THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 24, 1995 TAG: 9508220128
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY JOAN C. STANUS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 174 lines
Amber caught the bug first.
Then her younger brothers, Mickey and Kurtis, who are twins, were smitten.
Before long, Mom and Dad succumbed to the infectious strain, too.
Now, the whole Wiley family admits they've got it bad.
The applause, the greasepaint, the lure of being on stage are just too much to resist for this Ocean View family. They've been stricken with acting fever.
``It's such an adrenaline rush, to be up there on stage, knowing it's live,'' explained Amber, 15. ``You just feel so good about yourself when you do well. I just love it. I want to do it for the rest of my life.''
``I like seeing everyone applauding and laughing, and screaming my name,'' added her brother, 13-year-old Kurtis, with a grin.
Mickey put it simply: ``It's just fun.''
At times, the acting fever is so overwhelming, the Wileys are barely able to eat.
``Our biggest problem is feeding ourselves,'' joked the teens' mother, Gwen, a kindergarten teacher who serves as the clan's chauffeur, costumer, cook and general manager.
``We never have time to sit down at a family meal,'' she said. ``It gets pretty crazy when they're in a show. We just have to prioritize. But the problem is they want to be in everything.''
During the last year, the budding thespians have faced a production schedule that would rival a successful Hollywood actor's. Since last fall, the longest break between shows for the family was two days.
And when one Wiley is in a show, all the Wileys immerse themselves in the project. Mom does the costumes and provides transportation. Dad works on sets. The kids either act or help with props, directing or other backstage jobs.
``I'm so pleased we can all do something together as a family,'' Gwen said. ``I was afraid this was going to just be Amber's thing, and the boys would be left out. But now it's the whole family's thing.''
As members of the Hurrah Players, all three teens have acted in a string of musicals, one-act plays and other shows produced by the group throughout the school year and this summer. They were also asked to join the children's chorus in a Broadway touring company's production of ``Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,'' staged at Chrysler Hall last fall.
Mickey and Kurtis played principal roles in a presentation of ``Oliver'' last spring, staged by students at Holy Trinity School, where the two attended seventh grade.
And Amber was involved in a number of productions as a member of Granby High School's Drama Club. She's also done a voice-over for a feature-length animated cartoon at Christian Broadcasting Network, been involved in productions at the Little Theater of Norfolk and sang with several local choral groups.
When the Wileys audition for something, they almost always snare a part. If not, they volunteer to work backstage.
``It's overwhelming how talented the children are,'' said Hugh Copeland, founder and artistic director of the Hurrah Players. ``They're sincere and committed at what they're doing. What makes them stand out is that the Wileys are consistent. They're not just here for a show. They're here for ALL the shows. They're still here even when they're not in a show. They'll work on any project we undertake. I thank God for them.''
While involved in a production, the family has a breakneck schedule. The teens eat a lot of fast food on the go, do homework in the car and during breaks in rehearsals, and spend weekends rehearsing and working on sets and costumes. There's little time left for other interests like soccer, hanging out with friends, or school activities. Amazingly, all three teens are honor students.
``It can get complicated, but we get it done,'' explained Kurtis.
``They're all appreciative and understanding of each other,'' explained his mother. ``If someone needs help with a project, the others will pitch in and look up words in the dictionary . . . or go to the library for them. It only works because we're all working together.''
Added Mickey: ``We all count on each other to help out.''
But ultimately, chasing a dream means you have to manage your time well, the Wileys maintain.
``This family cannot function without its calendar,'' Gwen said. ``If there's a fire, that's what I'm grabbing on my way out the door.''
No one's quite sure why the family has such an attraction to the stage. Gwen was involved in the drama club as a student at Portsmouth's Wilson High School, but she was not passionate about it like her children. Their father, Ken, is the mechanical whiz in the family. He's a commercial pilot who likes to tinker with toy trains.
Both grandfathers, however, play musical instruments and sing.
And ever since their children were small, Ken and Gwen Wiley have taken their children to a variety of live theatrical productions. Amber, especially, was enthralled by the plays.
Early on, it became evident that Amber wanted to be in the limelight. At 3, she regularly corralled family members into the living room for her performances. She'd sing and dance for as long as they'd sit there.
Even though she was a bit shy outside the family, in school she naturally gravitated to the theater programs. She also began taking private piano and voice lessons.
Her talent and determination paid off. By the eighth grade, she was playing the lead in school productions. Not long afterward, she auditioned for a part in the Hurrah Players' production of ``Alice in Wonderland'' and got it. She's been involved with the group ever since.
``She's the type of student you're glad to have,'' said Copeland. ``She takes every assignment, every class and every show and works hard at them. Plus, Amber acts, sings and dances, so her name is always out there for the parts.
``She started out as part of the group, just one of the ensemble. Now, she's doing a lot of solos, and it's because she's determined. Her commitment and determination is what makes the difference.''
In typical Wiley fashion, when Amber signed on with the Hurrah Players, so did the family. Gwen helped with costuming, props and any odd jobs that needed to be done, and Ken and the two boys helped paint sets.
``Hurrah is a family commitment,'' Gwen explained. ``We call it the `Harrafia.' Once you get involved, you're involved for life.''
But Copeland said not all families make the commitment the Wileys do. ``They're the dream family,'' he said. ``They go so beyond. It makes me feel guilty sometimes, when they're in there cleaning my bathroom while I'm in here, yelling at their kids to get in step.''
It was while working backstage, helping their dad paint sets for one of Amber's shows that the twins came to the notice of Copeland. He asked the two to play twin androids in a production of ``Starmites,'' presented last fall.
``The boys became part of the players almost by osmosis,'' Copeland explained. ``They'd tag along with their sister and mother and father, and now they're very committed, too, and very much a part of the program.''
``At first, they were hesitant, but that first time on the stage, the bug bit them, too,'' Gwen recalled. ``They'd still be doing it if Hugh was still doing the show.''
``Nah,'' the two boys replied in unison. ``Just the makeup.''
For their parts, the twins wore silver makeup, spiked hair and space-age costumes.
``It was cool,'' noted Mickey.
As the new school year and a new season of productions approach, the biggest problem facing the Wileys is which shows to do.
``We're trying to be a one-show-a-year family,'' explained Gwen. ``But it's hard. There's so much they want to do, and they really love doing them. But they have to give up some things to do them. The thing is as a family, we're really excited about the theatrical process.''
Added Amber: ``It's such a juggling act. I've been trying to work in sports, but I don't think I'm going to be able to do tennis this year. But acting is what I want to do for my career . . . so it's most important to me.''
For Mickey and Kurtis, however, acting is, for now at least, just a consuming hobby.
``This is just something fun for me to do,'' said Kurtis. ``I think I really want to be a veterinarian.''
Added Mickey: ``Right now, I'm just going with the flow.''
For now, the flow means a path to the next stage door. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by BETH BERGMAN
[Color cover photo: The Wileys]
From left to right: Gwen, Amber, Ken, Mickey and Kurtis Wiley spend
a rare moment between drama productions relaxing on their front
porch in Ocean View.
Staff photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
Mickey, Amber and Kurtis, back, star in ``Hansel and Gretel'' at the
Jewish Community Center.
Amber Wiley played an attendant to Princess Jasmine in
``Aladdin.''
Mickey, left, and Kurtis, right, are androids in the Hurrah Players'
spring production, ``Starmites,'' also starring Michael LeMelle,
center, and Tyler Markum, kneeling.
COMING UP
Look for ``Micah's Christmas Treasure'' to air on the Christian
Broadcasting Network in late fall. Amber Wiley is the voice behind
the character Rachel in this feature-length animated cartoon.
by CNB