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Circle Round

WBUR

Created and produced by parents of young children, WBUR's Circle Round adapts carefully-selected folktales from around the world into sound- and music-rich radio plays for kids ages 4 to 10. Each 10- to 20-minute episode explores important issues like kindness, persistence and generosity. And each episode ends with an activity that inspires a deeper conversation between children and grown-ups.

Location:

United States

Networks:

WBUR

Description:

Created and produced by parents of young children, WBUR's Circle Round adapts carefully-selected folktales from around the world into sound- and music-rich radio plays for kids ages 4 to 10. Each 10- to 20-minute episode explores important issues like kindness, persistence and generosity. And each episode ends with an activity that inspires a deeper conversation between children and grown-ups.

Language:

English


Episodes

Katya the Quick feat. Etai Benson & Susannah Flood

5/24/2022
Susannah Flood (Life and Beth, Birthday Candles) and Etai Benson (The Band's Visit, Company) star in this Jewish folktale about a clever, quick-witted woman who uses her brilliant brainpower to save her family.

Duration:00:26:48

Misery Loves Company feat. Hrishikesh Hirway, Joshua Malina & Samin Nosrat

5/17/2022
Samin Nosrat (Salt Fat Acid Heat, Home Cooking), Hrishikesh Hirway (Home Cooking, Song Exploder), and Josh Malina (The West Wing, Chutzpod) star in this Ukrainian and Polish tale about what happens when misery loves company so much, it actually comes to life.

Duration:00:20:02

After Midnight feat. Fiona Glascott & David Morse

5/10/2022
David Morse (John Adams, How I Learned To Drive) and Fiona Glascott (Fantastic Beasts, Julia) star in this Irish tale about a magical creature who helps a young woman avoid hard work, until the tables are turned.

Duration:00:23:36

The Early Bird feat. Megan Boone & Jazmyn Simon

5/3/2022
Jazmyn Simon (Ballers, Most Perfect You) and Megan Boone (The Blacklist, The Underground Railroad) play competing birds in this Native American story about the surprising ways that slow and steady can win the race.

Duration:00:18:52

Encore: The Golden Flask

4/26/2022
Allison Strong (The Week Of) headlines this Incan tale from our second season about a brave, magical journey to heal a prince and save a family.

Duration:00:25:17

Friends in High Places feat. Mario Cantone & Denise Crosby

4/19/2022
Mario Cantone (And Just Like That, Surf's Up) and Denise Crosby (Star Trek: The Next Generation) star in this folktale about how the giraffe got its long neck, and how the rhino got an unexpected ally!

Duration:00:24:44

Of Beans and Bunnies feat. Efren Ramirez

4/12/2022
Efren Ramirez (Napoleon Dynamite, Lightyear) portrays a beloved trickster who lives by his wits—and uses them to outwit others—in this folktale from the Spanish-speaking world.

Duration:00:27:05

The Troupe of Ten feat. Malia Baker, Kelly Jenrette & Kenny Leu

4/5/2022
Malia Baker (The Baby-Sitters Club, Are You Afraid of the Dark), Kelly Jenrette (The Handmaid's Tale, All-American: Homecoming) and Kenny Leu (A Shot Through the Wall, Midway) headline a story about a troupe of actors who always bring down the house, until they're nearly brought down themselves.

Duration:00:24:26

Poor Rich feat. Michael Cerveris & Patrick Page

3/29/2022
Broadway stars Michael Cerveris (The Gilded Age, Fun Home) and Patrick Page (The Gilded Age, Hadestown) star in a Ukrainian folktale that shows there's more to wisdom than meets the eye.

Duration:00:22:14

Queen of the Forest feat. Mari Heller & Jorma Taccone

3/22/2022
Actors, directors and real-life couple Marielle Heller (The Queen's Gambit, MacGruber) and Jorma Taccone (MacGruber, The Lonely Island) headline a tale about bossy bullies and itsy-bitsy underdogs.

Duration:00:17:04

The Lumps of Clay feat. Maulik Pancholy

3/15/2022
In this classic Indian tale, Maulik Pancholy (Phineas and Ferb, Sanjay and Craig) plays a wonderfully wise adviser who finds an ingenious way to bring the truth to light.

Duration:00:20:16

The Magic Touch feat. Edi Gathegi

3/8/2022
Edi Gathegi ("The Harder They Fall," "For All Mankind") stars in this East African story about twin brothers, enchanted fruit, and the magic of an open heart.

Duration:00:28:51

Encore: Share and Share Alike

3/1/2022
Glynn Washington (Snap Judgment) and Tiffany Boone (Hunters, Nine Perfect Strangers) star in this favorite folktale from season one, about a lazy bear who isn't big on sharing, until he meets a clever rabbit.

Duration:00:19:44

Coyote's Wild Ride feat. Alan Tudyk

2/22/2022
Alan Tudyk (Resident Alien, Rogue One) plays a wily coyote desperate to show the world just how ultra-mega-super-spectacular he is -- or thinks he is, anyway!

Duration:00:21:36

Porcupine’s Plan feat. Jacob Laval

2/15/2022
Jacob Laval (John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch, Unbreakable Boy) plays a super savvy critter with a sharp body and even sharper mind in this Siberian folktale about taking advantage of hospitality.

Duration:00:22:52

The New Neighbor feat. Melora Hardin & Michael Zegen

2/8/2022
Michael Zegen (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Boardwalk Empire) helps Melora Hardin (The Bold Type, The Office) get her literal and figurative "just desserts" in this tricky tale about two very different neighbors.

Duration:00:21:39

A Coconut a Day feat. Jayne Houdyshell

2/1/2022
Tony Award winner Jayne Houdyshell (The Humans, The Music Man) stars in this Burmese tale about honesty, honor, and a highly coveted coconut tree.

Duration:00:22:23

Tiddalick Drinks Up feat. Izaac Wang

1/25/2022
Izaac Wang (Clifford the Big Red Dog, Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai) plays a tiny eel who teaches a big frog an even bigger lesson in this laugh-out-loud legend from Australia.

Duration:00:19:47

Plowing the Road feat. Kimiko Glenn

1/18/2022
Kimiko Glenn (My Little Pony, Orange is the New Black) learns the wonders of wisdom that old age can bring in this touching tale with roots in Japan, Laos, Mongolia, Slovenia, Romania, Russia and Haiti.

Duration:00:22:08

The Wiser Adviser feat. Elaine Hendrix, Devyn McDowell, Mark Pellegrino

1/11/2022
Elaine Hendrix (Dynasty, The Parent Trap), Mark Pellegrino (Supernatural, American Rust), and Devyn McDowell (Annette, The Good Nurse) star in this Jewish and Persian tale about how fortune can change in the blink of an eye.

Duration:00:24:22