Announcing Our Originals Member Benefit Slate for November
Audible, Inc., the world's largest seller and producer of downloadable audiobooks and other spoken-word entertainment, today announced the November slate of productions included in its Originals Member Benefit, through which Audible members can choose two Audible Original productions for free in addition to their monthly credit. These listening experiences are now available exclusively on Audible for members to choose from on the first Friday of every month at audible.com/OriginalsBenefit.
The November slate includes a rich palette of original performances from across genres, including: Patti Smith: Words and Music, Have a Nice Day (Billy Crystal, Annette Bening, Kevin Kline), Twain's Feast (Nick Offerman), Stephen Fry's Victorian Secrets, Strong Ending (Mary-Louise Parker), and Laurie Berkner's Song and Story Kitchen.
"For more than 20 years, we've been committed to bringing our customers artful performances that elevate well-composed words beyond the page and convey the unique power of listening to enhance their lives," said Audible founder and CEO Don Katz. "Audible membership now includes three titles a month with this new member benefit-access to a new genre of shorter programming written directly to the intimate listening aesthetic of Audible by novelists, journalists, playwrights, screenwriters, comedians and other talented creators, and delivered through the kinds of powerful performances that so many millions of Audible listeners hear every day. Our November offering has something for everyone and as our overall original programming slate expands, we will keep creating content that connects extraordinary artists and performers with a growing audience eager to ignite their imaginations."
Of her Audible Original, Patti Smith said, “In my early days in New York City, the late ‘60s, I would often walk by the Minetta Lane Theatre, wondering what was happening inside. I finally found out. Here’s the best of three wonderful nights there, songs and stories about life, loss and the city, performed with bassist Tony Shanahan, my son guitarist Jackson Smith and daughter pianist Jesse Paris Smith.”
Nick Offerman, commenting on his Audible Original, said, “While the origin story of Thanksgiving is a bit murky, morality-wise, I think we can all agree that the meal and company are to be savored. The fact that our series about my favorite American meals as imagined by Mark Twain, Twain’s Feast, is free for the month of November? Especially delicious.”
“Creating a live theater event for an Audible audience was a fun and exciting creative challenge,” said Billy Crystal. “In order to bring a stage play to the ears of our audience, we worked closely with Audible to create sound effects and music that allow the listener to ‘see’ and experience Have a Nice Day in a completely unique way. I loved the experience and look forward to bringing more stories to life in this unique form.”
More Information:
Patti Smith: Words and Music, features live audio performances captured at Audible’s Minetta Lane Theatre from a critically acclaimed sold-out three day run. Comprised of music from the beloved icon’s catalogue as well as personal stories from her memoirs, the performance also features Smith’s son and daughter–Jackson and Jesse Paris Smith–and longtime collaborator Tony Shanahan.
Have a Nice Day, a hilarious and poignant story performed by Billy Crystal, Annette Bening, Kevin Kline, Dick Cavett, Justin Bartha, Darrell Hammond, Rachel Dratch, Auli’i Cravalho and others, also recorded live during a sold-out run at the Minetta Lane Theatre. The story follows a President desperately scrambling to put his affairs in order to save his presidency, his relationship with his daughter, his marriage, and his life.
Twain’s Feast, a series hosted by actor, writer, and comedian Nick Offerman that explores the life of Mark Twain through the lens of eight of his favorite foods, and takes listeners on a rollicking, information-packed journey into the rich culinary history of America, with the sharp eye and unmistakable wit of Mark Twain as a guide.
Stephen Fry’s Victorian Secrets, true accounts of the dangerous low life and debauched high life of Victorian Britain, recounted by English actor Stephen Fry.
Strong Ending, performed by Emmy and Tony award-winning actress Mary-Louise Parker, which follows three military veterans as they attempt to turn their most painful stories into laughs by participating in a stand-up comedy boot camp.
Laurie Berkner’s Song and Story Kitchen, a production that weaves the beloved children’s musician’s stories, original music, and age-appropriate themes into her fun-filled kitchen where she whips up delicious food, songs, and stories along with her good friend and sidekick, Thelonius Pig.
On the first Friday of every month, Audible members get two Audible Originals for free out of a collection of six titles that will be refreshed monthly. These listening experiences, created and performed by extraordinary storytellers, actors, writers, and comedians, are available exclusively from Audible.
