Selected Shorts

05/30/2026

Selected Shorts is making its final tour stop of the season at the International Festival of Arts & Ideas in New Haven, CT on Jun 21! Actors Kate Burton, Ophira Eisenberg, Hampton Fluker, and David Strathairn bring to life stories about community and finding where you belong. Don’t miss this spellbinding night! https://bit.ly/4u8M7AK

Image: A rotation featuring Kate Burton, Ophira Eisenberg, Hampton Fluker, and David Strathairn in front of a pink background, and text that says, "Selected Shorts on Tour: University Theatre, New Haven, CT, Sun, June 21 at 7PM."

05/29/2026

We were thrilled to see our friend Meg Wolitzer's new children's book that she wrote with her son Charlie Panek in the New York Times Book Review! Found Sound will also be a featured book at our Thalia Kids Book Club Camp this summer. Check out the review here:

Meg Wolitzer and Charlie Panek’s “Found Sound” and Aida Salazar’s “Stream” send their protagonists on a listening (and healing) tour of real life.

05/29/2026

New cast added! Baby steps, falling in love, heartbreak...life is full of firsts. Bestselling novelist Meg Wolitzer hosts an evening of hilarious and poignant short stories about the dramatic moments in life where everything changes and nothing will ever quite be the same. With performances by Carrie C**n, Florencia Cuenca, Andy Mientus, and more! In-person & livestream tix available. https://bit.ly/49wsB9T

Image: A rotation featuring Meg Wolitzer, Carrie C**n, Florencia Cuenca, and Andy Mientus in front of a red background, and text that says, "Selected Shorts: A First Time for Everything with Meg Wolitzer, Carrie C**n, Florencia Cuenca, and Andy Mientus, Wed, June 10 at 7PM."

05/28/2026

On this week's Selected Shorts episode, Modest Expectations, we present four stories recorded at the Getty Center in Los Angeles at an event that was produced in partnership with Belletrist Book Club. Constance Zimmer, Randall Park, Annie Hamilton, Laura Harrier, and Will Harrison perform stories by Tania James, Alexander Weinstein, Honor Levy, and Charlie Watts. Take a listen wherever you get your podcasts. https://bit.ly/3PPRiaC
(Photos by Jessie Mar)

Images: Constance Zimmer, Randall Park, Annie Hamilton, Laura Harrier, and Will Harrison stand on the stage in front of a microphone reading a story.

05/27/2026

Last week, we teamed up with the Asian American Writers' Workshop for a powerful evening of Asian American fiction. Thank you to host Wajahat Ali, actors Ruthie Ann Miles, Conrad Ricamora, Rita Wolf, BD Wong, and everyone who joined us in the theater and over the livestream!
(Photos by Nile Scott Studios)

Images: 1: The artists stand backstage in front of a pink background, smiling.
2: Wajahat Ali stands on the stage, speaking into a microphone.
3: Conrad Ricamora stands on the stage in front of a microphone reading a story.
4: Ruthie Ann Miles stands on the stage in front of a microphone reading a story.
5: Rita Wolf stands on the stage in front of a microphone reading a story.
6: BD Wong stands on the stage in front of a microphone reading a story.

05/26/2026

This past weekend we brought Selected Shorts to The Adams Theater in Adams, Massachusettes for a wonderful, sold-out evening of short fiction! Thank you to Brooke Adams, Tony Shalhoub, David Strathairn, and everyone who joined us.
(Photo by Dan Morgan)

Image: Brooke Adams, Tony Shalhoub, and David Strathairn stand on the stage of The Adams Theater.

05/22/2026

There's a new episode of Too Hot for Radio out now wherever you get your podcasts! Brendan Hunt performs Jonathan Lethem's story "The King of Sentences." The episode is hosted by Aparna Nancherla. Take a listen! https://bit.ly/4v7zwi9

Image: A headshot of Brendan Hunt.

05/20/2026

Congratulations to Laurie Lathem, whose story “The Flamingo Café" is the 2026 winner of the Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize, selected by Simon Rich. You can read the story on Electric Literature. Thank you all for submitting such brilliant stories!

"The Flamingo Café" by Laurie Lathem, winner of the Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize

05/19/2026

On this week's Selected Shorts episode, Save the Date with Belletrist Book Club, we feature stories curated with the Belletrist Book Club and recorded at the Getty Center in Los Angeles. Actors Richa Moorjani, Judy Greer, and Erinn Hayes perform pieces by Samantha Irby, Victoria Lancelotta, and Jen Spyra. Take a listen wherever you get your podcasts. https://bit.ly/43khcpW
(Photos by Jessie Mar)

Images: Richa Moorjani, Judy Greer, and Erinn Hayes stand on the stage in front of a microphone reading a story.

05/15/2026

Take a look back at our recent spring-themed Selected Shorts in this exclusive video! Featuring commentary from host Brian Lehrer and clips of performances by Julie Benko, Brandon J. Dirden, Raúl E. Esparza, and Jay O. Sanders. Enjoy, and then make sure you have your tix for next week's Selected Shorts: Generation Gap with Wajahat Ali!