Madison Public Library's ~ Theater of the Mind

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Episodes

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Welcome to MPL's Theater of the Mind, a podcast from Madison Public Library where literature leaps off the page and into your ears. Join our librarians, staff, and library patrons as they bring classic plays, poetry, and timeless literature to life through dramatic readings and heartfelt performances. From the stirring monologues of Shakespeare to the haunting verses of Poe and the lyrical beauty of Lord Byron, each episode celebrates the power of the written word—and the voices of our Madison community.

Recent Episodes

JAN 15, 2022

Letter From Birmingham Jail

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested April 12, 1963, in Birmingham, Alabama. He was charged with violating a city order against public protest and was placed in solitary confinement. There he wrote a response to a statement published by eight fellow clergymen from Alabama, which challenged Dr. King’s nonviolent resistance.

We give you this reading of one of Dr. King’s most famous pieces of writing because we believe it is important to remember how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go.

A brief note before beginning: This is read out of respect for and in honor of Dr. King’s legacy and impact. Out of respect, the phrase “the n-word” will be used instead of the racial epithet as originally written.

43 MIN

DEC 25, 2021

The Gift of the Magi

Join staff from Madison Public Library as they participate in dramatic readings of some of everyone's favorite Christmas stories. This is Theater of the Mind: Christmas Edition. This ten day series includes stories from Charles Dickens, O. Henry, and Clement Moore. This evening's story is "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry. Sound effects from www.freesound.org "Boiling Water" by dersuperanton. Licensed under CC-BY 3.0. "Old Watch in a Small Antique Shop" by urupin. Licensed under CC-BY.

13 MIN

DEC 24, 2021

The Night Before Christmas

4 MIN

DEC 20, 2021

Christmas Carol - Day Seven

Join staff from Madison Public Library as they participate in dramatic readings of some of everyone's favorite Christmas stories. This is Theater of the Mind: Christmas Edition. This ten day series includes stories from Charles Dickens, O. Henry, and Clement Moore. This evening's story is the seventh and final part of Charles Dicken's "A Christmas Carol." "Metal squeaking chair" by Razzvio. www.freesound.org. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.

48 MIN

DEC 17, 2021

Christmas Carol - Day Six

Join staff from Madison Public Library as they participate in dramatic readings of some of everyone's favorite Christmas stories. This is Theater of the Mind: Christmas Edition. This ten day series includes stories from Charles Dickens, O. Henry, and Clement Moore. This evening's story is the sixth part of Charles Dicken's "A Christmas Carol." "00809 Removing Snow 3" by RobinHood76. www.freesound.org Licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.

56 MIN