A student production of “Wiley and the Hairy Man” was performed Saturday, Jan. 31, at the Francis-Booth Experimental Theatre despite icy roads and below-freezing temperatures.

The play, written by Suzan Zeder, was staged at 7 p.m. in the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center. Temperatures were in the teens, hovering around 12 degrees Fahrenheit at showtime, and parking lots and surrounding streets were covered in ice, creating hazardous travel conditions.

The production was presented by students involved with Marshall University Theatre ETC, a touring educational theater company within the School of Theatre and Dance that brings live performances to schools and community venues throughout the region. The company focuses on productions designed for young audiences and emphasizes accessibility and educational engagement.

Before the performance, Leah Turley, the artistic director of Theatre ETC and the director of “Wiley and the Hairy Man,” addressed the audience and spoke about the importance of theater education and student participation in touring productions.

“Our hope is that if they see this, they’ll either want to join you in the audience or they will want to join these people on the stage, so theater education can continue even when we’re consistently being defunded,” Turley said.

Turley said Theatre ETC productions are designed to be self-contained, allowing student performers to bring live theater directly to schools without requiring specialized technical support. The program also provides hands-on learning opportunities for students involved in performance, design and touring logistics.

The play is based on an African American folktale first recorded in the 1930s and centers on a young boy named Wiley who must confront a mysterious figure known as the Hairy Man. Through rhythm, rhyme and chorus, the story explores fear, resilience and self-reliance.

George Kinley, who played Wiley, said preparing for the role required both physical endurance and emotional focus. Kinley said the character remains onstage for most of the production and requires constant movement.

“I’m on stage for about 45 minutes straight, and there’s never a moment I’m not moving,” Kinley said. “Physically, it’s pretty demanding.”

Kinley said his Appalachian background helped him connect with the character and the setting of the play.

“I’ve grown up in Appalachia my whole life, so I’ve met people like Wiley,” Kinley said. “Staying true to those Appalachian values was a big part of it.”

He said the play’s central theme of confronting fear is especially relevant for younger audiences.

“This is a 10-year-old who has to face fear head-on,” Kinley said. “The play has a good moral about facing your fears and overcoming them.”

Kinley also said the set design played an important role in shaping his performance.

“We have this huge tree onstage, and I have to climb it,” Kinley said. “That definitely impacts the way my physicality works with the set.”

Audience members said the production’s visual elements and storytelling approach helped communicate its themes.

Brayberry, recent graduate with a master’s degree in English education, said they were drawn to the play because of its folkloric roots and educational focus.

“I really appreciate folklore and education, so hearing about this made me think this was a really good idea,” Brayberry said.

Marshall alum Nicholas Booth said the set design impressed him during the performance.

“What stood out to me the most was the scenery and set design,” Booth said. “It was very inventive and didn’t look like something that could be picked up and moved at a moment’s notice.”

Booth said the play’s exploration of fear felt relevant beyond the stage.

“There’s fear everywhere,” Booth said. “Having something tangible that younger audiences can connect to can inspire a braver generation.”

Despite hazardous weather conditions, faculty and students involved in the production said they hope performances like “Wiley and the Hairy Man” encourage continued engagement with theater education and touring student productions.

David Lozano can be contacted at [email protected].