Mike Wiley Productions Presents “Changing Same”

The North Carolina Stage Company and YMI Cultural Center will jointly present Mike Wiley’s Changing Same, November 4–15, 2026, at the YMI Cultural Center in downtown Asheville.

Written by playwright and performer Mike Wiley and Howard L. Craft, the play explores a shocking incident in North Carolina’s past: the cold-blooded murder of Private Booker T. Spicely, a Black soldier serving in World War II.

All performances feature a post-show conversation with Mike Wiley. Sliding scale admission and discounts are available for select performances.

“As with a lot of Mike Wiley’s subjects, I was unfamiliar with the story of Changing Same and the killing of Private Booker T. Spicely in Durham, NC, in 1944,” said Charlie Flynn-McIver, artistic director of NC Stage Company. “And mind you, I grew up in Durham! Mike has a way of revealing history that we didn’t know, as well as history we thought we knew.”

During World War II, Butner, NC—a small town roughly 15 miles from downtown Durham—was home to a large encampment of enlisted men. Soldiers stationed there often took the bus into Durham to enjoy the nightlife and entertainment. On July 8, 1944, Private Spicely, a Black soldier, was returning to the camp when he boarded a bus in downtown Durham.

Originally from Philadelphia, Spicely was not familiar with the South’s Jim Crow rules as they pertained to segregated seating. After a brief verbal exchange with bus driver Herman Lee Council, Spicely gave up his seat for white passengers. As he exited the rear of the bus, witnesses say he apologized to the driver for any offense he may have caused. Council exited the front of the bus, drew a revolver, and shot Spicely twice in the chest. The driver then reboarded the bus and continued his route, leaving Spicely bleeding on the side of the road. Spicely was pronounced dead at Duke Hospital after being refused care at nearby Watts Hospital because of his race.

Herman Lee Council was later arrested and tried for Spicely’s killing. An all-white jury acquitted him in 28 minutes. Council retained his position as a city bus driver but was given a different route.

Over the years, the story faded from public discussion. In this one-man show, Mike Wiley brings to life Spicely, Council and a host of other characters to examine the events of that day, and the tense days that followed in a town known then, and today, for its progressive views, visionary Black entrepreneurs, tobacco industry magnates, and institutes of higher learning.

“To be able to have him perform in such a historical and storied space as the YMI is amazing,” said Flynn-McIver. “The theater space is beautiful and only enhances the experience of Mike’s performance. The YMI has been a wonderful partner, and we hope to continue [the partnership] in the future.”

Changing Same runs Wednesdays through Sundays, November 4–15, 2026 at YMI Cultural Center, 39 S. Market St. in downtown Asheville.

Tickets for Changing Same by Mike Wiley are offered on a sliding scale ($18.50 to $38.50) on Wednesdays and Thursdays; general pricing ($38.50 for adults, $18.50 for students) on Fridays through Sundays. Tickets will be available for pick-up at the entrance of the YMI on S. Market Street. All tickets are general admission.

To purchase tickets, go to www.ncstage.org/productions/mike-wiley-presents-changing-same, or call (828) 239-0263.