The inaugural KC StorySLAM included poet Glenn North sharing an episode from his college days. He’s shown here (second from left) with his fraternity brothers at Lincoln University. (themoth.org/kansascity)
Lately Kansas City has been enjoying a raft of new entertainment options. Open or poised to open are the Aquarium, the Streetcar, The Rabbit hOle, CPKC Stadium, KC Wheel and Pennway Point, the Rock Island Bridge Project and Mattel Adventure Park.
The Moth StorySLAM just joined that list.
Thanks to sponsor and partner KCUR, Kansas City is now an official Moth city — one of 28 around the country to host the Moth StorySLAM open-mic storytelling competitions — and the first new site added by the not-for-profit Moth since before the pandemic.
Moth was begun by the novelist George Dawes Green in 1997 in New York. He wanted to recreate the lazy Georgia summer evenings of his youth, when he and his friends would spin tales amidst moths flying around the light on the porch. The mission: “to apply the craft of storytelling to build teams, inspire culture and elevate communication at work and beyond.”
Out of those memories, the Moth StorySLAM, in which anyone can share a true, personal five-minute story on a proposed theme, was born. There is no age minimum. According to the website, “There are two ways to share your story with The Moth. Record a short summary of your story on our pitch hotline or attend one of our many open-mic StorySLAMs and put your name in the ‘hat.’”
Since its inception, the Moth has grown exponentially, featuring both prominent and everyday people on its weekly podcast. The Moth Radio Hour was launched in 2009 and won a Peabody Award in 2010. The Moth has published four books and even an interactive card deck. There are 600 storytelling events a year. The Moth also offers educational and corporate workshops.
The first Kansas City StorySLAM event was held Sept. 12 at Knuckleheads. Moth producer/director, Chloe Salmon, a native of Manhattan, Kansas, enthused over the venue’s “super cool honkytonk vibe” and described the atmosphere as “electric.”
The inaugural theme was “Firsts.” The program featured renowned Kansas City poet Glenn North recounting a college romance sabotaged by a dirt bike mishap and Sue Marie Moreno remembering the challenges and joy of helping to found Womontown here. The stories are told, not read — no notes or cheat sheets are allowed, and advance preparation is a must.
The theme of the second program, held Oct. 17, was “Strange Encounters.” The host was Glenn North, and the assignment was stories about “the unexpected brushes with the peculiar, the wild and the extraordinary.” December brought “Silver Linings,” featuring five-minute stories about the bright side. March 10 at Knuckleheads, 2715 Rochester Ave., brought “Beef,” featuring stories about “the rivalries that push your buttons.”
While you’re waiting for the next live event, listen to the Moth Radio Hour Sundays at noon and Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on KCUR-FM 89.3.
For a schedule of future programs, tickets and instructions about how to submit a story, visit themoth.org/kansascity.
