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Selected Shorts

Broadcast Schedule

Below is the schedule for upcoming and previous Selected Shorts episodes.

Our most recently released shows are available for audio streaming HERE.

  • 12/30/2005

    Afterglow
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “One Christmas,” by Truman Capote, performed by John Shea
    “Occurrence on the Six-Seventeen,” by George Shephard, performed by Tony Roberts
    “Homecoming,” by William Maxwell, performed by Keir Dullea

  • 12/23/2005

    A Christmas Sampler
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “Mark Twain: A Mini Drama,” by John Duffy, performed by Isaiah Sheffer
    “Christmas Morning,” by Frank O’Connor, performed by Malachy McCourt
    “A Visit from Saint Nicholas,” by James Thurber, performed by Isaiah Sheffer
    “Icicles,” by Robert Pinsky, performed by Malachy McCourt
    “Christmas in Qatar,” by Calvin Trillin, performed by Calvin Trillin

  • 12/16/2005

    An American in Paris
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    The Spirit of St. Louis (excerpt), by Charles Lindbergh, performed by Keir Dullea
    A Moveable Feast
    (excerpt), by Ernest Hemingway, performed by Isaiah Sheffer
    My Life (excerpt), by Isadora Duncan, performed by Mia Dillon

  • 12/09/2005

    Four Tales
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “The Paring Knife,” by Michael Oppenheimer, performed by Steven Gilborn
    “The Fine Art of Sighing,” by Bernard Cooper, performed by Isaiah Sheffer
    “The Lone Pilgrim,” by Laurie Colwin, performed by Susanna Thompson
    “Death of the Right Fielder,” by Stuart Dybek, performed by Stephen Lang

  • 12/02/2005

    The Child in All of Us
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “The Gifts of the Magician,” a traditional fairy tale, performed by Patricia Kalember
    “The Story of the Sham Prince, or the Ambitious Tailor,” a traditional fairy tale, performed by John Shea
    “The Story of Hok Lee and the Dwarves,” a traditional fairy tale, performed by Isaiah Sheffer

  • 11/25/2005

    Family Relationships
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “My Father Addresses Me on the Facts of Old Age,” by Grace Paley, performed by Rochelle Oliver
    “The Book of Miracles,” by Edwidge Danticat, performed by Sonia Manzano

  • 11/18/2005

    Instruction
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “How to Become a Writer,” by Lorrie Moore, performed by Patricia Kalember
    “Docent,” by R.T. Smith, performed by Dana Ivey

  • 11/11/2005

    Looking at Love
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “Purity,” by Billy Collins, performed by Billy Collins
    “Monday Morning,” by Billy Collins, performed by Billy Collins
    “Forgetfulness,” by Billy Collins, performed by Billy Collins
    “Mother’s Son,” by Tessa Hadley, performed by Shohreh Aghdashloo

  • 11/04/2005

    Stories from Childhood
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “Circus People,” by Cathy Day, performed by Kate Burton
    “The Ultimate Safari,” by Nadine Gordimer, performed by Myra Lucretia Taylor

  • 10/28/2005

    War Stories
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “Draft Day,” by Rattawut Lapcharoensap, performed by BD Wong
    “The Ramada Inn at Shiloh,” by Allan Gurganus, performed by Ted Marcoux

  • 10/21/2005

    Provocative Tales
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “The Red Fox Fur Coat,” by Teolinda Gersão, performed by Kathleen Chalfant
    “Wife-Wooing,” by John Updike, performed by Alec Baldwin
    “The Woman at the Store,” by Katherine Mansfield, performed by Peter Gerety

  • 10/14/2005

    Unlikely Visions
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “The Night Bookmobile,” by Audrey Niffenegger, performed by Christina Pickles
    “Radio Love Poem,” by Alison Townsend, performed by Ivy Austin
    “A Serious Question,” by V.S. Pritchett, performed by James Naughton

  • 10/07/2005

    Lost Luggage
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “There’s No Future in It,” by H. E. Bates, performed by Victoria Tennant
    “The Wrong Suitcase,” by Maeve Binchy, performed by Cynthia Nixon
    “Auditions for Actors,” by Al Hirschfeld, performed by Jane Curtin
    “Breakfast,” by John Steinbeck, performed by Joe Morton

  • 09/30/2005

    Unexpected Worlds
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “Mortals,” by Tobias Wolff, performed by Isaiah Sheffer
    “The Dolls,” by Ian McEwan, performed by George Bartenieff
    “A Profession Like Any Other,” by Ana María Shua, performed by Stephen Lang

  • 09/23/2005

    Danger and Guilt
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “The Diver,” by Lewis Robinson, performed by Peter Gallagher
    “The Guilt,” by Rayda Jacobs, performed by Sigourney Weaver

  • 09/16/2005

    Two Paths
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “Meeting Frederick,” by Jewell Parker Rhodes, performed by Laurine Towler
    “Bid Farewell to Her Many Horses,” by Luis Alberto Urrea, performed by Ted Marcoux

  • 09/09/2005

    Boredom
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “Nachman from Los Angeles,” by Leonard Michaels, performed by David Rakoff

  • 09/02/2005

    Love, Actually
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “Disclaimer,” by Ron Carlson, performed by Tony Roberts
    “The Horse Dealer’s Daughter,” by D. H. Lawrence, performed by Jon DeVries

  • 08/26/2005

    Children Teach Us
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “Solomon’s Big Day: A Children’s Story,” by Touré, performed by Daniel Alexander Jones
    “Nightingale,” by Tobias Wolff, performed by William Hurt

  • 08/19/2005

    A Tale of Vietnam
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “July ’69,” by Tim O’Brien, performed by William Hurt

  • 08/12/2005

    Two California Tales...and a Terrifying Trip
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “Traffic,” by Rubén Mendoza, performed by Joe Mantegna
    “Los Angeles Notebook,” by Joan Didion, performed by Linda Hunt
    “Cattle Car Complex,” by Thane Rosenbaum, performed by Mark Nelson

  • 08/05/2005

    Strange Places
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “Car Games,” by Frank Conroy, performed by John Shea
    “Hills Like White Elephants,” by Ernest Hemingway, performed by Kate Burton and Michael Genet
    “Walimai,” by Isabel Allende, performed by Lazaro Perez

  • 07/29/2005

    Watching Over Others
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “The Epiphany Branch,” by Mary Gordon, performed by Mary Cleere Haran
    “Maybe a Bride,” by Carol Bommarito, performed by Isaiah Sheffer
    “My Baby…” by Dorothy West, performed by Carmen de Lavallade

  • 07/22/2005

    Two Misfits Who Fit Together
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “Labors of the Heart,” by Claire Davis, performed by Peter Gerety

  • 07/15/2005

    Escape Routes
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “Our Lady of Peace,” by ZZ Packer, performed by Saidah Arrika Ekulona
    “Evacuation Order No. 19,” by Julie Otsuka, performed by Jennifer Ikeda

  • 07/08/2005

    Fantastical Quartet
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “Job’s Jobs,” by Aimee Bender, performed by Anjelica Huston
    The Day of the Locust (excerpt), by Nathanael West, performed by Joanna Gleason
    On the Road (excerpt), by Jack Kerouac, performed by Alec Baldwin
    “New York is a Girl,” by Robert Sand, performed by Joe Grifasi

  • 07/01/2005

    Los Angeles
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    The Barbarous Coast (excerpt), by Ross McDonald, performed by Chris Sarandon
    “The Pedestrian,” by Ray Bradbury, performed by James Sheridan
    “A Table at Ciro’s,” by Budd Schulberg, performed by Isaiah Sheffer

  • 06/24/2005

    A Winter Tale
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “Silent Snow, Secret Snow,” by Conrad Aiken, performed by Leonard Nimoy

  • 06/17/2005

    Drama Bug
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “Pinhead, Moonhead,” by Chelsey Johnson, performed by Cynthia Nixon
    “The Drama Bug,” by David Sedaris, performed by Isaiah Sheffer

  • 06/10/2005

    Boys
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “What Was It?” by Fitz-James O’Brien, performed by Paul Hecht
    “Boys,” by Rick Moody, performed by B.D. Wong

  • 06/03/2005

    U.F.O.
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “U.F.O. in Kushiro,” by Haruki Murakami, performed by Ken Leung
    “Lost and Found,” by Colson Whitehead, performed by Alec Baldwin

  • 05/27/2005

    Man, Woman, Bird
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “The Shining Houses,” by Alice Munro, performed by Maria Tucci
    “Story of a Parrot,” by Ana Menéndez, performed by Jacqueline Kim

  • 05/20/2005

    Unlikely Friendships
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “Red,” by Maile Meloy, performed by Keith Szarabajka
    “Just Married,” by Tony Earley, performed by David Strathairn
    “Like Dove Wings,” by Christine Lincoln, performed by Vinnie Burrows and Laurine Towler

  • 05/13/2005

    Altered Lives
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “Here’s Your Hat What’s Your Hurry,” by Elizabeth McCracken, performed by Dana Ivey

  • 05/06/2005

    Decisions, Decisions...
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “The Undeclared Major,” by Will Weaver, performed by Stephen Lang
    “Sarah’s Story,” by Galina Vromen, performed by Jane Curtin

  • 04/29/2005

    Small Symbols
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “Coins,” by Mona Simpson, performed by Rachel Ticotin
    “Bit-O-Honey,” by Bernard Cooper, performed by John O’Callaghan

  • 04/22/2005

    Rights and Wrongs
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “The Appropriation of Cultures,” by Percival Everett, performed by Wren T. Brown
    “The Way Love Works,” by Mary Yukari Waters, performed by Jacqueline Kim

  • 04/15/2005

    New York!
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “Here Is New York,” by E.B. White, performed by James Naughton
    “In the City: A Photograph, Evidence and a Proverb,” by Shay Youngblood, performed by Sydia Cedeño

  • 04/08/2005

    Hullabaloos
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “The Night the Ghost Got In,” by James Thurber, performed by Isaiah Sheffer
    “On the U.S.S. Fortitude,” by Ron Carlson, performed by Laura Esterman
    “Things in the Wrong Hands,” by Roy Blount Jr., performed by Isaiah Sheffer
    “The Open Window,” by Saki, performed by Tandy Cronyn

  • 04/01/2005

    Women's Friendships
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “Amazon,” by Sylvia Brownrigg, performed by Joanna Gleason
    “In the Cemetery Where Al Jolson Is Buried,” by Amy Hempel, performed by Mary Beth Hurt

  • 03/25/2005

    Women With Attitude
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “Can’t We Cry a Little?” by Dawn Powell, performed by Ivy Austin
    “Stop That Girl,” by Elizabeth McKenzie, performed by Mary Beth Hurt

  • 03/18/2005

    Woman and Child
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “Why the Sky Turns Red When the Sun Goes Down,” by Ryan Harty, performed by George Bartenieff
    “The Story of an Hour,” by Kate Chopin, performed by Christina Pickles

  • 03/11/2005

    The Possibility of Zombies
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “Chac-Mool,” by Carlos Fuentes, performed by Simon Jones
    “The Living Dead,” by David Sedaris, performed by David Sedaris

  • 03/04/2005

    Outsiders
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “Mr. Woo,” by James McBride, performed by Michael Genet
    “D.P.” by Kurt Vonnegut, performed by Lawrence Clayton

  • 02/25/2005

    Couples in Trouble
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “The Third of July,” by Elizabeth Cox, performed by Joan Allen
    “Seventh House,” by R.K. Narayan, performed by Fionnula Flanagan

  • 02/18/2005

    Imaginings
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “The Appropriation of Cultures,” by Percival Everett, performed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson
    “MS. Found in a Bottle,” by Edgar Allan Poe, performed by George Bartenieff

  • 02/11/2005

    Uncharted
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “Burn Your Maps,” by Robyn Joy Leff, performed by Leslie Hendrix

  • 02/04/2005

    Tipping Points
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “Seeing the World,” by Lewis Robinson, performed by Thomas Gibson
    “The American Embassy,” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, performed by Sarita Choudhury

  • 01/28/2005

    Faces of Love
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “Love,” by Zora Neale Hurston, performed by Karen Kandel
    “Along the Frontage Road,” by Michael Chabon, performed by Jay O. Sanders
    “Eulogy to a Shoelace,” by Isaac Bashevis Singer, performed by Isaiah Sheffer
    “The Bird,” by Isaac Bashevis Singer, performed by Isaiah Sheffer

  • 01/21/2005

    Unlikely Situations
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “Good Intentions,” by Etgar Keret, performed by Leonard Nimoy
    “The Ceiling,” by Kevin Brockmeier, performed by Paul Hecht

  • 01/14/2005

    Strange Beings
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “Mlle. Dias de Corta,” by Mavis Gallant, performed by Kathleen Chalfant
    “Peter and the Wolf,” by Angela Carter, performed by Joe Morton

  • 01/07/2005

    Funny Tales
    HOST: ISAIAH SHEFFER

    “Game,” by Donald Barthelme, performed by David Strathairn
    “I Dated Jane Austen,” by T.C. Boyle, performed by Isaiah Sheffer
    “Romance with Double-Bass,” by Anton Chekhov, performed by Richard Schiff
    “Fatso,” by Etgar Keret, performed by John Guare