YARN

What was left behind

Story by:  Lisa Lerner
Recorded:  May 2011, Brooklyn, NY
Music:  Esmerine; Sir Richard Bishop
Music Coordination:  Jeff Golick 

Broadcast July 31, 2011 on KUT-FM's "O'Dark 30" (Austin).

Arriving at her family's storage space in Syracuse, NY, a Brooklyn-based writer and mom is surprised to find the contents far more plentiful and significant than expected.  And now, with her four year-old daughter in tow, she has to figure out how to deal with it.

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(15:20)

Lisa Lerner is the author of the novel Just Like Beauty. You can read her latest short story, Childhood, at www.swinkmag.com. She lives in Brooklyn, New York with her daughter, a rabbit, and a bunch of stuff she probably doesn't need.

 

Discovering George

Story by:  Susan Collins
Recorded:  November 2010, Brooklyn, NY
Music:  Oursvince

When a L.A.-based actress embarks on a search to uncover the truth about her birth parents, a series of uncanny coincidences paves the way.

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(17:32)

Susan Collins is an actress who has worked in both NYC and L.A., in TV, film, and theater productions, including such shows Star Trek: Next Generation, Murder One, a Roseanne Barr Movie of the Week, Murder She Wrote and many others. She currently resides in Brooklyn, NY, where she is the mother of two and is working on her one-woman show.  The photo above is of Susan's birth parents, George and Judy, at their prom.  You can read more about the ALMA Society, referenced in this story, here.  You can listen to more creative commons music from the artist Oursvince here.

The best worst day ever

Story by:  Bradley Teal Ellis
Recorded:  August 2010, New York, NY
Music:  Ryan Rumery; with moments of Radiohead, The Commodores, and R.E.M. 

Broadcast January 3, 2011 on KUT-FM's "O'Dark 30" (Austin, TX).

An unfortunate car accident on the way to a Radiohead concert at Stone Mountain Park, Georgia sets the scene for a life-changing encounter at a Waffle House outside of Athens.

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(15:25)

Bradley Teal Ellis is a Brooklyn, NY-based dance artist and improviser.  Ryan Rumery is a Brooklyn-based musician and composer.  Read more about Ryan here.  Note:  this story assumes some familiarity with two public figures:  Thom Yorke, lead singer of Radiohead, and Michael Stipe, lead singer of R.E.M.  Thanks to Bradford Louryk and Emily Kent.

The through line

Story by:  Scott Mulhern
Recorded:  April 2010, New York, NY
Music:  Slow Six
Music Coordination:  Jeff Golick

Stumbling blindly through the late Sixties, a promising young actor finds comfort, then spiritual solace, after a series of stunning coincidences alter his life forever.

Broadcast March 27, 2011 on KUT-FM's "O'Dark 30" (Austin, TX).

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(12:59)

Scott Mulhern, father of two grown daughters, lives with his wife, Susan, in Hopewell, New Jersey.  After twenty years as an actor, he became a professional paperhanger.  He is a also poet and writer whose blog is Listening Walls. Photo at upper left:  Ananda Ashram in Monroe, NY.

Blue collar babysitter

Story by:  Jim Perakis
Recorded:  September 2009, New York, NY
Music:  Richard Thompson 

A portrait of Mike Butler:  tannery worker, hard drinker, avid gambler, and, in the eyes of three young boys growing up in suburban Massachusetts in the 1950s, the greatest babysitter ever.

Broadcast April 26, 2011 on The Story by American Public Media; also March 13, 2011 on KUT-FM's "O'Dark 30" (Austin, TX); and January 2, 2010 on WILL-AM's "Sidetrack with Jason Croft" (Urbana, IL).   

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(11:36)

Jim Perakis is the former CEO of Hyperion Software. 

Homewrecker

Story by: Louise Rozett
Recorded: March 2009, New York, NY
Music: Do Make Say Think
Music Coordination: Jeff Golick

Having fallen under the spell of a dashing young adventurer, an American college student in Australia endures a series of near-death situations, and in the process learns an unexpected lesson about the nature of marriage, friendship, and commitment.

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(14:47)

Louise Rozett is an actor ("Hope" in the 1999 NY Fringe Festival production of Urinetown), a singer, and an editor of romance novels who lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her boyfriend.

Seating Mr. Pacino

Story by: John Morogiello
Recorded: February 2009, New York, NY
Music: Marc Ribot
Music Coordination: Jeff Golick

Broadcast February 8, 2010 on KUT-FM's "O'Dark 30" (Austin, TX).  Chosen by PRX as a January 2010 "News Station Pick of the Month."

It's only his second week on the job as house manager at a major American regional theater, and an icon of the modern cinema is paying a visit.  That's when the embarrassing incident occurs, one which the house manager must clean up -- quickly, quietly, and literally -- putting every one of his newfound skills to the test.

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(7:21)

John Morogiello is a Playwright in Residence with the Maryland State Arts Council.  For more on his work, click here.  Producer's note:  John first told me this story seventeen years ago when we were working on a play together in DC.  I've never forgotten it, and sought him out specifically so we could record it for Yarn.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Meal ticket

Story by:  Wayne Peter Liebman

Produced by:  Eric Winick & Wayne Peter Liebman

Recorded: November-December 2008, Los Angeles, CA

Music:  Santo & Johnny

When a young doctor questioning his choice of profession has a chance encounter with cinema icon Marlon Brando, the ensuing conversation proves surprisingly profound -- not just for the doctor, but for Brando himself.

Featured by PRX as a News Station Pick for January 2009.  Broadcast January 22, 2009 on WBHM-FM's "Tapestry" (Birmingham, AL), February 7, 2009 on WILL-AM's "Sidetrack" (Urbana, IL); April 20, 2010 on KUOW-FM's "KUOW Presents" (Seattle/Puget Sound); and September 19, 2010 on KUT-FM's "O'Dark 30" (Austin).

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(10:00)

 

Wayne Liebman is a physician, poet and playwright.  To read more about his work, click here.  I met Wayne at the Third Coast International Audio Festival in Evanston, IL, which is where he first told me this story.  Since Wayne lives in L.A., he recorded his story there, and we compiled this story via e-mail, the first Yarn piece to be created in this fashion.  Thanks to Jay Allison, Caitlin Fitzwater, Bradford Louryk, and Rob Ribar.

Achilles

Story by: Isser Gallogly
Recorded: November 2008, Brooklyn, NY
Music: Pernice Brothers

A touch football enthusiast ventures into the Manhattan singles scene, with only three apparent drawbacks:  his crutches, the overly-inquisitive, and the presence of numerous open flames.

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(12:19)

Isser Gallogly is a native New Yorker living in Park Slope, Brooklyn.  When not injured, he works for NYU and performs improv comedy.  Music used by permission.

Graduation, she spoke

Story by: Dawn Luebbe
Recorded: October 2008, New York, NY
Music: Belle & Sebastian, with selections by John Addison, Edward Elgar, and Alan Menken

High school's a drag for one young woman with a secret, until she decides to turn graduation into a triumph over the forces that threaten to hold her back from achieving her true potential.

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(12:38)

Dawn Luebbe is an NYC-based actor, improviser and, as indicated, a tall drink of water.  Thanks to Michele Siegel for the input on this piece.