May 18, 2012

Invisible Made Visible

The radio version of an episode we did live on stage and beamed to movie theaters. David Sedaris, Tig Notaro, Ryan Knighton, and the late David Rakoff, in his final performance on the show.

Video: Live Show

The Invisible Made Visible

David Sedaris, David Rakoff, Tig Notaro, Glynn Washington, Terry Gross, Mike Birbiglia, Ryan Knighton, dance by Monica Bill Barnes & Company, music by OK Go (who created an app so the audience could play along with the band).

The other half of this two-hour show was visual, including dancers, animation, and more. You can download video of the entire show or watch it here on our site.

Prologue

By

Ryan Knighton

Ira interviews Ryan Knighton, a blind guy who had a very peculiar experience with a hotel room telephone. Then Ira introduces the rest of the show, which was recorded live on stage in New York City and beamed to movie theaters in the US, Canada and Australia. (7 minutes)

Act One

Does a Bear Hit in the Woods?

By

OK Go

Ryan Knighton

Ryan Knighton, who was interviewed in the prologue, tells this story about trying to get his daughter to understand his blindness. Ryan is the author of the memoir Cockeyed. (7 minutes)

Act Two

Groundhog Dayne

By

Taylor Dayne

Tig Notaro

Famous people are supposed to be somewhere else, invisible to us. Comedian Tig Notaro tells this story about repeatedly running into Taylor Dayne, who was a pop star in the late 80s and early 90s. At the end of the story, we have a little surprise for Tig. Tig Notaro stars in the Amazon show One Mississippi. (16 minutes)

Song:

“Needing/Getting” by OK Go

Act Three

Stiff as a Board, Light as a Feather

By

David Rakoff

David Rakoff tells this story, about the invisible processes that can happen inside our bodies...and the visible effects they eventually have. David died three months after this performance, in August 2012. We dedicated an episode to him, collecting stories he told on the show over the years. David finished a final book - a novel, written in rhyme - called Love, Dishonor, Marry, Die, Cherish, Perish. It will be published in July.

Act Four

Turn Around Bright Eyes

By

David Sedaris

Ira Glass's sister once met David Sedaris, and commented that he was much nicer than she thought he would be, given his writing. David replied, "I'm not nice, just two-faced." In this story, David shares the thoughts running through his head as he attempts to buy a cup of coffee. His most recent book is Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls. (8 minutes)

Below are photos from the show, by Adrianne Mathiowetz.