Based in historic Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Mixed Magic Theatre is an acclaimed non-profit 501 (C) 3 arts organization founded in 2000 by Ricardo and Bernadet V. Pitts -Wiley. For the past 24 years, with a deep legacy of preserving and celebrating the unique experience of Americans of African descent, and as a strong proponent of diversity, equity, and inclusion , the Company has brought diverse stories and images to the stage through song, dance and poetry, and by tackling well-known dramas and original theatrical productions on both national and international stages. Mixed Magic Theatre’s foundation is rooted in theatre, the arts, community and education collaborations, as exemplified by its partnership with MIT’s New Media Literacies Project which was funded by the MacArthur Foundation to investigate digital media and literacy education to address challenging social issues in creative ways. This partnership took Mixed Magic’s leadership to present at the Conrad/ Melville International Conference in Poland (2007) and subsequently to perform (2008 ) at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC.
Under the leadership of Artistic Director Jonathan Pitts-Wiley, Mixed Magic Theatre continues to thrive , pursue excellence , and remains committed to its mission:
To build more literate and arts-active communities by presenting a diversity of images and ideas on stage , and telling great stories from across America and around the world.
Mixed Magic Theatre’ s leadership and The Exult Choir has garnered many awards and accolades through the work of programs and projects, both on a national and international level. Mixed Magic Theatre received The Rhode Island Council for the Humanities’ Tom Roberts Prize in 2021 which recognizes leadership, creative achievement, innovation, and scholarship; the 2017 Pell Award for Excellence in the Arts ( Ricardo Pitts-Wiley ) ; the Pawtucket Foundation’s Award of Distinction in 2014 ( Bernadet V. Pitts-Wiley, Ricardo Pitts-Wiley ) ; a series of Governors’ Awards and Certificates for Artistic Achievement; and numerous awards over its 24 years from the State of Rhode Island and elsewhere for Artistic Excellence.
The Mixed Magic Exult Choir has opened for the late Dr. Maya Angelou at PPAC; opens annually for the Rhode Island Philharmonic at the Pawtucket Art Fest; opened the prestigious 2018 International Challenger’s Summit in Watch Hill, RI for Epic Decade; and for numerous performances at WaterFire Providence and other New England corporate and community events.
