BREACH OF PEACE: STORIES OF THE FREEDOM RIDERS OF 1961 - Mike Wiley Productions

May 24, 1961 was the day 19-year-old Jean Thompson’s father had prepared her for her entire life. “My parents always talked about the injustice of segregation, but they were optimistic; they didn’t feel like it was going to last forever,” Thompson recalled. “They raised us to be ready. I remember my dad saying the day will come, and when it does, you should be ready.”

On that day, she boarded a Trailways bus in Montgomery, Alabama with 11 other young Freedom Riders bound for New Orleans – and history. Within three months, approximately 300 other riders took up the mantle to desegregate buses, following the path of the first brave few. Mobs bloodily assaulted many. Others were arrested shining a light on a brutal, segregated South. Breach of Peace is based on true accounts of surviving participants of the Freedom Rides as well as many other individuals involved in the early struggle for African-American equality.

This solo-play is a living monument to those remarkable young men and women of various races, religions and backgrounds who rose to face the dangers of fighting for just and equal treatment for all.

Mike Wiley is the Steve and Janet Bear Assistant Research Professor of Arts, Ethics and Education at Duke University and the co-director of the America’s Hallowed Ground Project. Based in North Carolina, Wiley is an acclaimed actor, playwright, and director, recognized for his innovative and impactful contributions to documentary solo theatre. His powerful works include The Parchman Hour, Downrange: Stories from the Homefront, Dar He: The Story of Emmett Till, the stage adaptation of Blood Done Sign My Name, and many others. With over twenty years of experience, Wiley’s impressive credits span documentary theatre for young audiences, !lm, television, and major regional theatre. With an M.F.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he has held the prestigious Lehman-Brady Visiting Joint Chair Professorship at Duke University’s Center for Documentary Studies. He has earned the UNC-Chapel Hill Distinguished Alumni Award and regularly leads teaching residencies and workshops at colleges and universities nationwide. His remarkable ensemble productions have graced major regional stages, including Guthrie Theatre, PlayMakers Repertory Company, Cape Fear Regional Theatre, Hattiloo Theatre, Virginia Stage, and others. Wiley is a visionary artist and communicator whose mission is to broaden cultural awareness for audiences of all ages through compelling, historically grounded portrayals of pivotal moments in African-American history. On every stage and screen, Wiley’s dynamic storytelling peels away misconceptions and celebrates the heroic stories of both iconic legends and unsung heroes of the Black American experience.