For Two Weeks Only!
Jackie Robinson: A Game Apart provides a glimpse of Jackie Robinson’s life during an era of separate and unequal locker rooms, of whites only hotels, and of restaurants with a back door for colored athletes. Witness a star player who was showered with adulation on the field and became a second class citizen when he walked off the diamond. A powerful lesson of courage through dedication, perseverance and leadership.
“This is more than mere versatility – it’s virtuosity.”
– American Theatre Magazine
Mike Wiley is a North Carolina-based actor, playwright and director of multiple works in documentary theatre, including THE PARCHMAN HOUR, DOWNRANGE: STORIES FROM THE HOMEFRONT, DAR HE: THE STORY OF EMMETT TILL, the theatrical adaptation of BLOOD DONE SIGN MY NAME, THE FIRE OF FREEDOM and more. Wiley has more than twenty years of credits in documentary theatre for young audiences plus film, television and regional theatre. An Upward Bound alum and Trio Achiever Award recipient, he is an M.F.A. graduate of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, former Lehman-Brady Visiting Joint Chair Professor at Duke University’s Center for Documentary Studies, and current Artist in Residence for the Kenan Institute for Ethics and The Stephen and Janet Bear Assistant Research Professor of Arts, Ethics, and Education in the Program in Education at Duke University. He is recipient of the UNCChapel Hill Distinguished Alumni Award and has conducted numerous teaching/educational residencies funded through grant programs of the North Carolina Arts Council. His plays have been jury-selected for showcasing by arts industry conferences including Arts Midwest, Arts Northwest, OAPN, Performing Arts Exchange, ArtsMarket, IPAY, plus Contact East & Contact Ontario in Canada. His ensemble-cast productions have been produced by major regional theatres including Guthrie Theatre, Playmakers Repertory Company, Cape Fear Regional Theatre, Hattiloo Theatre, Virginia Stage & others.
A gifted and visionary artist and communicator, Wiley’s overriding goal is expanding cultural awareness for audiences of all ages through dynamic portrayals based on pivotal moments in African-American history. On every stage or screen in whatever
form, this remarkably gifted playwright/actor continues to peel away distrust and misinformation to dramatically and powerfully share true stories giving honor and tribute to heroic, iconic legends and change-making unsung heroes from the African American history book of the United States of America. Black History Matters.
In 2020, Mike Wiley received the Ann Atwater Award presented by Man bites 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. Wiley founded the online series “Higher Ground Conversations” with national civil rights and social justice leaders. Mike Wiley currently tours eight solo-actor original plays, performing and conducting workshops and residencies across the US for student and adult audiences.
