A project that includes workshops – in dramatic writing & performance – a virtual gallery of shared stories from across the nation, and live recordings of an audio drama podcast that is an anthology of stories inspired or written by workshop participants woven with transcripts from current events.

This Moment in America, the audio drama podcast, is an everchanging anthology, featuring different stories at each performance. Live recordings are released on the Night Owl Theatre podcast.

At its heart, This Moment in America is a community art project that uses literary and performing arts. The story-sharing that happens in the workshops, the virtual gallery, and audio drama podcast seeks to promote community and personal healing.

Across the country, through summer 2023. If you are interested in hosting a workshop or performance, please email contact@swampwitchstudio.com.

Workshops consist of 12 hours of content. Curriculum includes:

• Writing exercises that encourage healing from stress & trauma.
• Instruction in the craft of writing for performance.
• An introduction to audio drama, including what makes it unique from theatre, film, and audiobooks.
• Gentle movement and stretching to literally and figuratively get the creative juices flowing.
• Performance exercises that promote confidence in public speaking.
• Instruction in the craft of acting, specifically for audio/voice acting.
• Community building based in our shared humanity.

Workshops are hosted by community organizations across the country. If you are interested in a workshop being available near year, please email contact@swampwitchstudio.com.

Occasionally, workshops will be offered directly through Swamp Witch Studio. Be sure to sign up for the newsletter to find out when those opportunities are available.

To learn more about hosting workshops, please email contact@swampwitchstudio.com.

Workshops are four sessions of three hours. One suggested schedule:

Friday 5 – 8 PM
Saturday 9 AM – Noon
Saturday 2PM – 5 PM
Consider booking a live performance at your venue for Saturday night.
Sunday 9 AM – Noon
Sunday 1 PM Optional Sharing Program (Workshop participants share their stories created in the workshop with friends and family)

Please email contact@swampwitchstudio.com to learn more about hosting the live audio drama recordings.

In recent years, the division in America has become stark. Whether you draw those lines politically, geographically, between urban and rural communities, or otherwise – the divide clearly indicates deep wounds within our communities, and across the nation. Throughout the pandemic, those wounds were further deepened.

The subtext of that hurt seemed to be the same, regardless of whether the subject was politics or the pandemic:

“You don’t hear me, so how can you possible understand me?!”

But what if we had a space where we were being invited to share our story? Where we were being guided to share our story authentically? Where we were given a platform to speak our story? Where we are listened to – and heard?

That is the big why of This Moment in America: to promote healing on both the community and personal level by sharing our stories and listening – deeply listening – to the stories of others.

It is our sincere wish that you will join us in the journey of healing through story.

You can catch the podcast episodes anywhere you listen to things by following Night Owl Theatre.

Swamp Witch Studio is producing This Moment in America in conjunction with its flagship audio drama podcast, Night Owl Theatre. Founder and Creator Clara Harris, a professional actor and writer – who also happens to be a yoga teacher specializing in applying the practices of yoga and mindfulness to connecting more deeply to your innate creativity – will be conducting the workshops and is the Artistic Director for the project.