“If the house is to be set in order, one cannot begin with the present, he must begin with the past.” – John Hope Franklin
Mike Wiley Productions is a driving force in the development and promotion of documentary theatre. Led by actor and playwright, Mike Wiley, the company’s plays span the worlds of Emmett Till, Henry “Box” Brown, Jackie Robinson and more. Each work in the company’s repertoire is designed to inspire audiences to examine America’s racial history, teach the lessons of the past and encourage the application of these truths to the present.
Acclaimed actor and playwright Mike Wiley has spent nearly two decades fulfilling his mission to bring educational theatre to young audiences and communities across the country. In the early days of his career, Wiley found few theatrical resources to shine a light on key events and figures in Black history. To bring these stories to life, he started his own production company.
Through his performances, Wiley has introduced countless students and communities to the legacies of Emmett Till, Henry “Box” Brown, Jackie Robinson, The Freedom Riders, and more. Wiley tours eight original one-person plays for student and adult audiences throughout North America, and his ensemble cast original plays (Leaving Eden, Down Range, and The Parchman Hour) are available for licensed productions by theatres worldwide.
“I do these plays because I believe stereotypes and racism and things of that nature arise from fear — because we are scared of the unknown. When we were children, we were scared of the dark…because we didn’t know what was in the dark. We thought that box in the corner was a monster because we didn’t have the lights on to tell us that it was just a box. But when the lights came on and we saw it was just a box, the fear disappeared. The same logic can be applied to our perceptions of other cultures or religions or races. We turn the light on. We figure out who they are. We learn about them. Then we’re not afraid of them anymore.” – Mike Wiley
“This election was deeply disappointing, but also deeply educational. I have a job to continue to do as an artist. We have a job to continue to do as a just and democratic society. It is an uphill struggle. But not a struggle we haven’t encountered in years past. I use the term “struggle” purposefully because it doesn’t have to be a “battle,” it doesn’t have to be a fight. We should go forward with love and a mind to educate and convert those wandering the wilderness.” – Mike Wiley, November 11, 2024
Mike Wiley holds a Masters of Fine Arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was the 2010 and 2014 Lehman Brady Visiting Joint Chair Professor in Documentary Studies and American Studies at Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Wiley received the University of North Carolina’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2017.
In 2020, Mike Wiley received the Ann Atwater Award presented by Manbites Dog Theater Fund to recognize Triangle theater artists and companies whose body of work reflects and honors Durham activist Ann Atwater’s lifelong commitment to social justice. He is also recipient of the NC Theatre Conference Constance Welsh Award for Theatre for Youth. He has conducted numerous educational residencies funded through grant programs of the North Carolina Arts Council and his plays have been selected for spotlight showcases by arts industry conferences throughout North America.
In addition to his theatrical work, Wiley also serves as an Assistant Research Professor in the Program in the Kenan Institute for Ethics and the Program in Education at Duke University. He is the co-director of America’s Hallowed Ground – a project of the Kenan Institute for Ethics at Duke University – which seeks to honor sites of past struggles that are significant to the American story, particularly its history of racial inequality. The work blends historical research with the Arts to amplify and keep alive the stories of these sites—many of which are not widely known.
Mike’s plays chronicle the lives of Emmett Till, Jackie Robinson, The Freedom Riders and more through one-man shows where he portrays 15-20 characters in a single performance.
In addition to his one man shows, Mike has written several plays for ensemble casts and also develops productions with other playwrights and musicians.
See Mike play every character in the story of Emmett Till and watch for a new film chronicling the brave and inspiring life of Henry “Box” Brown.
Not every story is long enough for a play, but many hold important lessons for us. The Parallel Lives podcasts tell the stories of William and Ellen Craft and Claudette Colvin as only Mike Wiley can.
“A depth and clarity as distinct as an entire cast of players could make them…
so packed that we are rapt from the very first word.”
Classical Voice of NC
“Intensely researched, brilliantly crafted…”
Independent Weekly
“An intensely physical actor and writer who can turn on the charm like nobody’s business.
When it comes to working a crowd, Wiley makes Bill Clinton look like a wallflower.”
Independent Weekly
“… a tour-de-force … a riveting evening of theater, one of the year’s ten best.”
Raleigh News & Observer
“Mike Wiley has delivered an astonishing play about a powerful moment in the Civil Rights Movement, and I am so thrilled to be producing it here now…. [The Parchman Hour] a moving story of moral courage and of ally-ship, and I believe that now is the time to explore how its themes resonate in our world today.”
Guthrie Theater Artistic Director
“A marvel to watch…”
Triangle Theatre Reviews
In addition to his one-man shows, Mike has also written several plays for ensemble casts. These works revolve around The Freedom Riders of 1961, the lives of families left behind when military loved ones deploy, and the story of man who learned to read at 98. His collaboration with singer/songwriter Hiss Golden Messenger gives voice to 1920s West Virginia coal miners. His work with fellow playwright Howard Craft brings the fictional superhero Jade City Pharaoh to life, while his Parallel Lives podcasts tell the stores of real-life civil rights superheroes like Claudette Colvin.
Mike Wiley Production’s mission is to provide educational theatre to young audiences and communities across the country.
We are dedicated to preserving the stories of the civil rights movement and the legacies of Emmett Till, Henry “Box” Brown and many more.
Thank you for your interest.
For information regarding booking performances, licensing
and producing, and contacting Mike Wiley directly.
