Man-Moth &
The Gospel of Possibility
An official event of the Rising High Arts Festival
To launch FUSION’s annual Rising High Arts Festival, Man-Moth & The Gospel of Possibility is coming to FUSION | The Cell on Thursday, October 8, and Friday, October 9, at 7 PM.
“WOW! I'm blown away. Man-Moth goes to Birdland in cape, beret, and shades, he’s assaulted by naphthalene hailstones...This is so well thought out, Man-Moth is a complete being, his poems/adventures draw us in like Siren calls.” — Walter Lenci, San Francisco, Independent Scholar
The show is a staged reading with music from the poetry book, Man-Moth & The Gospel of Possibility by Donald Levering. The poems are read by two readers in a unique style of “Prespeak, Swap Out, Repeat, and Double Down.” The live reading is accompanied by original music and audio and played on multiple instruments by a single musician.
Donald Levering’s 17th book of poetry was inspired by Elizabeth Bishop’s poem, “The Man-Moth.” Her poem, in turn, was sparked by a misprint of the word “Man-Moth” for the word “mammoth” in the New York Times. Several of the poems are introduced by quotes from Bishop’s poem. Like her character, Levering’s Man-Moth is an often unwelcome “other” who roams New York City, riding its subways “facing the wrong way” and scaling skyscrapers as he is pursued. He is ostracized by ordinary humans for his differences from them, and also feels a compelling kinship with moths. He witnesses his human mother’s death from Covid. Like Hamlet, in the crucible of his woes he ponders existential questions.
The Man-Moth tale begun by Bishop is combined with a mysterious narrative of mushroom/fungal prowess inspiring a hopeful uprising facilitated by the sailors of the schooner Possibility against tedium, cynicism, and the oppression of the “orange tyrant.”
The production debuted at Santa Fe’s Teatro Paraguas in May of 2026 where its run of three performances was sold out.
Thursday, October 8th, 7 pm
Friday, October 9th, 2 pm
$20 General / $15 Seniors/Students
FUSION | The Cell
700 1st St NW, Downtown ABQ
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We ask that you consider a donation to FUSION to support ongoing arts development and programs like these.
FUSION is a 501-c-3 non-profit organization.
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FINE PRINT: All purchases are final, there are no refunds.
Latecomers (5 minutes prior to curtain and later) will be seated at the discretion of the management.
Quality bar service by:
