Anna Deavere Smith To Receive 2009 Moth Storytelling Award 11/17

Celebrating one of today's greatest raconteurs, The Moth will present acclaimed actress and playwright Anna Deavere Smith with The 2009 Moth Award at its annual Moth Ball on Tuesday, November 17th in New York City.

The gala tops off a year of major growth for The Moth, including the launch of a nationally syndicated radio program and the debut of Moth StorySLAMs in new cities. Since its launch in August, The Moth Radio Hour has been licensed by more than 200 stations around the country, while The Moth Podcast now boasts more than one million downloads per month. StorySLAMs extended into the heartland this month with sold-out kick-off events in Chicago and Detroit.

Smith's honor will be the centerpiece of an evening celebrating The Moth, the 12-year old non-profit organization dedicated to the art of storytelling. Hosted by Garrison Keillor and Jonathan Ames, the gala will also feature one-minute stories told by ten of recent winners of the New York and Los Angeles GrandSLAMs and the awarding of a $5,000 scholarship to a New York City high school student who excels at storytelling.

Lea Thau, executive director of The Moth, said that Smith was tapped as this year's honoree for combining elements of journalism, social commentary, and theater to take the art of storytelling to a new level. Exploring complex topics like class, racism, politics, and national identity, Smith has given voice to people from all walks of life in such acclaimed plays as "Fires in the Mirror" and "Twilight: Los Angeles 1992." Her latest play, "Let Me Down Easy," an examination of illness and health care, opened off-Broadway to glowing reviews earlier this month.

"One of the most important hallmarks of a great storyteller is the ability to observe and listen, and no one better personifies that skill than Anna Deavere Smith," said Thau. "We are proud to honor Anna for taking storytelling to new heights, shedding light on difficult social issues, and creating a new and unforgettable experience for her audiences."

Garrison Keillor, a past Moth Award honoree, will present Smith with a special statuette created by designer Jonathan Adler.

Another highlight of the evening will be the second annual cross-country contest between winners of the ten most recent Los Angeles and New York Story GrandSLAMS.

Ensuring that future generations continue to experience the joy of storytelling, The Moth will also present The MothSHOP Community Scholarship. The $5,000 prize will be awarded to Terrence Buckner, a freshman at Wadleigh, a performing arts high school in Harlem and a graduate of The MothSHOP Community High School Program. Since 1999, the program has taught underserved high school students how to tell their personal stories, enabling them to boost confidence levels and communications skills.

Tickets for The Moth Ball at Capitale are $175 for Gala Party and Show-Only tickets and $325 for Gala Dinner & Party Tickets. Tickets can be purchased at www.themoth.org/ball.