Dauphin County Edition
January 2012
Vol. 14 No. 1
Creativity ‘Works’ for Local Actor By Laura Farnish “I never buy that ‘at this time of your life’ stuff. It’s as though people think that if you reach a certain age you should just retire and play checkers at the fire hall, as though that’s the norm.” For Chet Williamson, the fire hall is merely a staged scene, and checkers are nothing more than a prop. As a board chair for Creative Works of Lancaster, Williamson remains active in the local community through recognizing the kind of performance and art Lancaster needs and wants. The non-profit organization’s mission is “to fuel and sustain the city’s cultural renaissance.” Their free and low-priced shows aim to fill the artistic gaps in Lancaster’s cultural offerings. Although started several years ago, the organization has been active for the past year and a half. Their work includes sock puppet parodies, staged readings in art galleries, and full productions of non-traditional plays. Williamson’s current involvement, however, is only an addition to his repertoire of success over the years. As a young actor, Williamson was involved in regional theater and industrial shows, which led him into writing. His first short story, sold to The New Yorker and other markets, was published in the 1980s, followed by his first published novel in 1986. Williamson continued to pursue his career as a writer, publishing suspense and dark fantasy fiction, children’s books, and written work for a local college. please see CREATIVITY page 14 The view from the audience seats is a change of perspective for Chet Williamson, who has been comfortable on stage for decades.
Inside:
How Much You’ll Pay for Medicare in 2012 page 8
Grandparenting: Agonies and Ecstasies page 10
Landisville, PA Permit No. 3
PAID PRSRT STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE