The Moth presented this year’s gala, A Wrinkle In Space and Time, on Tuesday, June 4 at Capitale in New York City with over 500 guests in attendance. The evening included a cocktail party, an elegant seated dinner, a silent auction, and their signature Moth Ball storytelling show, featuring the annual Moth Award presentation to Roxane Gay, followed by dessert and dancing.
On hand to celebrate were VIPs including the evening’s honoree Roxane Gay, along with Padma Lakshmi, Rachel Dratch, Monica Lewinsky, Meg Wolitzer, Jonathan Adler, Deborah Dugan, Roz Chast, Narciso Rodriguez, Lawrence Burstein, Ari Handel, Serena Altschul, Calvin Trilin, Anne Maffei, astronaut Mike Massimino; philanthropist Boykin Curry, fashion designer Natalie Chanin; celebrity minister Nadia Bolz-Weber; author and Moth founder George Dawes Green; Event Co-Chairs Sarah Cole and Nina Patterson; The Moth’s Artistic Director Catherine Burns and Executive Director Sarah Haberman as well as contortionists, aliens and other space-age marvels.
Hosted by Simon Doonan and co-chaired by Sarah Cole and Nina Patterson, the evening was the Moth’s biggest fundraiser yet. Doonan’s hilarious story of mistaken identity was the centerpiece of the evening – and was preceded by other true personal tales shared from the stage including those from national Grand SLAM champions, a former student from The Moth’s high school program, and an alum of The Moth Community Program. The event co-chairs Sarah Cole and Nina Patterson presented the Jonathan Adler-designed award to this year’s honoree, Roxane Gay. Capping off the festivities: DJ Twig the Wonderkid spinning at the dance party to close out the evening.
The sold out event was The Moth’s most financially successful fundraiser ever, surpassing last year’s record-breaking turnout. Proceeds will go to support over 600+ live storytelling shows in the U.S. and abroad, The Moth Radio Hour, The Moth podcast and the organization’s community and education programs.
Since its launch in 1997, The Moth has presented thousands of stories told live and without notes. Moth shows are renowned for the great range of human experience they showcase. Each show starts with a theme, and the storytellers explore it, often in unexpected ways. Since each story is true and every voice authentic, the shows dance between documentary and theater, creating a unique, intimate, and often enlightening experience for the audience.
The Moth was founded by the novelist George Dawes Green, who wanted to recreate in New York the feeling of sultry summer evenings in his native Georgia, when moths were attracted to the light on the porch where he and his friends would gather to spin spellbinding tales. The first New York Moth event was held in George’s living room and the story events quickly spread to larger venues throughout the city.
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