The Moth story workshops, public performance planned on campus

  • Oct. 1, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The Moth is coming to Indiana University Nov. 2 to 4 to mentor students in storytelling.

The not-for-profit organization produces "The Moth Radio Hour," a nationally broadcast program from The Public Radio Exchange that uses the motto "True Stories Told Live."

IU Bloomington's new Arts and Humanities Council is bringing the Moth team to campus to present two-day workshops in which 60 students will work in small groups and one-on-one with visiting instructors. For two hours each day, selected students will learn to shape their personal experiences into well-crafted stories. The workshops will introduce the Seven Principles of Moth Storytelling, The Moth Story Map and elements of live performance.

On the last night, up to 25 workshop participants will test out their newly honed skills before a live audience in a StorySLAM at the Wells-Metz Theatre. Students will share true, five-minute stories on the theme of "Choices." Doors will open at 7 p.m. Nov. 4 and the stories will begin at 7:30 p.m.

The Moth workshops and the StorySLAM are free events, but space is limited. The general public is encouraged to attend the StorySLAM, but the storytelling workshops will be limited to IU students.

"The Arts and Humanities Council is committed to creating rich experiences for all IU students,” said Ed Comentale, the associate vice provost for arts and humanities at IU Bloomington and chair of the provost's Arts and Humanities Council.

"The Moth is a perfect first event for us because the program is dedicated to storytelling as a universal art, one practiced by people from every walk of life. Students from any school or degree program are encouraged to join us. We’d love to hear stories from scientists, mathematicians and business majors just as much as from students in English and Folklore," he said.

The Arts and Humanities Council was created by Provost Lauren Robel in April 2015 as a major initiative of the Bloomington campus bicentennial strategic plan. One of the council’s primary tasks is to encourage student engagement with campus resources and programming in the arts and humanities.

"The Arts and Humanities Council's mission includes intimately engaging the power of our community's creativity and unlocking all the magical spaces on our campus where that creativity can flourish," Provost and Executive Vice President Lauren Robel said. "This event is a beautiful example of the ways a residential campus can bring such activities to life."

IU students interested in applying for the storytelling workshops should email their name, major and a true, first-person story (500 words or less) on the theme of "Choices" to iubmoth@indiana.edu.

Students should specify which workshop session, A or B, they prefer to attend. Group A will meet from 4 to 6 p.m. Nov. 2 and 3, while Group B will meet at 7 to 9 p.m. Students must attend both days. The workshops will meet at the Grunwald Gallery in the Fine Arts Building.

Applications will not be accepted without a story submission. Students will be contacted Monday, Oct. 19, to confirm their space in the workshop.

"The Moth Radio Hour" is broadcast in Bloomington at 2 p.m. Sunday on WFIU- FM 103.7. It can be heard in  Indianapolis at 8 p.m. Monday and at 1 p.m. Sunday on WFYI-FM 90.1. Episodes and podcasts also are available online.

The Moth invites people to tell first-person stories live.

The Moth invites people to tell first-person stories live. | Photo by Roger Ho

Print-Quality Photo

This photo captures a 2006 reading in New York City sponsored by The Moth.

This photo captures a 2006 reading in New York City sponsored by The Moth. | Photo by Flash Rosenberg

Print-Quality Photo

Media Contacts

Joe Hiland

  • Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President
  • Office 812-856-1510
  • jahiland@indiana.edu

Jennifer Piurek

  • Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President
  • Office 812-856-4886
  • jpiurek@iu.edu