Drawn to the Light: The Moth Mainstage at The State Theatre

New York-based nonprofit The Moth treated Ithacans to a Saturday evening of true stories told live, and I was lucky enough to be there, sitting in the orchestra section of The State Theater. As a long time listener to The Moth’s highly subscribed-to podcast and someone who has therefore been informed innumerable times during the podcast’s opening that “since its launch in 1997, The Moth has presented thousands of stories, told live and without notes, to standing-room-only crowds worldwide,” it felt great to finally be seeing the spectacle in person. Given the intimate nature of The Moth’s platform, it is not uncommon for stories to inspire tears at one moment and laughter in the next, from tellers and listeners alike. The Moth never fails to keep its audience engrossed from start to finish, and Saturday night’s event was no exception. Storytellers spoke of experiences ranging from the relatable (being a child and constructing something marvelous in your backyard) to the totally unexpected (being a punk-rocker, and having your heart melted while serving jury duty).