“Man walks into a bar,” is the start of many tales and seemed a good premise for a live evening of SELECTED SHORTS at Symphony Space.
Our first story, from that evening, is the one that started it all for “Bright Lights, Big City” author Jay McInerney. He talks about how he found the opening sentence, “You are not the kind of guy who would be at a place like this at this time of the morning,” scribbled on a piece of paper, and realized that it was the beginning of his authentic “voice” as a writer. The story was first published in the Paris Review, and became the basis for “Bright Lights”, McInerney’s bestseller about exhausted denizens of the 1980s.
“It’s Six A.M., Do You Know Where You Are?,” is performed by Jeremy Shamos, whose credits include appearances on “Law and Order: Criminal Intent,” and in the films “Dedication” and “Taking Woodstock.”
Maile Meloy’s “Red from Green,” the second story on this program, was performed at the Crandall Public Library in Glens Falls, New York. The Adirondack setting suited Meloy’s tale, which is set against the dramatic landscape of Montana, her home state. Ostensibly the story of an idle river trip, “Red from Green” actually charts a turning point for a father and daughter. Meloy, who will judge our short story competition this year (see below) is the author of Half in Love, Liars & Saints, A Family Daughter, TheApothecary, and the short story collection Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It, which was named one of the 10 best books of the year by the NY Times.
“Red from Green” is read by Patricia Kalember.
The SELECTED SHORTS theme is David Peterson's “That's the Deal,” performed by the Deardorf/Peterson Group.
“It’s Six A.M., Do You Know Where You Are?” by Jay McInerney; performed by Jeremy Shamos
“Red from Green” by Maile Meloy; performed by Patricia Kalember
For additional works featured on SELECTED SHORTS, please visit http://www.symphonyspace.org/genres/seriesPage.php?seriesId=71&genreId=4
We’re interested in your response to these programs. Please comment on this site or visit www.selectedshorts.org
And for more thoughts on the stories in SHORTS, check out literary commentator Hannah Tinti’s site at http://hannahtinti.com
Announcing the 2012 Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize. This year's theme is “objects of desire.” The judge is the author Maile Meloy and the deadline is March 2, 2012.
