American Theatre Magazine: Freedom Riders Ride Again in Mike Wiley’s ‘Parchman Hour’

American Theatre Magazine: Freedom Riders Ride Again in Mike Wiley’s ‘Parchman Hour’

For performer and playwright Mike Wiley, telling the stories of African American historical figures was a one-man job that he excelled at. He took his solo acts across the country, weaving narratives out of the African-American diaspora, playing countless characters even though he was the only person onstage. Though he’s now directing...

THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT interviews Mike Wiley

THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT interviews Mike Wiley

The violence isn’t real. But that wasn’t the case 50 years ago, when a fist to the face and near-fatal choke holds were part of everyday life at Parchman Farm, the notorious Mississippi prison.

Theater students from Norfolk State University work on fight scenes during a rehearsal for “The Parchman Hour” at the Wells Theatre in downtown Norfolk. A man runs onto the stage...