(Albany, NY):  The NYS Writers Institute and the UAlbany Performing Arts Center, both based at the University at Albany, are pleased to announce the full slate of actors who will participate in Selected Shorts, the hit public radio and podcast series featuring readings of classic and new works of short fiction by acclaimed actors. The program will be held at 7:30pm on Saturday, April 29, 2023 at the UAlbany Performing Arts Center on the uptown University at Albany campus located at 1400 Washington Avenue in Albany. 

As previously announced, actor/comedian Jane Curtin will perform in the program. She will be joined by Teagle F. Bougere from Queen America and New Amsterdam’s Mike Doyle.  The trio of thespians will perform selections from books by Ann Tyler, Ray Bradbury, Meron Hadero and Robin Hemley. 

In a reading by Curtin and Doyle from Hemley’s "The Last Customer," a couple dines out as the world comes to an end. An Ethiopian father, as performed by Bougere, wanders into Prospect Park and makes an unexpected encounter in "The Thief's Tale" by Hadero.  Doyle makes a second appearance on stage with "The Toynbee Convector" by Bradbury about a man who travels back in time to deliver ‘good news.’ Curtin will wrap up the evening with a story about a grandson who comes to know his grandparents as they travel cross-country in "The Feather Behind the Rock" by Tyler. 

Selected Shorts is produced by Symphony Space in New York City and broadcast on more than 150 stations to about 300,000 listeners around the country. The Selected Shorts podcast consistently ranks as one of the most popular podcasts on iTunes, with more than 100,000 downloads each week.

Advance tickets are $15 for the general public and $10 for students, seniors and UAlbany faculty-staff.  Tickets purchased on the day of the show (pending availability) are $20 for the general public and $15 for students, seniors and UAlbany faculty-staff.  All tickets must be purchased on-line from the UAlbany Performing Arts Center’s web site at www.albany.edu/pac.  Information and assistance can be obtained by contacting the UAlbany Performing Arts Center’s main office at (518) 442-3995 or [email protected].

In advance of the Selected Shorts performance, Curtin will participate in the University’s Creative Life series at 4pm and will be interviewed on stage by WAMC’s Joe Donahue about her creative inspiration, craft and career. Admission is free; no reservations are required.