The Magic Word is Wordshop

The Magic Word is Wordshop

by Karen L. Wisotzkey

Words can make magic — mix up the letters a little, and you’ve got something totally different, with a whole new meaning. When you look carefully at what you think says “Writer’s Workshop” you may stop and think, “Ha!” Someone made a typo in the name! Be assured that this is no mistake (although, the name did originate from one big typographical error, 22 years ago). The name “Wordshop” is as magical as the entity it represents. Today, after all these years, “Wordshop” signifies one of the most unique experiences a writer or appreciator of the written word can have in Harrisburg.

“So, what is a Wordshop?” you ask. Your assumption, by similar word-association, may lead you to think that this is some kind of educational endeavor, filled with writing and critique, assignments and exercises. You’re on the right track, but it’s so much more than that!

Every Friday night, people from all walks of life come together in a single room to share the written word (or spoken word) in a very social environment. It doesn’t matter if those people are experienced writers, people with a new interest in writing, songwriters, playwrights, poets, journalists, or people who don’t consider themselves writers at all. What matters is the fact that everyone has the opportunity to participate, that it’s open to anyone, and that membership is free. In essence, this organization, known as “Writer’s Wordshop” is a support group for writers.

Nathan Gadsden The brainchild of Harrisburg’s current Poet Laureate, Nathaniel Gadsden, Writer’s Wordshop (officially named, “Nathaniel Gadsden’s Writer’s Wordshop”) has survived 22 years of growth and change. Over these years, the meeting space has changed, writers have rotated in and out, and the entire program has grown and evolved into what is now a resident company at Harrisburg’s Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts.

These days, most Friday meetings include what Nate Gadsden has coined, “Café Word” — in other words, an informal setting of writing-related activity. Every week is different, with a combination of activities that people have described as a “spiritual experience.” “Café Word” includes open readings of poetry and prose, non-threatening exercises designed to give people a chance to write, evenings when local singer/songwriters combine words with music, and nights when special guests come to share their writings or information about the writing process or the publishing industry. As you can see, this setting is educational, experimental, experiential, and social.

Over the past few years of continued growth, Wordshop has become even more than those weekly meetings that original Wordshop member, Claude Lewis, calls, “A great way to spend a Friday night.”

Bringing the voice of the writers to the public has called for the development of different “branches” of the Writer’s Wordshop. The “Wordshop Journal” was developed as a publishing arm —
a free monthly newsletter which is a way for Wordshop members to publish their works. The “Wordshop Performance Ensemble” was established to bring staged readings to the public and to give these writers a true voice.

With the move to Whitaker Center, Writer’s Wordshop has reached a new frontier in the local community. The regular Friday night meetings are now being held in one of Whitaker Center’s multi-purpose rooms. These regular meetings continue to be free and open to the public and are a perfect opportunity for the Harrisburg community to make use of the space at Whitaker Center. What has changed is that now, one Friday of each month (usually the 3rd or last Friday, depending on holidays), Wordshop will command Stage Two, with performances by either the Wordshop Performance Ensemble or a special guest. These nights are still open to the public, but will entail a slight ticket fee (roughly $5.00), which will help support Wordshop’s monthly space rental.

The first of the monthly performance was Collage, a theatrical program that included all 13 members of the Wordshop Performance Ensemble. Director (and actress), Diane Hetes, compiled the diverse works of poetry, written by the Ensemble members, and made their stories and experiences mesh together into a ‘collage’ of diverse voices. Collage was designed to illuminate the many feelings, perceptions, and philosophies of a changing society, as perceived by the writers. The performance included words that challenged, confronted, and ultimately lifted the audience to higher awareness of how many people experience life.

This is a very exciting time for members of the Writer’s Wordshop. Not only do Performance Ensemble members have a chance to claim the Whitaker stage, but the community has a chance to see the local talent in action. As the general public grows more familiar with Writer’s Wordshop, the group is destined to grow in size. As writers continue to find their voices and join an organization that allows them to network with other writers, great things will continue to happen and more doors will open.

Twenty-two years ago, a man had an idea. That one idea has turned words and writing into something very social. From that one idea, one typographical error has become a uniquely identifiable word — and that one word represents a magical experience for a growing number of people in the Harrisburg community. Proof that words can make magic!

Over the next few months, monthly performances at Whitaker Center are scheduled to feature three members of the Wordshop Performance Ensemble and musical entertainment on each date:

October 29 – Rich Hemmings, Christine Johnson, Bonnie Green

November 19 – Jason Moffitt, Shaashawn Dial, Karen Wisotzkey

December 17 – Kevin Toby Clark, Nellie Cammack, Michael Hetes

For more information about Writer’s Wordshop, please call 717-233-7611 or join them on Fridays at Whitaker Center. Wordshop meets every Friday evening from 6:30p–8:30p.

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