Selected Shorts

12/01/2025

On the Selected Shorts episode, Classics with a Twist, Jim Parsons reads Michael Cunningham's witty reworking of Jack and the Beanstalk, "Jacked." Enjoy an excerpt of his performance here, and then listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts. https://bit.ly/4pf07Xp

11/28/2025

We were thrilled to hear that our friends Rabih Alameddine and Omar El Akkad were winners of this year's National Book Awards! Read more at:

The winners of this year’s National Book Awards have just been announced at a ritzy gala in downtown Manhattan. Rabih Alameddine’s The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother) won the …

11/25/2025

On this week's Selected Shorts episode, Just the Thing, actors Thom Sesma, Marian Seldes, and Mike Doyle perform stories by Shinichi Hoshi, Allan Gurganus, and Ray Bradbury. Take a listen wherever you get your podcasts. https://bit.ly/48yKuVk

Images: Headshots of Thom Sesma, Marian Seldes, and Mike Doyle.

11/19/2025

On Dec 10, Selected Shorts joins forces with Slate’s hit podcast Death, S*x & Money for an evening of powerful storytelling about “the things we think about a lot and need to talk about more.” Hosted by Anna Sale, with readings by Richard Kind and more! Join us in-person or over the livestream. https://bit.ly/4oPNEdb

Image: A rotation featuring Anna Sale and Richard Kind in front of a red background. The logo for Death, S*x & Money is also featured, and text that says, "Wed, Dec 10 at 7PM."

11/19/2025

On this week's Selected Shorts episode, Classics with a Twist, Sara Bareilles, Mike Doyle, and Jim Parsons perform imaginative and funny reworkings of classic stories by authors Ginny Hogan, Anthony Marra, and Michael Cunningham. Take a listen wherever you get your podcasts. https://bit.ly/4pf07Xp
(Photos by Sean Sime)

Images: Sara Bareilles, Mike Doyle, and Jim Parsons stand on the stage in front of a microphone reading a story.

11/18/2025

Last week, we celebrated 250 Years of Jane Austen with a special evening of Selected Shorts! Thank you to host Hugh Dancy, Adelle Waldman, Sophie Carmen-Jones, Wyatt Cenac, and Ann Harada, and to everyone who joined us in the theater and over the livestream!
(Photos by Ahad Subzwari)

Images: 1: The artists stand backstage in front of a pink background, smiling.
2: The artists stand on the stage, taking a bow.

11/11/2025

On this week's Selected Shorts episode, It’s About Time, actors Stockard Channing and Kirsten Vangsness perform stories by Helen Phillips and Anita Felicelli about how time controls our past, present, and future. Take a listen wherever you get your podcasts. https://bit.ly/4hUNIpi

Images: Headshots of Stockard Channing and Kirsten Vangsness.

11/05/2025

Our cast for next week's Selected Shorts: 250 Years of Jane Austen is complete! This entertaining evening of fiction & letters inspired by or written by Austen will be hosted by Hugh Dancy, with commentary from Adelle Waldman and readings by Sophie Carmen-Jones, Wyatt Cenac, and Ann Harada. Join us in-person or over the livestream! https://bit.ly/4oU2QFG

Image: A rotation featuring Hugh Dancy, Adelle Waldman, Sophie Carmen-Jones, Wyatt Cenac, and Ann Harada in front of a blue background, with text that says, "Selected Shorts: 250 Years of Jane Austen, Wed, Nov 12 at 7PM."

11/04/2025

On this week's Selected Shorts episode, Accidental Revelations, actors Geoffrey Arend and Michael Urie perform stories by Kevin Brockmeier and Nick White. Take a listen wherever you get your podcasts. https://bit.ly/3JvxciO
(Photos by Kyle Espeleta)

Images: Geoffrey Arend and Michael Urie stand on the stage in front of a microphone reading a story.

10/29/2025

Last week, we celebrated The Best American Short Stories with captivating readings of a few of the stories from this year's anthology! Many thanks to Cynthia Nixon, Ivan Hernandez, and Richard Masur, and to everyone who joined us in the theater and over the livestream.
(Photos by RebeccaJMichelson)

Images: 1: The artists stand on the stage, smiling.
2: Cynthia Nixon stands on the stage in front of a microphone reading a story.
3: Ivan Hernandez stands on the stage in front of a microphone reading a story.
4: Richard Masur stands on the stage in front of a microphone reading a story.

10/28/2025

On this week's Selected Shorts episode, Fooling Yourself, actors Colton Dunn, Suzy Nakamura, and Kirsten Vangsness perform stories by Simon Rich, Betsuyaku Minoru, and Lauren Pruneski. Take a listen wherever you get your podcasts. https://bit.ly/48N8VyZ
(Photos by Kyle Espeleta)

Images: Colton Dunn, Suzy Nakamura, and Kirsten Vangsness stand on the stage in front of a microphone reading a story.

10/24/2025

Ana Gasteyer reads Emma Brewer’s “Think You Deserve Companionship? Apply to Adopt a Dog Today” on the Selected Shorts episode, Off the Leash. Enjoy an excerpt of her performance here, and then listen to the full story wherever you get your podcasts. https://bit.ly/49066uj