James Vose is a local business owner, US Army Veteran, and father. He currently serves as a Pittsboro Town Commissioner and is committed to generating a vibrant cultural community through projects like our Go See This series. Vose Natural Stone is proud to be our 2024-2025 sponsor, and we are delighted to present the first article of the season. We invite you to Go See This…
Yep, that’s right! We’re suggesting a little holiday trip up the road to support a Chatham County artist at PlayMakers Repertory Company this season!
Theatre artist Mike Wiley is a Chatham County resident, and the Chatham Arts Council is well familiar with the power of his collaborations with Howard L. Craft. This duo has been at the heart of our Chatham Artists-in-Schools Initiative since the beginning, back in 2015. Each is a stellar artist in his own right, with Mike traveling the country to perform his one-man shows about Jackie Robinson, Henry “Box” Brown, and Claudette Colvin, and Howard’s “FREIGHT: The Five Incarnations of Abel Green” just won Best Narrative (US Cinema) at the UrbanWorld Film Festival in NYC. But what we know best here in Chatham County is the work these two artists do together to facilitate joy, learning, and growth among kids across Chatham–including with fifth-graders at Siler City and Virginia Cross Elementary Schools at the time of this article’s publication!
Back in January, Chatham Arts Council Executive Director Cheryl Chamblee sat down with theatre-makers Mike Wiley and Howard Craft in a Chatham classroom to wait for the kids to arrive. Howard slid a few marked-up pages across the table to her, and said, “Hey, check this out.” Those pages were the first few scenes of what would eventually become “The Christmas Case of Hezekiah Jones,” opening this weekend at PlayMakers Rep.
These two artists have spent their fair share of time together this year, leading artist residencies while simultaneously writing two commissioned scripts–“Changing Same: The Cold-Blooded Murder of Booker T. Spicely” with StreetSigns Center for Literature and Performance, the Process Series, and America’s Hallowed Ground at the Kenan Institute for Ethics at Duke University, and “The Christmas Case of Hezekiah Jones.” “Changing Same” ran for two sold-out weekends in November, and brought audiences the story of Booker T. Spicely based on a true event in 1944 in Durham, in which a young Black Private Spicely was killed by a white bus driver. “Hezekiah Jones” is a holiday romp about a toymaker who is struggling to find some holiday spirit and an elf named Dizzle Jollyworth. In a panel discussion after a “Changing Same” performance, Mike remarked on the benefits of shifting focus as they worked on the two scripts–when the artists needed a break from the world of Booker T. Spicely, the Dizzle and his fellow elves were there waiting.
Mike describes the vision for “Hezekiah Jones” as “both fun and full of joy, thoughtful and thought-provoking. It’s a present-day throwback to holiday memories and miracles that keep us giggling and hopeful.” He also notes the unique dynamic of their collaboration: “Howard and I discuss this often in our conversations about our individual processes. He comes from the world of traditional writing, which is helpful for me when we are sketching out the arc of the play. I’m an actor first, so being able to listen and then mimic on the page how real people talk and relate to one another is in my wheelhouse. Even in a story where elves meet humans and magic happens, it still needs to be grounded in reality.”
Set against the backdrop of Chapel Hill, “The Christmas Case of Hezekiah Jones” introduces us to Hezekiah Jones, a North Carolina toymaker navigating the challenges of grief after the loss of his wife. As Hezekiah struggles to find joy during the holidays, an unlikely ally arrives: Dizzle Jollyworth, an ambitious elf from the North Pole with a mission to reignite Hezekiah’s Christmas spirit.
Dizzle’s journey to Chapel Hill becomes a community-wide effort as neighbors band together to restore hope to Hezekiah’s heart. Along the way, audiences will encounter hilarious references to local landmarks and celebrities, making this tale as much a celebration of local culture as it is of the holidays. 
Promotional material courtesy of PlayMakers Repertory Company.Vivienne Benesch, Producing Artistic Director of PlayMakers, emphasizes the deep connection between the play and its local setting: “Craft and Wiley have created something super special with ‘The Christmas Case of Hezekiah Jones’. This story is a love letter to our community, honoring the resilience and magic of the holidays and bringing a little of the North Pole to the Northside of Chapel Hill! We are honored to premiere this new work and give audiences a chance to celebrate the season with a story as unique and spirited as the town it was inspired by.”
“This play highlights the power of community and moving forward with love and joy,” says Director Kathryn Hunter-Williams. “For many, the holidays can be a stressful time. ‘The Christmas Case of Hezekiah Jones’ is about leaning on each other and what it means to care for each other, especially during the holiday season. Come have fun and spread cheer!”
Gather your loved ones for a local holiday story written by Chatham County resident Mike Wiley–a story that blends laughter, heartfelt moments, and magical cheer. With its rich themes of healing, hope, and community, “The Christmas Case of Hezekiah Jones” is a magical holiday event you won’t want to miss. Tickets are selling fast, so secure yours today by visiting playmakersrep.org or by calling the box office at 919.962.7529.
The Short Version
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- Who: PlayMakers Repertory Company
- What: “The Christmas Case of Hezekiah Jones”
- Where: Paul Green Theatre, 120 Country Club Road
- When: November 26–December 15, 2024
- Parking: See https://playmakersrep.org/plan-your-visit/directions-and-parking/ for details.
- Accessibility: Accessible parking and seating available. For more information, visit https://playmakersrep.org/visitor-info/accessibility-and-special-needs/
Special Performances: Nov 26–30: Preview Performances; Dec 1: Opening Night & Press Night (includes childcare during Share the Show); Dec 8: Open Captioned Performance and Post-Show Discussion; Dec 11: ASL Interpretation and Audio Description
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