By Andrea McBride
Staff Writer
CARO — “Wiley and the Hairy Man,” Thumb Area Center for the Arts’ (TACA) spring production, will take audience members on a journey of facing fears and building confidence.
Cast members in “Wiley and the Hairy Man” are (front row, from left) Naudia Brumley, Jayla Hypes, Arryelle Wiesen; (second row) Abigail Mowry, Ryan Harris and Emily Arnett; (back row) Lian Parsell who plays Mammy, Amy Harris who plays Wiley, Nathan Arnett who plays the dog and Joe Craig who plays the Hairy Man. The rest of the characters play swamp spirits. The play will be shown at the TACA building on Joy Street in Caro at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday.
The play, which is at the TACA building on 102 Joy St., has shows at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 14, Friday May 15 and Saturday, May 16 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 17.
In the play, a boy named Wiley who lives in a swamp must face his biggest fear: the Hairy Man. With his dog by his side and guidance from his mother “Mammy,” who is a well-known magic conjurer, Wiley defeats the Hairy Man.
The 12-person cast, comprised of actors as young as 6, began preparation for the play in mid-March. Members practiced two to three times a week, sometimes putting in eight hours on Sundays.
TACA president and play director Cathy Arnett is familiar with “Wiley and the Hairy Man” and said it made a good choice for spring production for several reasons.
“We liked that it involved kids from the community, and it’s a short show and fit within our budget,” Arnett said.
TACA received a grant from the William and Ruth Janks Fund of the Tuscola County Community Foundation, which allowed for the purchase of a tehnical booth. The booth, which controls lights and sound and was built by Scott and Terry Wood, is up and running for Thursday’s opening night.
Arnett and the rest of TACA’s members would like to thank the Tuscola County Community Foundation and Caro Hospital for their ongoing support.
“It takes a lot of people to keep us up and running,” Arnett “We’re always looking for more (support).”
Tickets for the show are $10 and can be purchased at Gamble’s Hardware, online at tacfta.org or at the door. Doors open 45 minutes before the show.