Central Lakes College presents the 50-minute children’s theatre play, “Wiley and the Hairy Man” in Bob Dryden Theatre on April 9 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. for the public.
Seats are also available for the school performances April 11, 13, 18, and 20, according to Director Dennis Lamberson (218-855-8202).
The original Wiley was born somewhere deep in the swamp near the Tombigee River. His tale of “Wiley and the Hairy Man” has been passed down from generation to generation in the backwaters of Alabama and Mississippi.
His story has taken many forms.
Suzan Zeder’s play is about a small, fatherless boy with a big fear who learns to overcome his own problems himself.
“It’s about the kind of fear that children face,” said Lamberson. “Alone. In the dark.”
The play takes place in Wiley’s dreams as he dreams of the swamp, where the Hairy Man lives. It’s also about fun—the fun of a boy and his dog, the fun of words and how they wind into rhymes, and the fun of a boy discovering that he is bigger than his fears.
The cast includes Matt Woolery of Little Falls as Wiley, Kim Thomas of Motley as Mammy, Shalon Wilber of Melrose as The Hairy Man, and Thomas Arntzen of Brainerd as Dog, plus swamp creatures Jessica Anderson, Sarah Baity, Amanda Bennett, Chris Bjorke, Glenda Christenson, Kate Ganz, Jennifer Harne, Darlene Hendrickson, Livia Johnson, Sarah Jo Mogensen, and Brandon Vasilauskas.
Dan Christner is stage manager and Jeremiah Thiel is the designer.
For more information call Lamberson. Tickets are available at the CLC Bookstore; 218-855-8199.
