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Event Program
WED, MAY 08
Hosted by Andy Borowitz
I’m Abraham Lincoln and I Beg Of You, Please Commemorate My Birthday With Mattress Sales by Joe Yan
Performed by Ikechukwu Ufomadu
Seneca Falls for You by Alexandra Petri
Performed by Ophira Eisenberg
Even I, Satan, Am Appalled at the State of the Republican Party by Carlos Greaves
Performed by John Cameron Mitchell
John & Abigail Adams Try Sexting by Alexandra Petri
Performed by Ophira Eisenberg and Ikechukwu Ufomadu
Running for Governor by Mark Twain
Performed by John Cameron Mitchell
A Very Nixon Halloween by Andy Borowitz
Performed by Caroline Aaron
At this performance of Selected Shorts, real-time captioning (CART) will be available in our theater for patrons with hearing loss, deafness, and/or different language and learning needs. CART can be accessed through individual smartphones and tablets at bit.ly/SymphonySpace_Captions.
Caroline Aaron is an actress known for her wide range of theater, film, and television credits, as well as being a published author and playwright. She most recently starred as Rita Cohen in Molly Gordon’s and Nick Lieberman's film Theater Camp. Her additional film credits include Nancy Drew, Edward Scissorhands, Sleepless in Seattle, 21 Jump Street, 22 Jump Street, and Deconstructing Harry. She made her broadway debut in The Iceman Cometh and since then has accumulated many Broadway and off-Broadway credits, including I Hate Hamlet, Social Security, Relatively Speaking, An Imaginary Life, and Madwomen of the West. Along with her repertoire of theater and movie credits, she starred as Shirley Maisel in the Emmy-winning series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and has appeared on Transparent, Episodes, Sex and the City, Grey’s Anatomy, Frasier, all of the CSIs, and all of the Law and Orders. She can be heard in such podcasts series as Listening In, The Pack Podcast, and Around the Sun. Aaron is an alumni and Instructor of Acting at HB Studio in New York City and can currently be seen guest-starring on the series Ghosts and the feature film Between the Temples, which recently premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Upcoming projects include 31 Candles, 4th Dementia, Chanshi, and the Broadway Center Stage production of Bye Bye Birdie at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Caroline Aaron is an actress known for her wide range of theater, film, and television credits, as well as being a published author and playwright. She most recently starred as Rita Cohen in Molly Gordon’s and Nick Lieberman's film Theater Camp. Her additional film credits include Nancy Drew, Edward Scissorhands, Sleepless in Seattle, 21 Jump Street, 22 Jump Street, and Deconstructing Harry. She made her broadway debut in The Iceman Cometh and since then has accumulated many Broadway and off-Broadway credits, including I Hate Hamlet, Social Security, Relatively Speaking, An Imaginary Life, and Madwomen of the West. Along with her repertoire of theater and movie credits, she starred as Shirley Maisel in the Emmy-winning series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and has appeared on Transparent, Episodes, Sex and the City, Grey’s Anatomy, Frasier, all of the CSIs, and all of the Law and Orders. She can be heard in such podcasts series as Listening In, The Pack Podcast, and Around the Sun. Aaron is an alumni and Instructor of Acting at HB Studio in New York City and can currently be seen guest-starring on the series Ghosts and the feature film Between the Temples, which recently premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Upcoming projects include 31 Candles, 4th Dementia, Chanshi, and the Broadway Center Stage production of Bye Bye Birdie at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Andy Borowitz is an award-winning comedian and New York Times bestselling author. He grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and graduated from Harvard College, where he was President of the Harvard Lampoon. He is the creator of The Borowitz Report (BorowitzReport.com), a news satire site with millions of readers around the world. He has contributed humor to The New York Times, Vanity Fair, and The New Yorker, for which he has written more than a thousand pieces. As a storyteller, he hosted Stories at the Moth from 1999 to 2009. As a comedian, he has played to sold-out venues around the world, including during his national tour, Make America Not Embarrassing Again, from 2018 to 2020. His most recent book, Profiles in Ignorance: How America's Politicians Got Dumb and Dumber, was an instant New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Indiebound bestseller, and was named one of the 7 Best Nonfiction Books of fall 2022 by Kirkus Reviews. He is the first-ever winner of the National Press Club’s humor award.
Andy Borowitz is an award-winning comedian and New York Times bestselling author. He grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and graduated from Harvard College, where he was President of the Harvard Lampoon. He is the creator of The Borowitz Report (BorowitzReport.com), a news satire site with millions of readers around the world. He has contributed humor to The New York Times, Vanity Fair, and The New Yorker, for which he has written more than a thousand pieces. As a storyteller, he hosted Stories at the Moth from 1999 to 2009. As a comedian, he has played to sold-out venues around the world, including during his national tour, Make America Not Embarrassing Again, from 2018 to 2020. His most recent book, Profiles in Ignorance: How America's Politicians Got Dumb and Dumber, was an instant New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Indiebound bestseller, and was named one of the 7 Best Nonfiction Books of fall 2022 by Kirkus Reviews. He is the first-ever winner of the National Press Club’s humor award.
Ophira Eisenberg is a standup comedian, writer, and the host of the new comedy podcast Parenting Is a Joke with iHeart Radio and Pretty Good Friends. She also hosted NPR’s Ask Me Another, where she interviewed hundreds of celebrities, including Sir Patrick Stewart, Rosie Perez, Yo-Yo Ma, Awkwafina, Roxane Gay, Nick Kroll, Chelsea Handler, and more. She’s appeared on Comedy Central, This Week at The Comedy Cellar, Kevin Hart’s LOL Network, HBO’s Girls, Gotham Live, The Late Late Show, The Today Show, and VH-1. Eisenberg is a regular host and storyteller on The Moth Radio Hour, and her stories are included in three of The Moth’s bestselling collections, including the most recent: How to Tell a Story: The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from The Moth. Her memoir, Screw Everyone: Sleeping My Way to Monogamy, was optioned for a television series, and her new comedy special, Plant-Based Jokes, is streaming on YouTube.
Ophira Eisenberg is a standup comedian, writer, and the host of the new comedy podcast Parenting Is a Joke with iHeart Radio and Pretty Good Friends. She also hosted NPR’s Ask Me Another, where she interviewed hundreds of celebrities, including Sir Patrick Stewart, Rosie Perez, Yo-Yo Ma, Awkwafina, Roxane Gay, Nick Kroll, Chelsea Handler, and more. She’s appeared on Comedy Central, This Week at The Comedy Cellar, Kevin Hart’s LOL Network, HBO’s Girls, Gotham Live, The Late Late Show, The Today Show, and VH-1. Eisenberg is a regular host and storyteller on The Moth Radio Hour, and her stories are included in three of The Moth’s bestselling collections, including the most recent: How to Tell a Story: The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from The Moth. Her memoir, Screw Everyone: Sleeping My Way to Monogamy, was optioned for a television series, and her new comedy special, Plant-Based Jokes, is streaming on YouTube.
John Cameron Mitchell is the co-creator of Hedwig and the Angry Inch and director of the films Shortbus, Rabbit Hole, and How to Talk to Girls at Parties. His television acting credits include Joe vs. Carole, The Sandman, Shrill, Girls, and The Good Fight. He tours with a Bowie-themed concert, Black Star Symphony, and a career retrospective called Cassette Roulette, which will run at Joe's Pub this fall. With Bryan Weller he created the musical podcast series Anthem: Homunculus starring Glenn Close, Patti Lupone, and Laurie Anderson. His next podcast series, Cancellation Island, stars Holly Hunter and will come out this summer; both were produced by Topic Studios.
John Cameron Mitchell is the co-creator of Hedwig and the Angry Inch and director of the films Shortbus, Rabbit Hole, and How to Talk to Girls at Parties. His television acting credits include Joe vs. Carole, The Sandman, Shrill, Girls, and The Good Fight. He tours with a Bowie-themed concert, Black Star Symphony, and a career retrospective called Cassette Roulette, which will run at Joe's Pub this fall. With Bryan Weller he created the musical podcast series Anthem: Homunculus starring Glenn Close, Patti Lupone, and Laurie Anderson. His next podcast series, Cancellation Island, stars Holly Hunter and will come out this summer; both were produced by Topic Studios.
Ikechukwu Ufomadu is an Emmy-nominated, Drama Desk Award–winning actor, writer, and comedian, named a “Comedian You Should and Will Know” by Vulture/New York Magazine and a “Comic to Look Out For” by Time Out New York. He co-wrote and stars in Inspector Ike and Words with Ike, which earned him an Emmy nomination for Best Actor in a Short Form Series. His solo show, Amusements, played a sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe and is currently touring. Ufomadu has written for Ziwe, Stephen Colbert Presents Tooning Out the News, and Paid Off. On screen, he can be seen in Judas and the Black Messiah, Los Espookys, Three Busy Debras, Joe Pera Talks with You, and Your Monster. He has performed at venues including The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, SXSW, The Public Theater, Joe’s Pub, Ars Nova, New York Comedy Festival, and the Netflix is a Joke Festival. He was in the world premiere production of Clare Barron’s Dance Nation. Ufomadu was an inaugural recipient of the Jerome Foundation Artist Fellowship. Upcoming projects include the film The French Italian.
Ikechukwu Ufomadu is an Emmy-nominated, Drama Desk Award–winning actor, writer, and comedian, named a “Comedian You Should and Will Know” by Vulture/New York Magazine and a “Comic to Look Out For” by Time Out New York. He co-wrote and stars in Inspector Ike and Words with Ike, which earned him an Emmy nomination for Best Actor in a Short Form Series. His solo show, Amusements, played a sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe and is currently touring. Ufomadu has written for Ziwe, Stephen Colbert Presents Tooning Out the News, and Paid Off. On screen, he can be seen in Judas and the Black Messiah, Los Espookys, Three Busy Debras, Joe Pera Talks with You, and Your Monster. He has performed at venues including The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, SXSW, The Public Theater, Joe’s Pub, Ars Nova, New York Comedy Festival, and the Netflix is a Joke Festival. He was in the world premiere production of Clare Barron’s Dance Nation. Ufomadu was an inaugural recipient of the Jerome Foundation Artist Fellowship. Upcoming projects include the film The French Italian.
Carlos Greaves is an Afro-Latino electrical engineer turned comedy writer. He is a contributor to The Onion, The New Yorker, and McSweeney's, and wrote for Kevin Hart and Keenan Thompson's TV special, Back That Year Up, in 2023. He also writes a weekly humor newsletter, Shades of Greaves, and his debut book, Spoilers: Essays That Might Ruin Your Favorite Hollywood Movies, was highlighted in Vulture's "Best Comedy Books of 2023."
Carlos Greaves is an Afro-Latino electrical engineer turned comedy writer. He is a contributor to The Onion, The New Yorker, and McSweeney's, and wrote for Kevin Hart and Keenan Thompson's TV special, Back That Year Up, in 2023. He also writes a weekly humor newsletter, Shades of Greaves, and his debut book, Spoilers: Essays That Might Ruin Your Favorite Hollywood Movies, was highlighted in Vulture's "Best Comedy Books of 2023."
Alexandra Petri is a humorist and columnist for The Washington Post and author of Nothing Is Wrong and Here Is Why, a Thurber Prize finalist, and Alexandra Petri’s US History: Important American Documents (I Made Up). Her satire has also appeared in McSweeney’s and The New Yorker’s Daily Shouts and Murmurs.
Alexandra Petri is a humorist and columnist for The Washington Post and author of Nothing Is Wrong and Here Is Why, a Thurber Prize finalist, and Alexandra Petri’s US History: Important American Documents (I Made Up). Her satire has also appeared in McSweeney’s and The New Yorker’s Daily Shouts and Murmurs.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known by his pen name Mark Twain (1835 – 1910), published more than 30 books, hundreds of short stories and essays, and gave lecture tours around the world. His books include The Innocents Abroad, Roughing It, The Mysterious Stranger, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Renowned for his wit and satire, Twain has been lauded as the first great American humorist.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known by his pen name Mark Twain (1835 – 1910), published more than 30 books, hundreds of short stories and essays, and gave lecture tours around the world. His books include The Innocents Abroad, Roughing It, The Mysterious Stranger, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Renowned for his wit and satire, Twain has been lauded as the first great American humorist.
Joe Yan is a comedian whose writing has appeared in McSweeney’s. His interests include computer engineering, the Great American Songbook, and wealth redistribution policy. He is currently based out of Seattle, where he lives with a blind Labrador retriever.
Joe Yan is a comedian whose writing has appeared in McSweeney’s. His interests include computer engineering, the Great American Songbook, and wealth redistribution policy. He is currently based out of Seattle, where he lives with a blind Labrador retriever.
“I’m Abraham Lincoln and I Beg Of You, Please Commemorate My Birthday With Mattress Sales,” by Joe Yan, from McSweeney’s Internet Tendency (February 18, 2022). Copyright © 2022 by Joe Yan. Used by permission of the author.
“Seneca Falls for You” and “John & Abigail Adams Try Sexting,” by Alexandra Petri, from Alexandra Petri’s US History: Important American Documents (I Made Up) (W. W. Norton & Company, 2023). Copyright © 2023 by Alexandra Petri. Used by permission of the author.
“Even I, Satan, Am Appalled at the State of the Republican Party,” by Carlos Greaves, from McSweeney’s Internet Tendency (January 15, 2021). Copyright © 2021 by Carlos Greaves. Used by permission of the author.
“Running for Governor,” by Mark Twain. In the public domain.
“A Very Nixon Halloween,” by Andy Borowitz. Commissioned by Symphony Space. Copyright © 2023 by Andy Borowitz and Symphony Space.
Selected Shorts is supported by the Dungannon Foundation, creator of The Rea Award for the Short Story.
Symphony Space’s season of programming is also made possible by the generous support of Susan Bay Nimoy, Estate of Douglas M. Matheson, Seedlings Foundation, Howard Gilman Foundation, MacMillan Family Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, Blanchette Hooker Rockefeller Fund, Charina Endowment Fund, Henry Nias Foundation, The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, PECO Foundation, Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina, Mustang Foundation, Michael Tuch Foundation, Axe-Houghton Foundation, Jody and John Arnhold and the Arnhold Foundation, The Grodzins Fund, The Isambard Kingdom Brunel Society of North America, and Theatre Development Fund.
Programming is also made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.
Symphony Space thanks our generous supporters, including our Board of Directors, Producers Circle, and members, who make our programs possible with their annual support.
Floral Design by PlantShed
Kathy Landau Executive Director
Peg Wreen Managing Director
Isaiah Sheffer*
Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director (1978-1988)
Artistic Director (1988-2010)
Founding Artistic Director (2010-2012)
Allan Miller
Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director (1978-1988)
Jennifer Brennan Director of Literary Programs
Drew Richardson Lead Producer of Literary Programs
Vivienne Woodward Producer of Literary Programs
Mary Shimkin Director of Broadcast & Literary Initiatives
Sarah Montague Selected Shorts Radio Producer
Jenny Falcon Selected Shorts Radio Producer
Miles B. Smith Selected Shorts Recording Engineer
Matthew Love Consultant for Literary Programs
Magdalene Wrobleski Literary Assistant
Sophia Raimondi Literary Intern
Lulu Chatterjee Literary Intern
*in memoriam