INTERVIEW: ‘The Moth’ comes to Lincoln Center for a night of stories
Photo: The Moth will place Lincoln Center Sept. 23. Photo courtesy of Laura Partain / Provided by The Moth with permission.
The Moth is a storytelling phenomenon that continues to enrapture audience members — in person, on the radio and in other audio formats. The evening has few parameters, but so many important takeaways. A series of skilled storytellers take to the stage and share their narratives before a receptive crowd. There are sometimes themes to the stories, but for the most part, these are simply quality tales to tell. They are humorous, profound, reflective and soul-searching.
Although in-person theater has been sidelined for the past two years, venues are starting to open up again. The Moth will bring their stories to Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park for a special outdoor performance Thursday, Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m. This beautiful bandshell is located adjacent to the Metropolitan Opera House.
Throughout its expansive life, The Moth has told more than 40,000 stories, with its tales being downloaded more than 90 million times in a given year, according to press notes. The Lincoln Center performance will be fairly loose, but it is built around the theme of “Heart and Soul,” two most appropriate terms for living through a pandemic.
Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Chloe Salmon, a producer of The Moth. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
What are you most excited for the audience to hear during this evening of storytelling?
I’m most excited for the audience to watch these stories light up the stage! This is one of our first mainstages back with an in-person audience, and the feeling of so many people listening together from the same place lends a magic I’ve missed. We’ll also be live streaming the show to viewers who are unable to make it in person, and I know they’ll be able to feel that magic as well.
What do you think it is about The Moth that makes these stories so thrilling and engaging?
On its face, the concept of The Moth is pretty simple: people from all walks of life getting up on a stage with a microphone and sharing something true and personal from their lives. But it’s a concept that keys into a very human craving for connection and understanding. When you watch someone stand up and be vulnerable in a room full of strangers, it’s almost impossible not to root for them. Moth stories can bring out the best in the people who listen to them, and that’s not a small thing!
What’s the behind the scenes look like for a performance like this?
By the time a Mainstage show rolls around, each storyteller has worked extensively with a Moth director to shape their story for the stage. Behind the curtain, there’s a lot of sharing, refining and sharing some more. It’s a process, but at the end of it you have a story that will hopefully spark something for every listener.
Are there extra steps given that this performance is outside?
All in-person attendees are required to show proof of vaccination at the door, wear a mask and will be seated in distanced “pods.” We’re excited to be back and are committed to making our events as safe as we can so folks can just sit back and enjoy the stories!
Do you think it has been easier or tougher finding stories of “Heart and Soul” during the pandemic?
I’ve found that people are just as willing, if not more so, to share their stories. It’s certainly been a tough year, with a lot of us spending more time alone. Having an opportunity to be in a space with people again — where everyone is listening together to what you have to say and supporting you all the while? I think it’s a way of being held that we haven’t quite had the opportunity to experience while separated.
Can relaying stories be therapeutic? Meditative? Encouraging?
All of the above, and more! It’s a way to share a part of yourself and offer yourself up to be seen. That kind of vulnerability can be scary, but it’s almost always rewarding.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
The Moth will play Thursday, Sept. 23 at Damrosch Park at Lincoln Center. Click here for more information and tickets.
