Annual EWU festival will present a live showing of Public Radio International's “Selected Shorts” program
Eastern Washington University's Get Lit! Festival presents a live showing of PRI's “Selected Shorts” at 7 p.m., Friday, April 16 at the Bing Crosby Theater. Symphony Space's artistic director Isaiah Sheffer will host this well-known radio show, at which actors read classic and contemporary short fiction before a live audience. This will be one of the headlining events at this year's Get Lit! Festival, taking place April 14-21.
The theme will be stories related to fatherhood, in honor of the 100th year of Father's Day, which started in Spokane on June 19, 1910. Sonora Louise Smart Dodd, a loving daughter from Spokane, is renowned as the founder of this holiday. Working with the YMCA, she created a day that would honor fathers everywhere. The idea of Father's Day soon spread across the nation. In fact, in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson came to Spokane and spoke at Father's Day services.
During this live radio event PRI will feature three stories about the joys and trials of fatherhood, written by some well-known authors: John Updike, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author of such novels as “Rabbit Is Rich” and “Rabbit At Rest;” Maxine Swann, winner of a Cohen Award, O. Henry Award and the Pushcart Prize for her 1997 short story, “Flower Children”; and Roald Dahl, a British novelist, short story writer and screenwriter who received worldwide recognition for his various works. Seasoned actors James Naughton, Susanna Thompson and Isaiah Sheffer will read the stories.
James Naughton is an accomplished American theater, film and television actor. He won a Tony Award in 1990 for “City of Angels” and again in 1996 for his portrayal of lawyer Billy Flynn in the musical “Chicago.” He has recently held prominent roles in such movies as “The First Wives Club,” “The Devil Wears Prada” and “Factory Girl.” Naughton's voice can be heard in Audi's TV and radio spots in the U.S. He is also a frequent narrator on PBS television's “Nature” series.
Susanna Thompson is one of the founders of the San Diego Actors' Alliance, where she performed in “Hay Fever,” “A Shayna Maidel,” for which she received a Drama-Logue Award, and “Agnes of God,” which earned her a San Diego Critics' Circle Award. Her onscreen credits include “Dragonfly,” “Ghosts of Mississippi,” “Little Giants,” “When a Man Loves a Woman” and “Random Hearts.” She has appeared in many television series, including “The X-Files,” “NYPD Blue” and “Star Trek,” as well as the role of Grace Kelly in TBS's “High Noon.”
Isaiah Sheffer is co-founder and artistic director of Symphony Space and director and host of “Selected Shorts” live and on radio. His radio, television, theatre and film credits are extensive, and include work as a commentator on the arts for WNYC's weekly radio column “Around New York”; producer/writer for “The Road to the White House,” a 20-minute public affairs series for NBC-TV (Emmy Nomination); and writer/director, “The Last Chapter,” award-winning historical documentary film on 1,000 years of Polish-Jewish history.
To listen to the regular radio program, tune in to KPBX at 91.1 from 4-5 p.m. or KSFC at 91.9 from 9-10 p.m., every Sunday. Copies of “Selected Shorts” CD's and related books will be on sale at the April 16 event at the Crosby Theatre.
Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at TicketsWest outlets, by phoning 1-800-325-SEAT, or visiting http://www.ticketswest.com. Students can get a free ticket with their ID at college bookstores in April, or at the door if supplies last. For additional information about other events at this year's Get Lit! Festival visit http://www.ewu.edu/getlit.
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