AS AMERICA TURNS 250, THE MOTH AND NEW AMERICA BRING
“AMERICAN DREAMS” STORYTELLING SHOW TO WASHINGTON, D.C.
Tickets for the Special Mainstage on sale now
NEW YORK, NY (May 2026) — Acclaimed global storytelling nonprofit The Moth, in collaboration with respected think tank and civic enterprise organization New America, announces a special Washington, D.C. event as part of its extended “American Dreams” 2026 Mainstage tour and New America’s Us@250 initiative. The show will take place on Wednesday, June 10, at the National Building Museum. Tickets are on sale now.
This special event is part of a four-city tour extension to The Moth’s spring season, including Denver, St. Paul, and Houston, bringing a curated collection of stories that explore the complexities, triumphs, and surprises of the American experience. The Washington, D.C. program uniquely aligns with New America’s initiative to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary by fostering dialogue, reflection, and connection across communities.
“At a time when the country is grappling with questions of democracy and belonging, storytelling helps surface the lived experiences that should inform policy,” said Paul Butler, President and Chief Transformation Officer of New America. “Through this partnership with The Moth, we’re creating space for people to reflect on what the American Dream has meant—
pride, reckoning, and aspiration—as we approach this historic milestone.”
“We’re excited to partner with New America to bring this collection of stories—and varied perspectives—to a wider swath of people,” said Christina Norman, Chief Creative Officer of The Moth. “These reflect the many ways people define, pursue, and sometimes reinvent the American dream, and there’s nothing like experiencing them together in a room.”
THE MOTH “AMERICAN DREAMS” MAINSTAGE IN DC
WHEN: June 10, 2026, Doors: 6:30 PM | Show: 7:30 PM
WHERE: National Building Museum, 401 F Street NW, Washington, DC
PRESENTED: In association with New America
TIX AVAILABLE HERE
The DC presentation is the first of a four-show extension of the organization’s American Dreams Mainstage tour. The other shows in the series include:
- June 12 – Denver, CO, The Paramount Theatre (Doors 6:30 PM | Show 7:30 PM)
- June 25 – St. Paul, MN, The Ordway (Doors 5:00 PM | Show 7:00 PM)
- June 27 – Houston, TX, Cullen Performance Hall (Doors 6:30 PM | Show 7:30 PM)
CAST:
- Jon Goode (host) – Emmy-nominated writer and author of Black Curio, whose work has appeared on CNN, HBO, VH1, and MTV.
- George Sumner (storyteller) – Salt Lake City firefighter and retired suburban fire chief.
- Alistair Bane (storyteller) – Citizen of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, writer, and visual artist.
- Jackie Andrews (storyteller) – Former Army officer and glass artist from Columbus, Ohio.
- John Paul Brammer (storyteller) – Author and illustrator from Oklahoma, acclaimed for his book ¡Hola Papi!
- Renita Walls (storyteller) – Spoken word artist and nurse practitioner from Atlanta, Georgia.
About New America
Our mission is to generate big ideas and bold solutions for a new America. We envision an America that represents and serves the public, where institutions work for all Americans, where workers, families, and communities can thrive, and where people are secure from existential threats. Learn more at newamerica.org.
About The Moth
The Moth is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting humanity through the power of personal storytelling. Since launching in 1997, The Moth has presented more than 65,000 true stories—told live and without notes—to standing-room-only audiences around the world. Today, The Moth produces more than 600 live events annually and maintains an ongoing presence in 29 cities worldwide. Its work spans live storytelling, workshops and education, and media and publishing, including the internationally touring Mainstage series, open-mic StorySLAMs, and global storytelling initiatives. Each year, The Moth leads thousands of new storytellers through workshops for students, educators, adults, advocates, and professionals. Its Peabody Award-winning The Moth Radio Hour, presented by PRX, airs weekly on more than 540 public radio stations, while The Moth Podcast is downloaded tens of millions of times annually. The Moth has published five New York Times bestselling books and released My Life in Stories: A Guided Journal from The Moth (Clarkson Potter, an imprint of Penguin Random House, $22.99) in February. More at www.themoth.org.
Media Contact:
Meryl Cooper, The COOPERation, 917-974-0022, meryl@thecooperationinc.com