2013-326 Arts - The Arts Center Spring 2013 Art Grant Agreement $1,500

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G� ID S1 q� l Mike Wiley — The Playwright and Actor Actor and playwright Mike Wiley has spent the last decade fulfilling his mission to bring educational theatre to young audiences. In the early days of his career, Wiley found few theatrical resources to shine light on key events and figures in black history.To bring these often ignored stories to Iife,Wiley started his own production company.Through his work, he has introduced countless students to the stories and legacies of Emmett Till, the Tuskegee Airmen, Henry "Box"Brown and more.Most recently he has brought Timothy B.Tyson's acclaimed book "Blood Done Sign My Name" to the stage. Mike Wiley has a Masters of Fine Arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has appeared on the Discovery Channel,The Learning Channel y0w f Y, and the National Geographic Channel and was recently profiled in Our State magazine. N Synopsis Henry"Box" Brown was an African American born into slavery in 1816 in Louisa County,Virginia. Although he was not subjected to physical violence, Henry's story (the basis for One Noble Journey) demonstrates the cruelty of slavery was every bit as devastating to the heart as it could be on the body. At the death of his master, Henry's family was torn apart and parceled out to various beneficiaries of the estate.Henry,who was 33 at the time,was bequeathed to his master's son and sent to work in Richmond,VA.While there,he experienced the joys of marriage and children,only to have slavery lash his heart again. Henry's wife and children were taken from him, sold to North Carolina slave- holders and never seen again. This devastating incident marked Brown's breaking point;in response,he devised an ingenious escape plan,sealing himself in a wooden box that was shipped to friends and freedom — in Philadelphia. Eventually,he traveled the northern states telling his tale of liberation to abolitionist groups. One Noble Journey also recounts the daring and miraculous leap for freedom of Elizabeth Craft and her husband William,who were born into slavery in Georgia.* In December 1848, Ellen Craft,who was very light skinned,disguised herself as a sickly,white gentleman traveling to Philadelphia for medical treatment. Ellen and William, who acted as her slave throughout the journey, bravely traveled on public trains and steamers as they made their way up the eastern seaboard to Philadelphia.Eventually they were forced to sail for England after the Fugitive Slave Law enabled slave hunters to pursue them even in free states. *The story of the Crafts is only included in the full-length version of the play.