{"id":1402,"date":"2010-04-20T23:07:00","date_gmt":"2010-04-20T23:07:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebzbproductions.ebzb.org\/life-is-so-good-sampson-stage-nc\/"},"modified":"2010-04-20T23:07:00","modified_gmt":"2010-04-20T23:07:00","slug":"life-is-so-good-sampson-stage-nc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebzb.org\/WPress\/2010\/04\/20\/life-is-so-good-sampson-stage-nc\/","title":{"rendered":"Life Is So Good: Sampson Stage, NC"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/span>
\nThe Sampson Independent
\nActor returns to CenterStage for \u2018Life is so Good<\/strong>\u2018 by Doug Clark
\nBringing a show like \u201cLife Is So Good\u201d to Clinton is important to actor Mike Wiley.
\nWiley has been through Clinton many times before \u2014 just last year the actor performed \u201cBrown vs. Board of Education: Fifty Years Later\u201d for eighth-graders in the area, and \u201cJackie Robinson\u2014 A Game Apart\u201d for seventh-graders as part of the Sampson County Agri-Exposition Center\u2019s Class Acts program \u2014 and says he enjoys the area.
\nBecause the Class Acts program allows children to experience these types of shows free, Wiley lowered his standard fee to perform both shows for the students.
\n\u201cI have been in North Carolina for a long time,\u201d he said just after a show in Goldsboro. \u201cAnd I really enjoy Clinton, and performing all over the eastern part of the state. But the thing I see the most in eastern North Carolina and in the mountains, is that the students are left out in the cold as far as the performing arts. In fact, it was one of the reasons why I got involved with the performing arts. I was always interested in education and entertaining people; I just had trouble sitting in a classroom \u2026 I thought it would a great idea to combine education and entertaining, and that is what I have tried to do (with my performances).\u201d
\nWiley will be back in town this Saturday, Jan. 24, at 8 p.m. performing \u201cLife Is So Good\u201d as part of the Exposition Center\u2019s CenterStage series.
\nThe story is about 103-year-old George Dawson, a slave\u2019s grandson who learned to read at age 98. It reflects on his life and offers valuable lessons in living as well as a fresh, firsthand view of America during the 20th century. His unlikely friend, Richard Glaubman, an elementary school teacher, captures Dawson\u2019s irresistible voice and view of the world, offering insights into humanity, history, hardships, and happiness.
\nFrom segregation and civil rights, to the wars, presidents, and defining moments in history, George Dawson\u2019s description and assessment of the last century inspires readers with the message that, through it all, has sustained him: \u201cLife is so good. I do believe it\u2019s getting better.\u201d
\n\u201cI read the book about 10 years ago,\u201d said Wiley, \u201cand I just loved it. I loved the fact that in his entire life, he never learned to read and then in his final stages of life, although he had accomplished a great many things, he felt like it was important enough that he did learn how to read, not because he had to, because he wanted to for him.
\n\u201cI also found it interesting that he was taught by someone who he had absolutely nothing in common with \u2014 a white man who was going out of his comfort zone as well to teach him \u2026 it is just a beautiful story of a relationship that develops over time between two men who have absolutely nothing in common except the hunger to learn and to teach. It crosses that divide of race and culture and brings two people together. It was very inspirational to me.\u201d
\nWiley said the show is something that is good for all ages.
\n\u201cIt gives you insight on what this man has been through in his lifetime,\u201d he said. \u201cFrom slavery into an era of seeing people of color being elected into office. It is a very inspiring piece and a great tale of history \u2026 It is a show for everyone because of its message.\u201d
\nSaturday\u2019s performance will bring together Wiley and longtime collaborator David zum Brunnen, who portrays Dawson\u2019s friend Richard Glaubman. \u201cDavid\u2019s wife directs all of my work,\u201d said Wiley, \u201cthis has given David and I an opportunity to work on stage together and it has been very exciting and to be honest, it\u2019s been a really cool experience.\u201d
\nFor more information and clips of the show, click on to www.ebzb.org\/life.shtml<\/a>. For ticket information click on to www.sampsoncenterstage.com<\/a>.
\nRead more\u2026<\/a><\/p>\n

EbzB Productions – Your World Is Our Stage!
\nhttp:\/\/www.ebzb.org<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Sampson Independent Actor returns to CenterStage for \u2018Life is so Good\u2018 by Doug Clark Bringing a show like \u201cLife Is So Good\u201d to Clinton is important to actor Mike Wiley. Wiley has been through Clinton many times before \u2014 just last year the actor performed \u201cBrown vs. Board of Education: Fifty Years Later\u201d for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[31,47,49,63],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1402","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-david-zum-brunnen","category-life-is-so-good","category-mike-wiley","category-review"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebzb.org\/WPress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1402","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebzb.org\/WPress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebzb.org\/WPress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebzb.org\/WPress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebzb.org\/WPress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1402"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ebzb.org\/WPress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1402\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebzb.org\/WPress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1402"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebzb.org\/WPress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1402"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebzb.org\/WPress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1402"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}