JACKSON, WY — On March 4, five brave storytellers—two local and three visiting—will bear their souls to a captive audience for 10 full minutes on The Center stage. Some of them are seasoned professionals. A few of them are brand new to The Moth Mainstage.
Storytelling on a main stage is, in part, a performance, says Moth Master Instructor Larry Rosen. But it doesn’t take a performer to bring a story to life.
“When the storyteller is connected to the story, you don’t ever have to worry about the performance,” Rosen said.
So what makes a good story? Rosen has been teaching with The Moth for 10 years leading workshop programs, providing curricula for teachers, bringing storytelling workshops to communities of all kinds, and, of course, directing The Moth Mainstage. He knows a thing or two about storytelling.
All it takes to make a story compelling is a simple question: “what is at stake?”
“Once the storyteller can express what was at stake, why this [story] was important, then they really care about the outcome.” And when the storyteller really cares, so does the audience.
Each story will somehow fit the theme “Between Worlds,” and Rosen said they all fit very well. But otherwise, each story will be true, personal, and completely unique. These aren’t your average “bar stories,” Rosen said—they’re anecdotal, sure, but they’re bigger than that. These stories are about life.
And that’s the beauty of The Moth, Rosen said. It’s more than a show. It’s a chance to connect with an entire room. Especially in an increasingly digital age, where more and more people have their eyes fixed on a screen more often than they look up, this is a chance to say “how about for a couple of hours, let’s just do this.”
And it’s hard to pay attention to anything but the stories. They bring people together in a way few other media can, Rosen said. “The beauty of what people hear is right in The Moth’s mission: the diversity and commonality of the human experience.”
Because in each and every story, there will be elements of complete surprise. Obstacles only the storyteller could overcome, and to which few people can relate. But there will also themes to which nearly everyone can connect. Moments of “oh my God, my family or my heartbreak was just like that,” Rosen said.
“You get this really raw connection between this person up there who has the generosity and bravery to tell you something that happened in their lives, and it becomes this wonderful shared communication.”
Don’t miss out a night of sharing and connection. The Moth Mainstage is Monday, March 4 at Center For the Arts. Doors open at 6 p.m., stories begin at 7 p.m. Buy your tickets online in advance.
