helpful. 

Available Now: Back to the Prairie by Melissa Gilbert

I bought this new book from Melissa Gilbert when it came out. I am in the middle of reading it now. Did any of you buy it yet?

The New York Times bestselling author and star of Little House on the Prairie returns with a new hilarious and heartfelt memoir chronicling her journey from Hollywood to a ramshackle house in the Catskills during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Known for her childhood role as Laura Ingalls Wilder on the classic NBC show Little House on the Prairie, Melissa Gilbert has spent nearly her entire life in Hollywood. From Dancing with the Stars to a turn in politics, she was always on the lookout for her next project. She just had no idea that her latest one would be completely life changing.

When her husband introduces her to the wilds of rural Michigan, Melissa begins to fall back in love with nature. And when work takes them to New York, they find a rustic cottage in the Catskill Mountains to call home. But “rustic” is a generous description for the state of the house, requiring a lot of blood, sweat, and tears for the newlyweds to make habitable.

When the pandemic descends on the world, it further nudges Melissa out of the spotlight and into the woods. She trades Botox treatments for DIY projects, power lunching for gardening and raising chickens, and soon her life is rediscovered anew in her own little house in the Catskills.

Visit Goodreads to purchase from your preferred retailer. 

Little House on the Prairie Cast Reunion Thursday on Home & Family

This Thursday, October 8, on Hallmark Channel's "Home & Family" the cast of "Little House on the Prairie" is reuniting! The cast including Melissa Gilbert (Laura Ingalls), Dean Butler (Almanzo Wilder), Matthew Labyorteaux (Albert Ingalls) Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson) and Lindsay Greenbush (Carrie Ingalls) will be featured throughout the episode. Segment highlights:

- A guided tour of the show's original filming locations with Alison Arngrim
- A tribute to Michael Landon (Charles Ingalls) by his children Michael Landon Jr. and Leslie Landon with never before seen family photos

- Melissa Gilbert will share a recipe from her cookbook (gingersnap pumpkin pie) and discuss her decision to run for congress

- Dean Butler shares a Christmas DIY from his own family traditions
- Home & Family's Debbie Matenopulous talks about Laura Ingalls and offers travel tips to trace the cross-country journey of the Ingalls family

Home & Family airs Weekdays at 10/9c on Hallmark

New Books in my Laura Ingalls Wilder Collection

There is a little competition going on in my bookshelf. Civil War fiction and non-fiction titles are vying for more room against my ever growing Laura Ingalls Wilder collection. Here are a few titles I have added lately.

I have skimmed this one, but not really gotten much into it yet. That's on my to-do list.

It is possible you can't be a true Laura fan unless you own this one. 

Just received this one from the Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society this week. 

Melissa Gilbert and Dean Butler Remember The Last Farewell

I found this on YouTube when I was watching a tour of Melissa Gilbert's home. I'm guessing this is something special that Dean produced to go with the Little House on the Prairie Set that included all nine seasons and the movies.

It was nice to see Dean and Melissa together again. I also loved Richard (Mr. Oleson) Bull's narration.

Melissa Gilbert Cast for Season 14 of Dancing With the Stars

Today, ABC announced the cast for Season 14 of Dancing With the Stars. Headliners include, Little House on the Prairie star, Melissa Gilbert.

While I don't watch this show at all, I can't say I'm surprised. Gilbert got into shape dancing for Little House on the Prairie, the Musical. She should do well on DWTS. I was also excited to see Disney Channel star, Roshon Fegan in the line up. He's my favorite character from Shake It Up. I might have to record a few of these episodes to catch Gilbert and Fegan in action.

Movie Review: The Christmas Pageant

Photo credit Hallmark Channel

Director Vera Parks (Melissa Gilbert) has a career that is going nowhere fast. Labeled as difficult, she gets fired from several jobs in a row. Her manager Peter (Steve Lawrence) gets her a job directing a small town Christmas pageant.

Things go from bad to worse quickly. While some are eager to work with her, others are destined to fight any change Vera suggests. Vera has problems adjusting from her glamorous life in New York City, to the simple life in Ashton Falls. Then she runs into her ex-fiancé, Jack Harmond (Robert Mailhouse). Vera is soon considering whether she should return to New York or stick it out in Ashton Falls.

If ever there was a movie that Melissa Gilbert was born to star in, it's The Christmas Pageant. If Little House on the Prairie was set in modern times, then the storyline from this movie would be a perfect fit. A woman whose life centers around her career and posh city life, ends up in a simple town where there is one mail carrier and everyone knows each other. It's not long before Ashton Falls and its people begin to grow on Vera.

A blend of funny and sweet, this is a classic Hallmark romance. With a superb cast and quaint setting, you can't go wrong. If you are looking for a story that will touch your heart and remind you of the joys of being home, be sure to catch this movie on the Hallmark Channel in December. The next showing is Wednesday, December 21st at 10/9 Central.

Archive of American Television Interview with Melissa Gilbert

Melissa Gilbert (Laura Ingalls, LHOP NBC) was interviewed for the Archive of American Television. "Founded in 1997, the Television Academy Foundation’s Archive of American Television has conducted over 700 long-form interviews (over 3000 hours) with the legends of television."

You can find her interview at http://emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/melissa-gilbert

She talks not only about her years on Little House On the Prairie, but her early career, her family, her production company, and many of the special people she's worked with.

Did anyone catch her recent movie on Hallmark Channel? I have it The Christmas Pageant on my DVR, but haven't watched it yet. If you have, what did  you think?

Melissa Gilbert to Star in The Christmas Pageant on Hallmark

Photo credit: Hallmark Channel

 
Melissa Gilbert is starring in a new seasonal movie titled, The Christmas Pageant, on the Hallmark Channel. It premiers this Sunday, December 11th at 8 PM EST.
 
She visited The Talk (a show where her younger sister Sara is a co-host) yesterday to promote the movie. You can see the full episode at http://www.cbs.com/shows/the_talk/video/2174095228/the-talk-12-6-2011
In addition, she will be on the Today Show tomorrow to talk about it.

You can find out more information on the movie at Hallmark's website http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/microsites/cast.aspx?simscode=419-26631&pageid=3502&castid=3346.

Prairie Tale by Melissa Gilbert -- Book Review

Melissa Gilbert shares her life in a courageous, edgy memoir. In Prairie Tale, Gilbert tells the story of her complicated life that was very different from the life of the character who made her famous as a child star, Laura Ingalls.

Talking about the loving and often tense relationship with her mother, the death of her father, her time hanging with the Brat Pack, her television career, Michael Landon, and more, Gilbert opens her heart to draw the reader into her life story. Gilbert shares how she met her biological family, dealt with feelings of being unloved because she was given up for adoption, how she buried the pain with alcohol, and eventually overcame her addiction.

Inviting readers into her roles as wife, mother, and actor, Gilbert shares her story with eloquence. Perhaps this is why the many vulgarities caught me off guard. Not because I expect her to be as wholesome as her characters, but because unlike Alison Arngrim's memoir, where the style allowed for the inclusion of some vulgarities without interrupting the flow of the prose, the cruder words in Prairie Tale, seem to be dropped into the middle of an elegant story and leave you wondering if they are placed there for effect. This took away from my overall enjoyment of the book, but I still thought Gilbert did an excellent job with how she brought the reader along her journey.

Little House on the Prairie fans and fans of Melissa Gilbert will enjoy this one, even if the language is a bit shocking.


Title: Prairie Tale
Author: Melissa Gilbert
Publisher: Simon Spotlight Entertainment
ISBN-10: 1416599142
ISBN-13: 978-1416599142
SRP: $26.00

Survey Results and New Laura Ingalls Wilder Project

Very interesting survey results this month. We were talking about Melissa (Sue) Anderson's new book, The Way I See It: A Look Back at My Life on Little House.

I asked if you had read this autobiography. Surprisingly, most of those who voted didn't even know she had written a book. The two Melissas and Alison Arngrim writing books has been such the topic of conversation in our LHOP circles that I figured everyone must have heard about it by now. Silly me!

Most of the people who read the book said they loved it, but some didn't care for it. Others don't have plans to buy it. A couple of readers had the book on order when they voted.

This is certainly the year for Little House fans. The shipping date for Alison's book is listed on my order as June 21st, but I am hoping it will ship early. Out of the three, this is the one I wanted to read most.

Just in case you didn't know, Dean Butler has completed his Laura Ingalls Wilder documentary through the Legacy Documentaries brand of his production company, Peak Moore Enterprises, Inc. Some of my online chums met up with Dean this past weekend in Sioux Falls, SD, where he showed this documentary. They gave it two thumbs up! We'll keep you posted when we hear anything new on this.

My friends also got a chance to see Little House on the Prairie: The Musical while in Sioux Falls. To say I am extremely jealous would be an understatement.

I appreciate you taking the time to pop in here. I love talking about my favorite show and America's favorite pioneer.

And the Survey Says...

It was no big surprise that most of those who voted in our recent survey said they were planning on buying Alison Arngrim's and Melissa Sue Anderson's books when they come out this spring. An equal amount (7%) said either they were not planning on buying them or that they were buying Melissa's book. It looks like none of our readers plans to buy only Alison's book.

I go back to my earlier post about Almanzo's birthday and how we're not quite sure what the future will bring for fans of Laura. It certainly seems like a good time to be a Little House on the Prairie fan, with three of the major stars from the series coming out with books over the past year.

We wish these ladies well. Maybe Dean will start writing down his story soon.

A diva can hope, can't she?

Spring 2010 Brings Autobiographies from Little House on the Prairie Cast Members

It looks like the time for Little House on the Prairie cast member autobiographies is here. Melissa Gilbert's Prairie Tale is a New York Times Bestseller. And this year will see the release of two more cast autobiographies, one from Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson) and the other by Melissa Sue Anderson (Mary Ingalls Kendall).

I own Prairie Tale, and plan to review it at The Book Connection, hopefully before I receive Arngrim's and Anderson's books, which I already have on preorder at Amazon. These books are due to come out around the same time, and I've received notices from Amazon that they will be shipped earlier than originally expected. Anderson's book looks like it will be out about a month before Arngrim's.



There aren't many details out about Arngrim's book, that I could quickly find, anyway, except that the title is Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated, and that it will be released around June 15th by a new imprint of HarperCollins, It Books.

Anderson's book is being released at the beginning of May from Globe Pequot. This is the product description of The Way I See It: A Look Back at My Life on Little House:


When other girls her age were experiencing their first crushes, Melissa Sue Anderson was receiving handwritten marriage proposals from fans as young, and younger, than she was. When other girls were dreaming of their first kiss, Melissa was struggling through hers in front of a camera. From age eleven in 1974 until she left the show in 1981, Melissa Anderson literally grew up before the viewers of Little House on the Prairie.

Melissa, as Mary, is remembered by many as “the blind sister”—and she was the only actor in the series to be nominated for an Emmy. In The Way I See It, she takes readers onto the set and inside the world of the iconic series created by Michael Landon, who, Melissa discovered, was not perfect, as much as he tried to be. In this memoir she also shares her memories of working with guest stars like Todd Bridges, Lou Gossett, Jr., Mariette Hartley, Sean Penn, Patricia Neal, and Johnny Cash.

In addition to stories of life on the set, Melissa offers revealing looks at her relationships off-set with her costars, including the other Melissa (Melissa Gilbert) and Alison Arngrim, who portrayed Nellie Oleson on the show. And she relates stories of her guest appearances on iconic programs such as The Love Boat and The Brady Bunch.

Filled with personal, revealing anecdotes and memorabilia from the Little House years, this book is also a portrait of a child star who became a successful adult actress and a successful adult. These are stories from “the other Ingalls sister” that have never been told.

I wish both ladies great success with their books. Could there be more cast autobiographies coming in the future? A Dean Butler one would certainly make my day.

New Laura and Almanzo Story at Fanfiction.net

I believe most of you know that I write Little House fan fiction stories. In the beginning, I tried my best to mix real life and the show but, at some point, fans of these stories requested I fill in the gaps in Laura and Almanzo's romance that inevitably are created by the limits of television: the need to have a one-hour storyline and provide a season's worth of episodes that focus on more than two characters.

I have taken my task seriously and have written at least sixty stories based upon Little House on the Prairie, the majority of which use the show's characters as inspiration.

Whenever I write a story featuring Laura and Almanzo, I have to admit that I visualize Melissa Gilbert and Dean Butler acting it out. This helps me to create stories that, for the most part, stay true to the characters, and the end product is a better story because I can include Beth's and Manly's mannerisms and facial expressions from watching episodes over and again.

My latest story is titled, Finding A Way. It takes places during Season 9, after the episode A Child With No Name, which is where Baby Boy Wilder is born and dies.

One of the limits of television is that you can't get inside a character's head visually. So much can take place in a character's mind--and often does--which is why I feel that Stephen King's books don't always make it to film well. King is the master of internal thought and often uses dreams to relay what his characters are thinking and experiencing. The advantage to this limitation, however, is that viewers who wanted to get inside those characters' heads have created stories that honor the essence of the show and its characters and help to fill in those missing elements. That is what I try to do with my fan fiction.

In Finding A Way, Laura struggles to move on even though six months have passed since Baby Boy Wilder's death. At the end of A Child With No Name, a repentant Laura announces happily to Doc Baker that she and Almanzo are thinking of having another baby. As a mother, that doesn't seem possible to me. Laura's grief over the loss of her son wouldn't disappear just because Doc Baker ended up saving Rose's life. But again, the episode is only one hour long, and Landon and his writers certainly came up with the best way to close out the episode by having Laura see the light, making the way for Doc Baker to stay in Walnut Grove.

What I attempted to do with this story is show that Laura and Almanzo's marriage and life didn't just go back to normal. There was a time when Laura grieved deeply for her son and was afraid of getting pregnant again. Almanzo struggled, too, but in a different way. As he tried to get closer to Laura, she moved further away from him. He felt lonely and isolated, much as he did when he thought he would never walk again ("Days of Sunshine, Days of Shadow").

I'm not sure how others will feel about this story, but I am truly thrilled with how it turned out. If you are interested in reading it, you can find it at www.fanfiction.net.

Back to School - Season 6

Now that Labor Day has come and almost gone, thoughts turn to school days. My girls actually started last week, but they don't do much during that first week. Homework will start tomorrow--UGH--and the kids will really start getting down to work.

It probably isn't surprising, then, that my thoughts also turned to the first episode of Season 6 - "Back to School."  Michael Landon began Little House on the Prairie that year (Sept. 1979) with a two-part episode that introduced new characters: Eliza Jane Wilder and her handsome brother, Almanzo. Eliza Jane became the new school teacher, and her brother Almanzo got a job working at the Feed and Seed, in addition to taking care of the Wilder farm.

The introduction of Almanzo was important for viewers because fans of the books knew that this character would be the man Laura Ingalls ended up marrying. I can imagine the pressure that put on Landon and Dean Butler, who portrayed Almanzo Wilder.



As we discussed last month--though most of that conversation took place at Facebook--the romance that Landon and his writers created is very different from what fans of the books know. In the books, it is Almanzo who pursues Laura. On the show, however, Melissa Gilbert's character, Laura, had a huge crush on Almanzo from the moment she saw him. Caught somewhere between childhood and womanhood, a growing and changing Laura hops and prays Almanzo will see her as older than she is. This would be the way their relationship played out through most of Season 6, until the episode "Sweet Sixteen," where Almanzo finally realizes Laura isn't a little girl anymore.

But I'm moving ahead too quickly. In "Back to School," we also see Nellie Oleson graduate, leaving the Walnut Grove school--and Laura--behind. This must have been hard on poor Laura, who is already trying to prove to her pa and Almanzo that she's no longer a child. And what makes matters worse is that Nellie thinks Almanzo is dreamy too; not to mention that Harriet is playing matchmaker for her daughter by inviting Zaldamo--as she calls him--to dinner at Nellie's Restaurant, an unexpected and unwanted graduation gift from Nellie's parents.

What results from this matchmaking attempt is one of the best Laura and Nellie fights of the series. Even though it seems that Nellie has it all over Laura, it's usually Nellie who is miserable in the end. This episode is no different.

Laura agrees to cook dinner for the potential couple because neither Nellie nor her mother can cook anything. But Nellie doesn't want Almanzo to know she can't cook, so Laura is kept hidden in the kitchen, which gives her ample time to shake cayenne pepper on the chicken instead of cinnamon. One bite of that chicken, and Almanzo and Nellie are running for the pump to drink like fish and cool off their burning tongues.



Not one to take losing lightly, Nellie vows revenge; and boy does she get it. Convinced that the only way her father and Almanzo will see her as a woman, Laura decides to take her final exam so that she can graduate. Problem is, Charles has been out of work after being hit by a mill stone, and they can't afford to buy Laura the books she needs to study. Determined to pass that test, Laura begs Nellie to let her borrow her books, which Nellie does. Even though Miss Wilder has told Laura that the test will be mostly history, Nellie manages to convince Laura that Miss Wilder is lying to protect her job. Can't have any young, new teachers stealing her school, you know. So, guess what? Laura doesn't pass the test, and she is more than upset.

A very satisfied Nellie stumbles upon a crying Laura on her way back from delivering cookies to Almanzo at the farm. Gee, there might have been a bit more history on the test than she remembered. You think! So, Laura proceeds to give Nellie more than a piece of her mind.



Don't you know that Almanzo picks this very moment to be driving back into town and comes upon Nellie and Laura in the watering hole. He pulls Laura off Nellie and brings her back to his place to get washed up. He gives her a robe and something to warm her up, then gets her to realize that not passing the test isn't the end of the world. 

What does he get for his gallant behavior? Almanzo gets punched by Charles, who sure isn't happy to see Laura mooning all over the much older Almanzo while dressed in his robe. Seems an angry Nellie finally dragged her muddy body back to town and told Charles that she saw Laura and Almanzo kissing. We all remember what kind of temper Charles has, right?

Everything ends up okay though. Pa apologizes to Half-pint for the misunderstanding, and they both blame Nellie for everything that happened. Then Laura makes them a picnic lunch, and they go fishing.

"Back to School" is one of my favorite Little House episodes. It's where my crush on Dean Butler began. We see Laura struggling in that nasty place called adolescence--which we can all relate to; Pa continues his battle against being okay with his Half-pint growing up; and Nellie and Laura still fight from time to time to make things interesting. This is classic Little House at its best. It still amazes me that after all these years, new generations of fans are discovering and enjoying the show that I grew up with.

Survey results

Last month's survey results didn't surprise me at all. Over 50% of our readers said they would be purchasing Melissa Gilbert's autobiography, Prairie Tale. Gilbert has been making the rounds of TV and radio interviews to promote the book. It is getting great reviews and is currently #1 on Amazon.com in three subcategories of Biographies and Memoirs.

Dean Butler came out and endorsed the book at his blog this week. I haven't bought it yet and I'm not sure if I am going to. While I never expected that Melissa Gilbert is any more perfect than the rest of us, there are just some things I would rather not know about a girl who I grew up watching on TV, whose TV family I wanted to be a part of. I'm not sure I want to let go of that fantasy yet.

You can find some reviews of Melissa's book at:

Entertainment Weekly

Amazon

Goodreads

Thanks for participating in our survey. Look for a new survey soon!

Dean Butler to Appear in Sioux Falls, SD

Argus Leader Media has reported that Little House on the Prairie's Dean Butler (Almanzo Wilder) will be on hand at The Washington Pavillion of Arts and Science on June 27, 2009 to kick off sales for Little House on the Prairie: The Musical, which will be playing at the Great Hall in June 2010.

As most people know, Melissa Gilbert, who portrayed Laura Ingalls Wilder on Little House on the Prairie has been cast in the role of Caroline (Ma) Ingalls in the musical.

Gilbert also released her autobiography this month. Prairie Tale is available at Amazon.com.

Butler will also sign autographs and discuss his time on the show. Additional activities include: rope making, prairie hairstyles, and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant Performers. Please visit www.washingtonpavilion.org for more information.