Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures Presents The 2013 Moth Onstage

Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures will present The Moth Mainstage tomorrow evening, Thursday, August 22, 7:30 p.m., at the Byham Theater. (Doors open at 6:30.)

Once again the Moth Mainstage title theme features a Pittsburgh symbol or place: "On Point: Stories of Balancing Acts." In keeping with this theme, the new and larger venue at the Byham Theater puts The Moth audience closer to Pittsburgh's famous geographic "Point" than ever before.

Consistently a sell-out, each Mainstage show features five storytellers, a local musician to act as timekeeper, and a charismatic host. The 2013 Moth Mainstage will be hosted by comedian Dan Kennedy, author of three books including his new novel American Spirit, described by one Goodreads reader/reviewer as "an amusing guy-version of an Eat, Pray, Love odyssey." Kennedy is also known to Moth fans everywhere as the regular host of The Moth's popular weekly podcast, downloaded more than 15 million times a year, as well as a contributor to McSweeneys.net and GQ magazine.

Local storytellers include Pittsburgh actor David Newell, who played Mr. McFeely, the beloved "speedy delivery" man on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood; Justin Strong, a Pittsburgh entrepreneur best known for opening and operating the Shadow Lounge in the East Liberty; and local photographer, social worker, and producer of the Pittsburgh Moth StorySLAM Kelly Flanagan Dee. Travelling tellers include Chicago writer Shannon Cason, host of storytelling show "Do Not Submit" and podcast Homemade Stories, and Trisha Coburn, a short story writer and former fine artist in Boston and New York City. Pittsburgh singer-songwriter Joy Ike, with a new album and a national fan base, will perform musical accompaniment and keep the tellers to their time limits on stage.

Called "New York's hottest and hippest literary ticket" by the Wall Street Journal, The Moth is an acclaimed nonprofit dedicated to the art of storytelling. The Moth has presented more than 10,000 stories by people of all walks of life via stage shows, weekly podcasts, and a Peabody Award-winning radio special, The Moth Radio Hour (broadcast locally on 90.5 WESA).

Following the success of the first three Mainstage events, The Moth debuted a Pittsburgh branch of its beloved StorySLAM, a monthly open-mic storytelling competition, in October 2011. Pittsburgh is one of 13 cities nationwide to host a StorySLAM, and sell-out crowds of over 300 have packed venues in Pittsburgh's South Side as 10 interested locals, chosen randomly and live, take the stage each month.

This Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures special event is presented in partnership with The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and sponsored by pair Networks and Six Penn Kitchen. Media sponsors are Pop City and WESA 90.5fm. Tickets are available at pittsburghlectures.org, by phone at 412-622-8866, or at the door.