PreviewRaleigh Little Theatre Preview Suzan Zeder's play “Wiley And The Hairy Man” Raleigh Little Theatre will stage University of Texas at Austin theater professor Suzan L. Zeder's 1972 play Wiley And The Hairy Man, which was based on an African-American folktale and commissioned and first produced by Southern Methodist University, on March 13-15, 19-22, and 27-29 in its Gaddy-Goodwin Theatre. Seating will be general admission. “I read this play around 30 years ago,” says director Linda O'Day Young. RLT's youth theater and education director adds, “I have directed it as a trouping show with student actors in Washington, DC, Chicago, and here in Raleigh a couple of years ago. In a trouping show, we performed it at libraries, homeless shelters, community centers, and churches. Costuming was minimal and all of the props came out of a trunk.” Young says, “I have always wanted to direct this play as a full production. The language is so rhythmic and rich. I love the story. It is a timeless tale, yet it is also a tale for our time.” When the curtain rises, director Linda O'Day Young Says, “A little boy, Wiley [Calef L. Taylor], who lives with his [Mammy] [LeDawna Akins] near the Alabama swamps, is haunted by nightmares about the Hairy Man [Joseph Callender]. Wiley is a little boy living with a big fear. His mother, a conjure woman, teaches him some conjures to use; but Wiley soon learns that it takes more than magic to rid himself of the Hairy Man. Wiley must go face to face with the Hairy Man, and use his own creativity and intelligence to outwit him.” She adds, “Wiley summons all his courage and wins! The cast and I have spoken about the relevance of this folktale to our own time. The country is living in a nightmare, and everyone is dealing with very big fears. But we must all confront these fears face to face and use all of our creative and intellectual energy to overcome them. Wiley's message is so relevant that we invited President Obama and his family to attend!” Young says, “The Chorus (Yansa Crosby, Jasmine James, Monique James, Amanda Lee, Nyja Peterson, and Brandon Yates) appears in the dream voicing Wiley's fears. ‘He done got your Pappy and he's gonna get you!' Mammy (LeDawna Akins) tries to conjure the fear out of Wiley's head but can't. She tries to teach him a conjure to fight off the Hairy Man, but Wiley shows no interest. Finally, she sends him off into the swamp to cut down a tree to make a hound house warning him to take his Hound Dog (Jacob Timmons), because ‘The Hairy Man sure can't stand no dogs. Everybody knows that.' Wiley sets off. “The Chorus of six actors becomes all of the elements of the environment: swamp, mud, sticker bush, tree, etc.,” says Young. “They also create ‘the mighty scary sounds when the Hairy Man's around.' As Wiley prepares to cut down the perfect tree, a mysterious bone appears in the sky, distracting his Hound Dog, who runs off after it.” Young reports, “With the sounds of drums announcing his arrival, the fearsome Hairy Man (Joseph Callender) enters with a flourish and tries to coax Wiley down from a tree. Luckily, Hound Dog returns to save the day, but the nightmare isn't over as the Hairy Man promises to return. Mammy looks into her magic book and discovers that if Wiley can trick the Hairy Man three times, he will go away and never bother him again. Wiley must summon all of his courage and meet the Hairy Man face to face. Worst yet, Wiley must leave his Hound Dog at home.” In addition to director Linda O'Day Young, the show's creative team includes musical director Jubal Creech, choreographer Julie Mulvihill, technical director Jim Zervas, scenic and lighting designer Rick Young, costume/make up designer Vicki Olson, sound designer Becca Easley, props master Robin Hughes, wig designer Benjamin Butler, and stage Managers Scott Wray and Judy Keyes. Jubal Creech composed Original Music for this production. Young says, “The set is as whimsical as the play itself. Constructivistic, it resembles an eerie jungle gym where playful magic can occur. She adds that the show's lighting scheme uses “Saturated colors [to] enhance the magical feeling of the story” and the “Costumes of the Chorus reflect the environment and have a strong African influence.” Young says, “[Wiley And The Hairy Man musical director and composer] Jubal Creech created an original score for the production, using West African-based rhythms. He also worked with the young cast to teach them to create live rhythms as well. [Choreographer] Julie Mulvihill incorporated African-based movements into the choreography. “Between shows on March 14th and 21st,” Young says, “Jubal [Creech] will conduct a workshop called A Joyful Noise! [http://raleighlittletheatre.org/learn/joyfulnoise.html], where he will lead participants on an exploration of rhythms.” Director Linda O'Day Young notes, “Wiley And The Hairy Man is based on a wonderful African-American folktale. It was first written down in the 1930s by Donnell Van de Voort with the Federal Writers' Project of the WPA [Works Progress Administration]. Our music, choreography, and costumes honor that heritage. “Interestingly,” she says, “just as Wiley And The Hairy Man began its life as a documented folktale in the 1930s as a part of the Federal Writers' Project, Raleigh Little Theatre began in 1936 as a part of the Federal Theatre Project. I wanted very much to honor the African-American heritage of this wonderful folktale. The rhythms, the choreography, and the costumes reflect that.” Raleigh Little Theatre presents Wiley And The Hairy Man Friday, March 13, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, March 14-15, at 1 and 5 p.m.; Thursday School Performances, March 19, at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Friday, March 20 and 27, at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday-Sunday, March 21-22 and 28-29, at 1 and 5 p.m. in RLT's Gaddy-Goodwin Theatre, 301 Pogue St., Raleigh, North Carolina 27607. $12 ($8 children to age 12). 919/821-3111 or click here. NOTE: From 2:45 to 3:45 p.m. on March 14th and 21st, musical director and composer Jubal Creech A JOYFUL NOISE! to explore the West African rhythms that influenced his composition of the show's score. (For details, see http://raleighlittletheatre.org/learn/joyfulnoise.html.) RALEIGH LITTLE THEATRE: http://raleighlittletheatre.org/performances/08-09/wiley.html. 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