The poet Maya Angelou once said that “words mean more than what is set down on paper.  It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning.”  This quote best sums up the goals of a local group organizing a special event in Collingwood this fall with tickets being released on July 1st.

Wordstock, a literary festival being held in Collingwood this September, is presenting an exciting opening gala at the Gayety Theatre on September 10th.  During a live show, the audience will experience performers stretching their usual boundaries to interpret words through storytelling, theatre, songwriting, poetry, music and visual arts.

Event organizer, Silann Kaduc, describes the evening as an avant-garde performance that celebrates words in all their forms of expression.  She cites an example of a poet and a mime performing together in an interactive way.  While the group doesn’t want to reveal the full show outline in order to create dramatic impact for the audience, Kaduc did say that planning for the gala has involved many people such as Frank McNulty of JBG Productions, Steven Thomas of Theatre Collingwood and singer-songwriter, Romney Getty.

The role of emcee for the show will be shared by Barbara Weider and Denis Mildon who both have a long history and association with the arts in Collingwood.  “Our emcees will be the thread that tie the entire evening together as they bring to life the evolution of literary arts in Collingwood, “ said Kaduc.

Wordstock will be presenting a full line-up of events on the Saturday in and around downtown Collingwood and, all at no cost although some advance registration is required for certain events.  Three separate readings featuring nine authors will be held through the day at Trinity United Church with a capacity for 400 people. Former Toronto Star columnist turned mystery writer, Linwood Barclay will present together with such other noted authors such as Giles Blunt, author of the John Cardinal mystery books and Maureen Jennings, best known for her Murdock Mysteries series, in one of the sessions.  Both local and nationally known, non-fiction and memoir writers are also featured in the other two sessions.

The line-up also includes specific events geared to teens and to children as well as a series of workshops and a full poetry showcase.

Wordstock is a not-for-profit event being organized by an ad hoc group of individuals who felt the time was right to celebrate the literary arts as well as the new Collingwood Public Library and revitalized downtown streetscape.  Both the Town of Collingwood and the BIA have joined as partners for the event. 

Tickets for the Friday night gala as well as advance reservations are being launched at exactly 10:00 am on July 1st.  On that date and thereafter, people can register and get tickets online at www.wordstockcollingwood.com or can call the Town of Collingwood events office at 445-9463.