The Moth, the nation’s premiere organization dedicated to the art of storytelling, is used to holding their casual events in bars and auditoriums across the country. But tonight, the old-fashioned happening is sporting newfangled duds at the swanky annual Moth Ball.
Hosted by comedy writers Jonathan Ames and Mike Birbiglia, the gala will feature some of New York’s literary elite (and the celebrities who love them) as well as showcase one-minute stories told by the Moth GrandSLAM winners. Acclaimed journalist, novelist and humorist Calvin Trillin will also be on hand to receive the Moth Storytelling Award.
“A lot of times in the New York benefit scene, you just get honored for having a pulse. This is an award that actually has meaning,” says the jovial Trillin about why he’s excited about tonight’s event. “I mean, you’d be surprised. Days go by when I’m not honored by something.”
In his half-century of writing, Trillin has covered such wide-ranging topics as political satire and crime reporting, but perhaps it’s his memoirs — from “Alice, Let’s Eat” and “Third Helpings” to “Messages from My Father” and “Family Man” — that he is best known for.
However, the humorist is quick to note the difference between his writing and the truly confessional mark of some storytelling, blogs and jaw-dropping memoirs as of late. Meaning: Don’t expect him to confess his darkest secrets tonight on stage.
“Compared to most memoirs, mine are not considered very personal. I didn’t have any hideous ordeal — my grandmother wasn’t a heroin addict,” he drolly notes. “I’m at a terrible disadvantage because, well, I don’t like to admit this, but I had a happy childhood.” And then his voice goes down so low it’s almost a whisper: “And this is something I’ve never, ever admitted — but I actually liked high school.”
