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In a rare opportunity to peek inside the mind of a creative playwright and actor at work, Deep Dish Theater Company presents a workshop of a new play by Mike Wiley for four performances only, March 18 to March 21. Wiley and Deep Dish Artistic Director Paul Frellick will host an audience discussion following each performance.
Playwright and actor Mike Wiley is known for his documentary pieces on historical events, but his newest work is a more personal piece about fatherhood and family. "The play is intended," Wiley said, "as a guide for boys who have been raised by mothers in the absence of a father. It's affirmation for men who've managed to survive and prosper in that absence. It's a thank you to those mothers performing solo every day of their lives. My hope is that audiences will come and share their experiences in a way that will help shape the play into a story about building community one person at a time."
Blending art and education, Wiley has created original works focusing on pivotal moments in African-American history, including such performances as One Noble Journey, Dar He: The Story of Emmett Till, and Blood Done Sign My Name, based on author Tim Tyson's best-selling chronicle. A ‘tour-de-force' (Raleigh News & Observer) and ‘an intensely physical actor and writer who can turn on the charm' (Independent Weekly), Wiley is a Trio Achiever Award recipient and graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill's M.F.A. program with more than ten years in theater. "Mike is an exceptionally gifted writer and performer, and we're thrilled to collaborate with him on this new piece," said Frellick. "This workshop process will enable us to focus on the development of the text in a theatrical context - it's a terrific opportunity for us and for our audience, who'll be getting the first look at this brand new play. It'll be fresh, raw, and probably different every night."
Performances begin Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday (matinee) at 2 p.m. Deep Dish is located in Chapel Hill's University Mall, on Estes Drive and US 15-501. All tickets are $10. Tickets are available at the Deep Dish box office in University Mall, Wednesday to Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m., at www.deepdishtheater.org, or (919) 968-1515. The Deep Dish Theater Company is committed to presenting compelling, human-centered dramatic work that contributes to the cultural richness of the Triangle area and challenges audiences to explore concerns of the community and the world-at-large.
