Opening night, which originally slated Christine Baranski in early press releases, now features Parker, along with actor Harris Yulin and others reading stories by Al Hirschfeld, Sam Shepard, and D.H. Lawrence. The series continues through June, including 13 programs with some 36 stories to be read live before an audience. Other celeb readers include Leonard Nimoy, Victoria Tennant, Peter Gallagher, David Rakoff, and Hope Davis.

Literally, there is something for everyone on this program. There are theme-oriented evenings, such as "Stories of Americans in Paris" on February 26 with stories by Ernest Hemingway, Henry James, and Adam Gopnik, as well as anthology tie-ins with Sue Miller introducing selections from The Best American Short Stories 2002 on June 4 and Marita Golden & E. Lynn Harris presenting stories on May 7 from GUMBO: An Anthology of African American Writing. Mavis Gallant, winner of the 2002 Rea Award for the Short Story for overall contribution to the form can be heard on the line-up, or newcomers discovered when The Council of Literary Magazines and Presses presents New Voices on March 26 with stories by Ana Maria Shua, Kevin Brockmeier (2002 First Prize O. Henry winner) and Elizabeth McKenzie.

Selected Shorts is directed by Isaiah Sheffer, who is also the "voice" and host of the series' counterpart on the airwaves. Each season's literary performances are recorded live and produced for radio by Symphony Space and WNYC Radio for broadcast at a later date on over 150 National Public Radio stations. In addition, there is also an audiocassette venture which makes available for purchase highlighted readings from previous seasons of the program.

Symphony Space, founded in 1978, is a New York cultural institution that provides music, dance, literature, theater, and film programming. Selected Shorts will be held at the 760-seat main stage, part of facilities that were revamped last year with design by architect James Stewart Polshek.

Selected Shorts is made possible, in part, by the Arthur Foundation; the Axe-Houghton Foundation; the Jerome Foundation; the Henry Nias Foundation courtesy of Mr. Brian D. Rosenberg; the Rea Award for the Short Story; the Lila Acheson Wallace Theater Fund in the New York Community Trust; and with public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency.

Listings Information:
Selected Shorts
PETER NORTON SYMPHONYSPACE
Peter Jay Sharp Theatre
2537 Broadway at 95th Street
www.symphonyspace.org
Tickets: $21 (Members $19. $20 Students/Seniors)
Box Office: Tues - Sun, Noon - 7pm
Phone: 212.864.5400, Tues - Sun, 11am - 7pm
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