Chatham Arts Council

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October 24, 2025

History Steps on Stage: When One Man Becomes Fifteen

Black actor in suspenders, white shirt, and brown paints. Onstage, he gestures while speaking in character.

Our Northwood and Seaforth tenth-graders saw a performance–and they also what happens when storytelling meets history. Because in Mike Wiley’s hands, history doesn’t feel far away at all. It’s standing right there, center stage in front of you.

By Amanda Moran | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Arts in Education, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: acting, actor, AIS, artists-in-schools, Arts education, Dar He, Emmett Till, Mike Wiley, northwood, play, playwright, school performance, Seaforth, tenth grade, theatre, US History

January 10, 2025

Mike Wiley Brings Theatre and Writing to Siler City and Virginia Cross

Mike Wiley residency

Siler City Elementary (SCE) and Virginia Cross Elementary (VCE) students and teachers enjoyed actor and playwright Mike Wiley’s solo performance of “One Noble Journey” this past November. In addition to… Read More →

By Jessica Rigsbee | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Arts in Education, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: acting, actor, AIS, art residency, artists-in-schools, Arts education, dance residency, fifth grade, Howard Craft, Mike Wiley, one noble journey, play, playwright, school performance, Siler City Elementary, theatre, Virginia Cross, virginia cross elementary, Writing, writing residency

January 5, 2024

Mike Wiley’s Masterful Residency: Teaching through Theatre at Bennett and Bonlee School

Photo trio from L to R: An actor in historical costume stands with boy in floppy hat; Girl stands next to same actor, both with heads raised to the sky; students laughing in class.

“This was absolutely great!” Board of Education members Gary Leonard and David Hamm were enthusiastic after sitting with Bennett School students and teachers to watch actor and playwright Mike Wiley’s… Read More →

By Jessica Rigsbee | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Arts in Education, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: acting, actor, AIS, art residency, artists-in-schools, Arts education, dance residency, fifth grade, Howard Craft, Mike Wiley, one noble journey, play, playwright, school performance, seventh grade, theatre, Writing, writing residency

July 12, 2019

Go See This: The Little Mermaid Sings and Swims in Pittsboro

As new members of our Chatham County community, Chatham Park is powering our Go See This series this year because art is an integral part of Chatham County’s identity. They join us… Read More →

By Selbe Bartlett | Filed Under: Events, Go See This, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: center for the arts, Pittsboro, pittsboro youth theater, sweet bee, tammy matthews, theater

July 2, 2019

Artists-in-Schools: Curriculum Come to Life in Two Chatham County Elementary Schools

History, math, science – sometimes everyday curriculum can be difficult to grasp for elementary school students. The concept seems unfamiliar or too far removed from everyday life to grasp. But… Read More →

By April Starling | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts in Education, ChathamArts News, County Happenings, Slideshow Featured |

March 28, 2017

Meet This Artist: Derrick Ivey is master-of-many theater magician

 This month’s Meet This Artist is by guest blogger Elisabeth Lewis Corley. Native North Carolinian Derrick Ivey was a Radio, Television and Motion Picture major at the University of North… Read More →

By Bett Wilson Foley | Filed Under: Meet this Artist, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: acting, actor, directing, drama, Man Bites Dog, plays, playwright, theater

February 15, 2016

Liz Bliss

By Liz Bliss | |

January 7, 2016

Music In Me

By Shelley Buisson | |

December 2, 2015

The Phoenix Theatre Company

By Jessica Nunn | |

January 2, 2015

Pittsboro Youth Theater

By Craig Witter | |

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