The Miracle Worker

Following an illness in infancy, Helen Keller had the world collapse around her, becoming dark and silent. The illness caused her to become blind, deaf and mute. It is impossible to know what little Helen’s life might have been like had fate not intervened in the person of Annie Sullivan, an Irish girl who had been blind herself.

The Miracle Worker, William Gibson’s prize winning play about Sullivan’s struggles to teach this hapless little girl how to communicate with the world around her, opens at HCCT on April 10. The play runs through April 19, the day before Easter. Box office opens to patron members of the theatre on March 31 and to the public on April 3.

Jane Kelley Martin, HCCT’s Vice-President—Production, makes her directorial debut in our theatre with Miracle Worker. She holds a Masters Degree in Theatre from Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Miracle Worker is principally concerned with the emotional relationship between the lonely teacher, portrayed by Stephanie Shaw, and her blind charge, double-cast with Haley Griffin and Chloe Rudman. All three young ladies are from Marble Falls. Little Helen, trapped in her secret world is bitter, violent, spoiled and almost animal-like.

Only Annie realizes a mind is waiting to be rescued from that dark, tortured silence. Annie’s success comes after some of the most violent and emotion packed scenes ever presented on a family stage. Both Anne Bancroft as Annie and Patty Duke as Helen received accolades and awards for their performances on stage and in the film version.

In HCCT’s production, Helen’s family is played by Monica Griffin as Kate Keller, the mother, and Kirk Tatum as Helen’s father, Captain Keller. Both are from Marble Falls. Playing the half-brother James is Brian Jacobs and Aunt Ev is played by Beverly McIntire — both from Horseshoe Bay, as well as Carolyn Lloyd who creates the role of the housekeeper, Viney.

Rounding out the cast are Maury James from Blue Lake and Cameron Ruiz of Horseshoe Bay as Viney’s children, John Mendgen of Horseshoe Bay as a doctor and Dennis Martin of Burnet as Mr. Anagnosof the Perkins Institute for the Blind.. Sally Stemac of Kingsland is stage managing. Jennifer Jones, HCCT’s Executive Assistant, is coordinating the construction of period costumes designed by Audrey Chase of Lake Buchanan. Vickie Cody of Burnet and Lee Middlebrooks of Marble Falls are handling props. Harmony Peacock of Horseshoe Bay is designing the stage lighting.

Tickets for the show are priced at $12 for adults and $6 for children 12 and under. Special rates for groups of ten or more students in middle school or high school are available. Call the box office at 830.798.8944 for details. HCCT accepts VISA, MasterCard or American Express as payment via telephone. Reservations can also be made by visiting our website at www.hcct.org.