Wed, Feb 8 at 7 pm $27; Member $23; 30 & Under $15 literature Selected Shorts

Welcome to the world of the wacky and endearing New Yorker cartoonist and stories about her most favorite least favorite things.  Chast shows appealingly gloomy cartoons from her new book, What I Hate from A to Z, and introduces stories read by Jerry Stiller (Seinfeld), Anne Meara (Sex and the City),  and Stephen Lang (Avatar) that feature her favorite combo -- humor and dread -- by gothic humorist Shirley Jackson, dark comic genius Bruce Jay Friedman.

The evening will include a reading of "Havahart" by Belle Boggs, performed by Merritt Weaver (Nurse Jackie), from the Selected Shorts Commissioning Project.

Wed, Feb 22 at 7 pm $27; Member $23; 30 & Under $15 literature Selected Shorts

Come celebrate 10 years of One Story, the unique, award-winning literary magazine that publishes one short story at a time. Co-founders Maribeth Batcha and Selected Shorts literary commentator Hannah Tinti will be joined by contributors Tom Barbash, L.Annette Binder, Seth Fried and Jim Shepard, who will introduce their stories. The stories will be performed by Tom Cavanagh (Royal Pains, Ed) and others.  All ticket holders will receive a free issue of the magazine!

Sat, Mar 3 at 3 pm $20, students/seniors $15. Call (310) 440-7300 literature Selected Shorts

Objects of Desire: Stuff Happens 

A great lineup of actors from stage and screen read funny, passionate, and mysterious classic and modern tales about objects of desire. Historical, religious, magical, humorous, beloved, or bewitched-every object tells a story. Cast includes Leonard Nimoy, Tate Donovan, and Corey Stoll.

Sat, Mar 3 at 7 pm $20, students/seniors $15. Call (310) 440-7300 literature Selected Shorts

Objects of Desire: The Lives of Things

A great lineup of actors from stage and screen read funny, passionate, and mysterious classic and modern tales about objects of desire. Historical, religious, magical, humorous, beloved, or bewitched-every object tells a story. Cast: Jane Kaczmarek, Isaiah Sheffer, Bryan O'Beirn, and Kate Burton

Sun, Mar 4 at 3 pm $20, students/seniors $15. Call (310) 440-7300 literature Selected Shorts

Objects of Desire: Lost and Found

A great lineup of actors from stage and screen read funny, passionate, and mysterious classic and modern tales about objects of desire. Historical, religious, magical, humorous, beloved, or bewitched-every object tells a story. Cast includes Kirsten Vangsness, Edi Gathegi, and Robert Sean Leonard.

Mon, Mar 5 at 7:30 pm $37; Reduced $32; Student $15 literature Selected Shorts

Selected Shorts returns to the Dallas Museum of Art for an evening of stories about Behaving Badly by Stephen King, A.M. Homes and Lewis Robinson. Performances by host Isaiah Sheffer, Michael Imperioli and Jane Kaczmarek.

Wed, Mar 14 at 7 pm $27; Member $23; 30 & Under $15 literature Selected Shorts

NPR's Planet Money, the public radio team that demystifies the world of money, introduces an evening of funny, fun, smart, lively, and poignant tales.

Tonight is a MEMBER MIXER! Enjoy a complimentary drink in the Members Lounge during intermission. Click here to become a member of Symphony Space.

Thu, Mar 29 at 7:30 pm $29-$39 literature Selected Shorts

Springtime, Sex & Baseball!

Isaiah Sheffer is joined by series favorites Tony winner Rene Auberjonois (Star Trek Deep Space 9 and Boston Legal) and multiple Emmy nominee Christina Pickles (St. Elsewhere, Friends) for an evening of hilarious and unforgettable short stories about baseball and romance. Stories include W.P. Kinsella's ode to the pure pleasure of the game in a stadium with grass, "The Thrill of the Grass, and Padgett Powell's tale of an eccentric Southern couple's wacky and endearing road to love, "The Winnowing of Ms. Schuping."

Sat, Mar 31 at 8 pm $30 - $50 literature Selected Shorts

Shorts Host Isaiah Sheffer is joined by series favorites Kirsten Vangsness (Criminal Minds) and multiple Emmy nominee Christina Pickles (St. Elsewhere, Friends) for an evening of hilarious and provocative tales about people in unexpected predicaments.

Sun, Apr 1 at 2 pm and 7 pm All seats $35. Half price if you're under the age of 30. literature Selected Shorts

Jill Eikenberry and Michael Tucker (longtime leads of the hit TV series L.A. Law) join host Isaiah Sheffer to perform a trio of luscious, hilarious and provocative tales of food and love. Audiences can enjoy Selected Shorts live in performance on April 1 at 2pm and 7pm in the Roda Theatre. This event is produced by Berkeley Rep in association with Jonathan Reinis Productions.

Wed, Apr 11 at 7 pm $27; Member $23; 30 & Under $15 literature Selected Shorts Gertrude's Paris

Stories by writers from the Bohemian circles of Montparnasse and Montmartre in the early 1900s alongside the work of today's Brooklyn writers.

Wed, Apr 25 at 7 pm $27; Member $23; 30 & Under $15 literature Selected Shorts

The friends and authors of the novels White Teeth and Brooklyn join forces to present stories they love.  Stories performed by Alec Baldwin and others.

Wed, Jun 6 at 7 pm $27; Member $23; 30 & Under $15 literature Selected Shorts

If objects could talk, what stories they would tell? Historical, religious, beloved, passed along, cast aside — every object tells a story.