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PEOPLE & ARTS Wednesday 28 June 2017

The Moth, a global storytelling initiative, turns 20

By KILEY ARMSTRONG ranged derelict; finding his
Associated Press way home again.
NEW YORK (AP) — What’s But it’s tales about regular
your story? people, places and things
From mind-blowing cir- that leave him “riveted” —
cumstances to everyday a deli scene; a woman’s
moments, sharing a story street mime encounter; a
about the human condi- personal revelation.
tion provides the stitch “When people respond
work for life’s tapestry. to my odd stories they re-
That’s what people are spond to something they
doing through The Moth , see in themselves,” says
a global storytelling initia- Green. The most “glorious
tive inspired by long-ago stories ... evoke a sense of
evenings on a small-town universality.”
Georgia porch. The New In The Moth’s nurturing
York-based nonprofit has cocoon, presenters and
presented over 20,000 audiences laugh and cry
“True Stories Told Live” since together over deep, some-
it was started by George times-dark secrets; embar-
Dawes Green in his Man- rassments; hopes and fears;
hattan living room 20 years challenges overcome;
ago. He marvels at what conflict and resolution. This Feb. 5, 2016 photo released by The Moth shows Tara Clancy. Clancy tells her own stories via
it’s become. “We’re being told that the The Moth, a global storytelling podcast of recordings from live events.
Storytellers can participate world is divided. I honestly Associated Press
in open-mic “slams” — five- believe stories are a part
minute talks in front of an of the solution,” says Burns,
audience without notes — who grew up begging her
in 22 U.S. cities; Sydney and grandmother at the kitch-
Melbourne, Australia; Lon- en table to tell stories “over
don and Dublin, Ireland. A and over again.”
podcast of recordings from Like their listeners, Moth
live events attracts 44 mil- storytellers come from all
lion downloads a year. walks of life: a refugee, an
The Moth Mainstage, fea- astronaut who couldn’t
turing top-notch storytell- swim, a scientist haunted
ers, tours internationally. by a childhood regret —
There’s also a Peabody wishing he’d shared his ex-
Award-winning radio show tra hot dog with a boy who
that airs weekly on 450 U.S. couldn’t afford one.
public radio stations and Hip-hop pioneer Darryl
a new book, “The Moth “DMC” McDaniels talked
Presents All These Wonders: about an obsession with
True Stories About Facing Sarah McLachlan’s ballad
the Unknown,” edited by “Angel” that kept his sui-
Moth Artistic Director Cath- cidal thoughts at bay.
erine Burns. The “shared humanity” of
“You go to a cocktail party The Moth, says storyteller
and get interrupted every Tara Clancy, creates “a
20 seconds by conversa- commonality with people
tion vultures,” says Green. who may be very different
But the world is “filled with from you.”
great storytellers. They just Clancy loves The Moth’s
weren’t given a chance.” embrace of “underrepre-
Green, a poet and novelist, sented voices.” Her own
has jaw-dropping true sto- stories, told in a distinct
ries of his own: hitchhiking New York accent, cele-
north at age 15; squatting brate “women from places
in a mausoleum with a de- like Queens.”q