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2005 Audio Library

Back to Top >> The Age of Grief, Part Four October 1 & 2, 2005 Originally broadcast November 22, 2003
	In this novella by Jane Smiley, the narrator wrangles with a crisis in his marriage, his three young daughters, and his alter ego. It's read by Kevin Theis, Judy Blue, and Si Osborne. The Age of Grief was directed by Judy O'Malley for the special live performance, “Novella.” Bibliographical Information The Age of Grief (Knopf/Picador, 1977)
Back to Top >> The Age of Grief, Part Three September 24 & 25, 2005 Originally broadcast November 15, 2003
	In this novella by Jane Smiley, the narrator wrangles with a crisis in his marriage, his three young daughters, and his alter ego. It's read by Kevin Theis, Judy Blue, and Si Osborne. The Age of Grief was directed by Judy O'Malley for the special live performance, “Novella.” Bibliographical Information The Age of Grief (Knopf/Picador, 1977)
Back to Top >> The Age of Grief, Part Two September 17 & 18, 2005 Originally broadcast November 8, 2003
	In this novella by Jane Smiley, the narrator wrangles with a crisis in his marriage, his three young daughters, and his alter ego. It's read by Kevin Theis, Judy Blue, and Si Osborne. The Age of Grief was directed by Judy O'Malley for the special live performance, “Novella.” Bibliographical Information The Age of Grief (Knopf/Picador, 1977)
Back to Top >> The Age of Grief, Part One September 10 & 11, 2005 Originally broadcast November 1, 2003
	In this novella by Jane Smiley, the narrator wrangles with a crisis in his marriage, his three young daughters, and his alter ego. It's read by Kevin Theis, Judy Blue, and Si Osborne. The Age of Grief was directed by Judy O'Malley for the special live performance, “Novella.” Bibliographical Information The Age of Grief (Knopf/Picador, 1977)
Back to Top >> American Icons September 3 & 4, 2005 Originally broadcast November 29, 2003
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	“Rip Van Winkle” Washington Irving's classic is read by Bob O'Donnell. The story was directed by Michael E. Myers as part of the program, “Wonder If Oprah's Read This?” Bibliographical Information American Fairy Tales (Hyperion/The Albion Press, 1996)
	“Twenty-three Pat O'Brien Movies” Will Clinger reads this story by Bruce Jay Friedman. It was directed by Michael E. Myers as part of the program, “In Our Last Episode.” Bibliographical Information The Collected Short Fiction of Bruce Jay Friedman (Grove/Atlantic, 2000)
Back to Top >> It Ain't Necessarily So August 27 & 28, 2005 Originally broadcast October 18, 2003
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	“What They Did” David Means's Pushcart Prize-winning story is read by Joe Dempsey. It was directed by Steve Scott as part of the program, “What Am I Now?” Bibliographical Information Assorted Fire Events: Stories (Harcourt Books, 2000)
	“How to Tell a True War Story” David Pasquesi reads this section from prize-winning author Tim O'Brien's vivid account of the Vietnam War, The Things They Carried. It was directed by Abigail Deser as part of the program, “It Ain't Necessarily So.” Bibliographical Information The Things They Carried (Random House, 1979)
Back to Top >> Getting Past Disappointment August 20 & 21, 2005 Originally broadcast December 27, 2003
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	“My Heavenly Father” Written by Dana Crum, this story is read by Ryan Priester. It was directed by Michael E. Myers as part of the program, “Wonder If Oprah's Read This?” Bibliographical Information Gumbo: A Celebration of African American Writing (Harlem Moon / Random House, 2002)
	“UFO in Kushiro” This Haruki Murakami story is read by Mark Montgomery. It was directed by Steve Scott as part of “What Am I Now?”—a program of stories dealing with life-altering events. Bibliographical Information After the Quake: Stories by Haruki Murakami (Knopf, 2002)
Back to Top >> The Real Story August 13 & 14, 2005 Originally broadcast December 20, 2003 Note: Due to technical difficulty, this program did not air as scheduled. To hear “Hoping to Connect,” which aired in its place, please visit our 2002 Audio Library >>
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	“Family Reunion” This Bonnie Jo Campbell story was commissioned by Stories on Stage in 2003. It's read by Peggy Roeder. We commissioned three writers to write stories using this opening line: “She'd never forget the look on his face when he realized who'd sent the invitation.” The performances were directed by Judy O'Malley as part of the program, “An Invitation You Can't Refuse.”
	“The Goophered Grapevine” Set in the aftermath of the Civil War, this Charles Chesnutt story is an intruiging tale of a bewitched vineyard on a Southern plantation. Dexter Zollicoffer reads. “The Goophered Grapevine” was directed by Cheryl Lynn Bruce as part of the program, “Dark Matters: Luminous Thoughts.” Bibliographical Information The Conjure Woman (University of Michigan Press, 1969)
Back to Top >> Expectations August 6 & 7, 2005 Originally broadcast December 13, 2003
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	“The Swimmer” John Cheever's classic is read by Shawn Douglass. “The Swimmer” was directed by Edward Sobel as part of the program, “It's Only a Game.” Bibliographical Information The Stories of John Cheever (Knopf/Ballantine, 1979)
	“Dearly Beloved” This Carol Anshaw story was commissioned by Stories on Stage in 2003. It's read by Susan Osborne-Mott. We commissioned three writers to write stories using this opening line: “She'd never forget the look on his face when he realized who'd sent the invitation.” The performances were directed by Judy O'Malley as part of the program, “An Invitation You Can't Refuse.”
Back to Top >> Revelations July 30 & 31, 2005 Originally broadcast January 3, 2004
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	“In the Garden of the North American Martyrs” Susan Osborne-Mott reads this Tobias Wolff story. It was directed by Michael E. Myers as part of the program, “An Evening of Tobias Wolff.” Bibliographical Information In the Garden of the North American Martyrs (Harper Collins / Ecco, 1981)
	“Harold” Inspired by the children's rhyme, “There was a crooked man who walked a crooked mile,” Sara Gmitter's story is read by Kevin Gudahl. “Harold” was one of four winners of our 2002 “Now Hear This” short story competition. It was directed by Edward Sobel. Bibliographical Information River Oak Review No. 20 (Spring/Summer 2003)
	“In the Family” Cuban-born journalist Maria Elena Llano's story is read by Wendy Robie. It was directed by Abigail Deser as part of the program, “It Ain't Necessarily So.” Bibliographical Information The Penguin Book of International Short Stories (Penguin, 1996)
Back to Top >> Coming of Age July 23 & 24, 2005 Originally broadcast October 4, 2003 Recollections of two very different young men whose lives were touched by others in ways that were perhaps unexpected
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	“Grandma and the Elusive Fifth Crucifix” Written by Edward Kelsey Moore and read by Ric Walker, a young man recounts the last years of his eccentric grandmother. This story was one of four winners in our 2002 short story competition, “Now Hear This.” It was directed by Michael E. Myers. Bibliographical Information River Oak Review No. 20 (Spring/Summer 2003)
	“Dog Heaven” The narrator reflects on growing up on a military base in upstate New York and on his relationships with his dog and with a friend. The story was written by Stephanie Vaughn and read by Si Osbourne. “Dog Heaven” was directed by Judy O'Malley as part of the program, “The Love of a Good Dog.” Bibliographical Information Sweet Talk and the Literary Dog (Random House, 1990)
Back to Top >> An Evening of Tobias Wolff July 16 & 17, 2005 Originally broadcast December 6, 2003 Two stories about the disconnect between who we think we are and how others perceive us
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	“Say Yes” A casual conversation unearths more than the characters expect in this 1985 Tobias Wolff story. It's read by David Pasquesi. “Say Yes” was directed by Michael E. Myers as part of the program, “An Evening of Tobias Wolff.” Bibliographical Information Back in the World (Random House/Vintage, 1986)
	“The Liar” Andrew White reads this 1991 story about the ways in which a young man's creative and fertile imagination takes him where he wants to go. It was directed by Michael E. Myers as part of the program, “An Evening of Tobias Wolff.” Bibliographical Information In the Garden of the North American Martyrs (Harper Collins/Ecco, 1981)
Back to Top >> Moms and Dads July 9 & 10, 2005 Originally broadcast October 25, 2003 Stories about the enigmatic bond between parent and child
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	“Return from the Depot” A young woman responds to her mother's death in an imaginative, surprising way. The story was read by Lisa Dodson and written by Elizabeth Crane. It was featured in “What Am I Now?,” a program directed by Steve Scott. Bibliographical Information When the Messenger Is Hot: Stories (Back Bay Books, 2004)
	“Side One, Track Seven” Music and memory are inextricably entwined when a young man's heartbreak is experienced through the lens of his father's Beatles album. Written by Jeremy Bushnell, “Side One, Track Seven” was a 2002 winner of our short story competition, “Now Hear This.” It was read by Andrew White and directed by Judy O'Malley. Bibliographical Information River Oak Review, No. Twenty (Spring/Summer 2003)
Back to Top >> Again and Again... July 2 & 3, 2005 Stories in which the protagonist is haunted by a nagging desire or obsession
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	“The Tell-tale Heart” Craig Spidle reads Edgar Allan Poe's gothic horror classic. The story was featured in the program, “Temporary Insanity,” directed by Michael E. Myers as part of our 2005 live performance season. Bibliographical Information Great Short Works of Edgar Allan Poe (Perennial/Harper & Row, 1970)
	“Enough” A woman's childhood ice cream ritual slowly reveals itself as a lifelong pursuit of physical and sensual pleasure. Written by two-time Pulitzer nominee and 1998 National Book Award winner Alice McDermott, “Enough” is read by Barbara Robertson. It was featured in the program, “Morning, Noon, and Night,” directed by Abigail Deser as part of our 2005 live performance season. Bibliographical Information More Stories We Tell (Pantheon, 2004)
	“Yma Dream” The narrator recounts a dream about a bizarre cocktail party full of doorbells and tongue twisters. Read by Bruce Norris, “Yma Dream” was written by longtime New Yorker contributor and Tony Award-winning lyricist Thomas Meehan. It was also featured in the program, “Morning, Noon, and Night,” directed by Abigail Deser as part of our 2005 live performance season. Bibliographical Information Fierce Pajamas: An Anthology of Humor Writing from the New Yorker (Random House, 2002)