Tag Archives: audio shorts

I am woefully behind!  I have ten not-yet-listened-to podcasts of one hour each, short stories read by professional actors, live on stage at Symphony Space in New York City.  Broadcast by Public Radio International, I’m not sure if they’re even available on the regular radio here in Chicago, because it doesn’t matter – the podcast is radio on demand.   (I subscribe through iTunes, but there are a number of outlets.)

I really must get to them soon.  Sherman Alexie has a short story read by David Strathairn.  Larry Keith reads a Dave Barry story.  James Naughton reads a vintage crime story, first published in 1935!  A regular on the Daily Show reads a story by Bram Stoker, paired with Poe’s The Masque of the Red Death, read by Fionnula Flannigan.  Each podcast features from two to four tales, depending upon length.

Especially exciting for me is a new opportunity, Selected Shorts-wise.  My son and I will be vacationing in New York soon, and we have tickets to see Selected Shorts live!  It’s a big thrill.  The evening features “an eclectic mix of stories that found their inspiration in music.”  Here’s the line-up for the evening:

Laurie Anderson performs Hannah Tinti‘s (author of The Good Thief and editor of One Story Magazine) “Milestones” inspired by Miles Davis’ classic piece of the same name.  Brandon Lewis (trumpet), David Frazier (drums) and Michael Forzano (bass) will perform a selection from  “Milestones.”

Kelli O’Hara (South Pacific) and two-time Tony winner James Naughton sing and read a story by E.L. Doctorow about the inspiration of the song “Stardust.”

Kelli O’Hara also performs Carson McCullers‘ “Wunderkind,” drawn from the author’s own failed teenage career as a concert pianist; her reading will be preceded by a performance of Beethoven’s Opus 26 by pianist Derin Oge.

This mix of music and literature should be especially apropos as my son is a vocal performance major!  Should be fun.