Started in 1997 by novelist George Dawes Green, The Moth is a live storytelling event currently celebrating its 11th year. Inspired by informal, late-night storytelling sessions at a friend’s house in his native Georgia, the project is a forum for original performances of true-to-life stories.
The events are held throughout New York City, and as the project has grown, The Moth has expanded to include a national tour, ’story-slam’ contests, and an outreach program. The main event, Stories at The Moth, usually features a writer or performer of some acclaim, though the show is really about sharing a unique experience, no matter who it comes from. The stage has seen writers Jonathan Ames, Malcolm Gladwell, and Adam Gopnick among others, and was once graced by the late, great George Plimpton. Though the performances often feature a well known professional, each event is peppered with extraordinary stories from an array of backgrounds.
A sampling of the stories are available on the website. To understand what the ethos of the event is all about, listen to the dynamic tale from Ari Handel, “Don’t Fall in Love with Your Monkey”; the hilarious, though sad, Cindy Chupak story “Till Death or Homosexuality Do Us Part”; the inspiring, emotional Alan Robinowitz saga “Man and Beast”; and finally, the difficult and rather heartbreaking account by Jeffery Rudell, “Under the Influence”.
The stories all share the bold, visceral nature of being before an audience, not acting or playing a role, but sharing the bare facts. Each is crafted from a very personal experience, and the act of sharing can elicit an emotional reaction from both the audience and teller. It can be moving.
