Houston Area Students Perform WILEY AND THE HAIRY MAN at Main Street Theater, 11/2-4

Nine students of Main Street Theater's Education Department dive headlong into the mysterious world of the Bayou in Wiley and the Hairy Man by Suzan Zeder. There are 3 public performances: Friday and Saturday, November 2 and 3, at 7:30pm, and Sunday, November 4 at 3:30pm. Performances are at Main Street Theater – Rice Village, located at 2540 Times Boulevard. For tickets, call 713-524-6706 or log on to mainstreettheater.com. All tickets are $5.00.

Set deep within a mysterious swamp, this play centers around a young fatherless boy, Wiley; his conjure-woman mother; his faithful dog, and the Hairy Man who haunts Wiley's days and dreams. In an exciting duel of wits, Wiley learns to rely upon his own resources and conquers two villains: the Hairy Man and his own fear. Through rhythm and rhyme, a chorus creates the mystery of the swamp.

The cast is comprised of 9 Houston-area students ages 8 - 14 and includes Teresa Blanco, Amie Hamilton, Sarah Healey, Jolie Laporte, Camille McClain, Ashley Mezyk, Ben Russell, Riley Shelby, and Osip Vayner.

Professional artists direct and design all MST Rehearsal &Performance class productions. Jonathan Gonzalez is the Director. Cody Swiger is the Assistant Director. Macy Perrone is the Costume Designer, and Rodney Walsworth is the Set and Properties designer. Caroline Kimzey is the Production Stage Manager.

Now in its 25th season, MST's Education Department Main Street Theater offers students a performing arts playground where professional theater artists serve as mentors. With an emphasis on creativity and collaboration, we provide hands-on opportunities for students to make an original contribution in all aspects of play production. In support of Main Street Theater's mission, Main Street's Education Department provides a significant resource in the community for education in theater and classical theater for kids, families and educators. Through year-round classes, outreach programs, and camps both on-site and at satellite locations, students develop their voices, bodies, and imaginations in a challenging and fun curriculum, taught by professional artists and arts educators.

Main Street Theater's education programs offer a wide range of classes for students of all skill levels, including individual audition coaching sessions, movement and dance classes, filmmaking classes, high school workshops, and a Summer Performing Arts Camp. The Rehearsal and Performance system includes classes for students at two levels: those who are ready to audition for plays for the public and those who want to hone their skills by producing a play in a "lab" context for family and friends. Classes range from $175 - $500; camps range from $50 - $530. For more information or to register for classes and camps, call 713-524-9196 x 104 or 103 or log on to mainstreettheater.com. Troy Scheid is Director of Education. Jonathan Gonzalez is Assistant Director of Education.

Since 1975, Main Street Theater has produced high quality professional theater for audiences of all ages through its MainStage productions and Main Street Youth Theater. The Main Street Theater Kids On Stage program offers performing arts classes and camps for children 5 years to 19 years of age. The organization produces plays at two locations, 2540 Times Boulevard in Rice Village and 4617 Montrose Boulevard at Chelsea Market.
Main Street Theater is a charter member of the Fresh Arts Coalition, a collaboration of 25 arts organizations that work collectively to raise awareness of the size and diversity of the arts in Houston, a founding member of Houston Arts Partners, and a constituent of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national service organization for not-for-profit theaters. Main Street Theater offers a lively year-round repertory of classic and contemporary plays for audiences of all ages and provides a much-needed showcase for Houston theater professionals. Main Street Theater is also a member of Actors' Equity Association and of ASSITEJ, the world theatre network of theatre for children and young people. Main Street Theater is funded in part by grants from the City of Houston, the Houston Arts Alliance, and the Texas Commission on the Arts.

Photo Credit: Kaitlyn Walker