etown co-host and co-executive producer Helen Forster, a Minnesota native, has extensive experience both on stage and behind the scenes. After studying and performing theatre in Minneapolis , she moved to Telluride, Colorado and became a primary player as an actress, writer and producer with two professional theater companies: SRO, an improvisational comedy troupe modeled on Chicago 's Second City and Plunge Players, a formal theater company led by L.A. director Paul Fagan. During this period, Helen also performed in radio theater productions, co-authored three children's musicals and honed her skills as a vocalist.

In addition to her extensive resume as a performer, Helen has broad production experience. For several years, she was co-owner and co-producer of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, an annual music festival with international acclaim. During this time, she also produced and directed numerous stage productions and live "on-the-air" radio theater pieces.

Since 1991, Helen has co-hosted and co-produced the popular program etown, a live music variety show with an emphasis on greater community understanding and environmental awareness. With her husband, Nick Forster, she oversees virtually all aspects of the production of each live taping and also contributes her skills as a writer. In addition, she is a gifted editor, responsible for transforming the live two-hour etown show into the 59-minute version heard each week on the air.

As etown's co-host, Helen lends her golden-toned voice to both the spoken work and the musical portions of the show (she has provided harmony vocals for guest artists Bruce Cockburn, Beth Orton, Keb'Mo', Patty Larkin, James Taylor, Mavis Staples, John Gorka and more). Outside of etown, she has performed as a vocalist on Prairie Home Companion and in concert across the country. She is also a nationally established commercial voice-over talent.