“Victory Lap” by George Saunders
A young teenager’s abduction is told through the perspectives of those involved, calling each of their beliefs into question. Performed by Kimmy Shields, Eli Brown & Jason Butler Harner.
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“Oiga” by Luis J Rodriguez
A woman in Los Angeles waits for her turn to “testify” at a church event. While she waits and plans what to say, the stories of her life and family blend with the trauma of her ancestors. Performed by Diana Maria Riva.
“Good Things Happen at Tina’s Cafe” by Daniel Olivas
A boy with six fingers on each hand goes through life ashamed of being different. When old-world magic fails to solve his problem, an unexpected solution appears. Performed by Richard Cabral.
“Sábado Gigante” by Estella González
A closeted young man in Los Angeles goes on a date with his boss, then prepares for his second date, while trying to keep it a secret from his family. Performed by Remy Ortiz.
“Veteran’s Night” by Richard Bausch
Two war veterans reel from a night out, reflecting on the ways serving the war has impacted them physically and mentally after heading back home. When a red-headed man seeks to cause them harm, the veterans must navigate whether to turn to violence or passivity — putting into action what it means to be “good.” Performed by Bill Pullman.
“The Ideal Bakery” by Donald Hall
A man remembers the day his sister was born, when his father brought him to their favorite bakery. It was an idyllic time, but he realizes with age that the real world is not always ideal. Performed by Richard Schiff.
“Yeoman” by Charles Yu
After starting a new job in a crew on a spaceship, a man must try to escape his mandatory death and stay alive for his pregnant wife. Performed by Jason Ritter.
“What You Left in the Ditch” by Aimee Bender
When her husband returns home from Vietnam with an improbable injury, a woman struggles to cope with what the war took from them. Performed by Jessica Capshaw.
“Tiger Mending” by Aimee Bender
Two sisters are sent on a mission to heal tigers. Performed by Cassidy Freeman.
“The Young Wife’s Tale” by Sarah Shun-lien Bynum
A wife begins to doubt her marriage with her husband when a fairy tale of a handsome king makes her long for a more fulfilling romance. Performed by Maggie Siff.
“The Meeting” by Aimee Bender
A man surprises himself when he falls deeply in love with a woman who is not the woman he expected to meet. Performed by Mark Moses.
“The Escape” by Joyce Carol Oates
Four sisters navigate their unstable living situation with a mother dissociated from reality as she takes them to a train station for a trip with seemingly no end. Performed by Danielle Panabaker.
“Swept Away” by T.C. Boyle
An American ornithologist working on the Shetland Islands in the United Kingdom is swept up in a romance with a local man. Performed by Martin Jarvis.
“Self-Knowledge” by Richard Bausch
A teacher whose life is unraveling hits rock bottom in an episode of alcoholism at her student’s house. Performed by Wendy Makkena.
“Pretend Dinners” by W.P. Kinsella
Childhood friends from the Canadian Cree tribe share earnest conversations and “pretend dinners” in an escape from some of life’s hardships. Performed by Noah Watts.
“My Dear Master Liszt” by Ben Stroud
A former student of the composer Liszt writes his old teacher a letter, explaining his role in the antebellum South, and how he came to be a slave owner himself. Performed by J.K. Simmons.
“My Date with Neanderthal Woman” by David Galef
A young man is matched by a dating app with a vivacious Neanderthal woman, and the date goes surprisingly well. Performed by Andrew Borba.
“Loser” by Aimee Bender
A young man with a supernatural talent for finding lost objects is swept along on a journey of self discovery wherein he comes face to face with what it truly means to be lost. Performed by Justin Chambers.
“Interstellar Space” by Scott O’Connor
Meg, who enjoys all kinds of morbid role-playing games with her sister, Cate, starts hearing voices that she cannot ignore. Performed by MyAnna Buring.
“In Pharaoh’s Army: Thanksgiving Special” by Tobias Wolff
A crime scene triggers memories of Vietnam in the mind of a police sergeant. Performed by Tim DeKay.
“Hubby” by Gentle Culpepper
A veteran of the Vietnam War finds an unlikely companion in whom he can confide the complex feelings engendered by PTSD. Performed by Jason George.
“Gina’s Death” by Charles Baxter
A high schooler ruminates on the death of a classmate who recently took his own life. Performed by Carla Gugino.
“First Person Shooter” by Charles Yu
When a zombie wanders a big-box store, a shy employee confronts his feelings for his coworker. Performed by Damien Molony.
“First Kiss” by Brian Doyle
The awkward intricacies of a first kiss highlight the universal experience of navigating uncharted romantic territory. Performed by Edi Gathegi.
“Finger Dance” by Luis J. Rodriguez
A young man develops compassion for his emotionally distant father who is dying of cancer. Performed by Miguel Sandoval.
“Black Power” by Bernice McFadden
When Black Power enters 1960s Bed-Stuy, a young girl witnesses how it’s impact changes the neighborhood over the years. Performed by Malinda Williams.
“A Happy Dream” by Steve Almond
A young man waiting for his sister ends up on a blind date with a woman by pretending to be the man she’s looking for. Performed by Christopher Gorham.
“A Contract” by Ha Jin
A Communist Chinese Revolutionary Army squadron leader struggles to control a soldier who bullies everyone in their unit. Performed by Michael Paul Chan.
“Where the Gods Fly” by Jean Kwok
A Chinese immigrant mother struggles to do what’s best for daughter while wrestling conflicting values in this new American landscape. Performed by Daphne Cheung.
“A Full-Service Shelter” by Amy Hempel
A fierce young woman working at an animal shelter in Spanish Harlem takes on the most emotionally wrenching jobs, raising questions about what it means to be heroic. Performed by Samantha Mathis.
“Silver Water” by Amy Bloom
A young woman watches her sister sink into mental illness. Performed by Annette O’Toole.
“Joyas Voladoras” by Brian Doyle
The beating hearts of hummingbirds, blue whales and humans may come in different sizes but each offer an opportunity to meditate on the profound gift of life. Performed by Gethin Anthony.
“A Finger of Speech” by Brian Doyle
A child’s casual remark sparks a whimsical exploration of the diverse roles fingers play in communication. Performed by Rya Kihlstedt.
“Exterior Paint” by Kit de Waal
An interracial couple faces the trials and tribulations of hiding their love in a hateful, racist society. Performed by Danny Sapani.
“The Cato Street Conspiracy: Savage” by Kamila Shamsie
The 1820 plot to assassinate the English Prime Minister and his cabinet is told from the perspective of a nobleman whose nephew has come to live with him from the West Indies. Performed by Alastair Mackenzie.
“The Summer Before” by Alethea Black
The summer before a family’s world unravels, Meg and her two sisters navigate the complexities of adolescence against the backdrop of a looming divorce. Performed by Cassidy Freeman.
“Walls” by Tod Goldberg
A young man’s tumultuous childhood, marked by a revolving door of stepfathers leaves him yearning for closure in this journey through his past. Performed by Gary Cole.
“The Deep” by Anthony Doerr
After a young teen is diagnosed with a life threatening hole in his heart, an intrepid friend feeds his curiosity about nature. Performed by Damian Lewis.
“Brownies” by ZZ Packer
A young girl rethinks her preconceived notions about prejudice through an encounter on a Girls Scout camping trip. Performed by Alfre Woodard.
“The Accident” by Donald Hall
A boy’s youth is marked by the alcoholic behavior of his parents. Performed by Tony Shalhoub.