Selected Shorts

On Wed we celebrated a century of fiction in @NewYorker with a fantastic evening of Selected Shorts! Many thanks to Deborah Treisman for being a wonderful host, to Ann Harada, Fred Hechinger, @CynthiaNixon, and @LievSchreiber for captivating performances. Photos by Sean Sime.

The second story on our episode, A Celebration of Langston Hughes, is performed by Pauletta Pearson Washington. In “Thank You, M’am," a boy's interaction with a stranger does not go the way he expected. You can listen to the story at: symphonyspace.org/selected-short…

There's still time to enter the 2025 Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize judged by Ottessa Moshfegh! Get published on @ElectricLit, win $1000 and a free 10-week course with @gothamwriters. Submit by March 7! Details at: bit.ly/3GE3N0b

The first story on our episode, A Celebration of Langston Hughes, is read by Teagle F. Bougere, who also hosts this episode. In “Passing," Hughes follows a Black man who becomes distant from his mother due to his efforts to pass as white. symphonyspace.org/selected-short…

The first story on our episode, Stephen King: A Half-Century of Scares, is performed by @carriecoon. She reads an excerpt from King's iconic novel, Carrie. Take a listen! symphonyspace.org/selected-short…

The second story on our episode, Slippery Roads and Fancy Shorts, is read by @THEmikedoyle. In Elizabeth McCracken’s “Robinson Crusoe at the Waterpark,” a couple and their son find themselves in over their heads. Listen at: symphonyspace.org/selected-short…

Writers! Submissions are currently open for the 2025 Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize, judged by Ottessa Moshfegh. The winning work will be performed by an actor in spring 2025 and published on @ElectricLit plus $1000! Submit by March 7 at: bit.ly/3GE3N0b

The final story on this Selected Shorts episode, Banned Books with Judy Blume, is performed by @MaulikPancholy. @DavidSedaris recounts a challenging encounter with a young man in “Bruised." Listen now at: symphonyspace.org/selected-short… (Photo by Kevin Yatarola)

Back by popular demand, Selected Shorts returns to the @montalvoarts in Saratoga, CA on Feb 1! Join actors Justin Kirk, @RichaMoorjani, and @Vangsness for an evening of stories about unexpected conclusions. Get your tickets now! my.montalvoarts.org/2466/2506

As part of this week's Selected Shorts episode, Banned Books with Judy Blume, host @MegWolitzer spoke with @judyblume about the current state of book banning. Enjoy an excerpt of their conversation here, and you can find the full interview at: symphonyspace.org/selected-short…

The second story on this Selected Shorts episode is performed by Catherine O’Hara. Celebrated children’s author Roald Dahl cooks up the perfect murder in “Lamb to the Slaughter." Listen at: symphonyspace.org/selected-short…

The first story on our episode, Banned Books with @judyblume, is read by Troy Iwata. Xu Mason’s witty “Finally a Book that Cannot be Banned” imagines what it would take to write a work that could escape all censure. Listen at: symphonyspace.org/selected-short…

We want to hear your story!

There's a new episode of Too Hot for Radio out now. @SusieEssman performs @maevedunigan's witty story "My Husband, I Vow to Honor You Always Unless..." Enjoy this fun excerpt of Essman's performance, and listen to the episode at: symphonyspace.org/selected-short…

The second story on our episode, The Road Not Taken, is beautifully performed by @SantinoFontana. Tom Perrotta’s “Nine Inches" features a teacher who chaperones a middle-school dance, while also coming to terms with his own past choices. Listen at: symphonyspace.org/selected-short…

The first story on our episode, The Road Not Taken, is read by @ambertamblyn. In “A Woman Driving Alone” by Marie Helene Bertino, a woman travels to see a friend but also seems to be escaping a challenging moment in her life. symphonyspace.org/selected-short… (📸 by Ellen Qbertplaya)

We've assembled an all-star cast for our next Selected Shorts of the season. @ArjunGuptaBK, Jane Kaczmarek, and Richard Kind take the stage to perform stories from 2024 O. Henry Prize Stories. Guest editor @amortowles hosts! Jan 22. Tix at: symphonyspace.org/events/selecte…

The second story on this episode is performed by Dylan Marron. In Marron's “Some News,” a man carefully tracks an old friend on social media, while eyeing his own comparatively feeble accomplishments. Listen at: symphonyspace.org/selected-short…

The first story on our episode, Keeping Score, is read by @hodgman. Simon Rich explores intergenerational competition in the funny “The Tribal Rite of the Strombergs." Take a listen at: symphonyspace.org/selected-short…

The final story on our episode, Playing Games, is read by Colby Minifie. In @SusanPerabo's “Some Say the World,” Parcheesi becomes a way to stay tethered when your whole world threatens to go up in flames. Listen now symphonyspace.org/selected-short…