by William Gibson
Experience the beloved, gripping and inspiring story based on the real-life events of Helen Keller and her teacher, Anne Sullivan. Set in the late 19th century, the play by William Gibson explores the transformative journey of communication and understanding between a young deaf-blind girl and her determined tutor. Through patience, perseverance, and empathy, Anne Sullivan unlocks Helen’s world, leading to a powerful and touching exploration of resilience, compassion, and the triumph of the human spirit.
Trapped in a secret, silent world, unable to communicate, young Helen is violent and spoiled, treated by her family as subhuman. Only Annie sees a mind and spirit waiting to be rescued from Helen’s dark, tortured silence. After scenes of intense physical and emotional struggle, Helen’s breakthrough finally arrives with the utterance of a single, glorious word: “water.”
The Miracle Worker began as a television play and later won a Tony Award in 1959 for Gibson from his original 1957 telefilm script. Gibson, an American playwright, is best known for his plays The Miracle Worker and Two For the Seesaw and for enlisting Anne Bancroft’s talent (as Sullivan), a then-unknown actress.
Rehearsal Photos (by Dori Shear-McGowan)
A series of Q&A videos featuring members of the cast of The Miracle Worker onstage now. (Special thanks to Amy Sue Matthews and Jeff Wick.)
Fight Scene Rehearsal Videos! (Special thanks to Fight Choreographer, Isabelle Benstead, who also plays Annie Sullivan.)
Don has been directing and serving as an acting coach in school and community theatre for most of his adult life while also serving as a high school teacher and school administrator. He finds it almost impossible to name a favorite show; he just loves the work. Equally comfortable at the helm of both plays and musicals, he has directed over fifty shows, several of them multiple times. He is delighted to be directing The Miracle Worker for Aurora Players.
Nick is thrilled to be Assistant Director/Production Stage Manager for this production. He has worked with Don Wesley for 5 years as an actor, and this is his first production as a member of the production team. He recently performed as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof at Springville Center for the Arts, and hopes he can translate his onstage skills to the backstage world. Nick teaches ELA at WNY Maritime Charter School and recently married Isabelle (Wray) Benstead (Annie Sullivan).
Isa (Wray) Benstead
Annie Sullivan
Benjamin Davis
Captain Keller
Emerson Disch
Helen Keller (doubled)
Nadia Plotkin
Helen Keller (doubled)
Jennifer Grzeskiewicz
Kate Keller
Susan Musial
Aunt Ev
Matthew Touris
James Keller
Chuck Slisz
Doctor/Anagnos
Caroline Parzy-Sanders
Viney
Oliver Parzy-Sanders
Martha
Cameron Parzy-Sanders
Percy
Dakota Fuller
Blind Girls, Voices, Spectres
Dana Fuller
Blind Girls, Voices, Spectres
Emily Quinn
Blind Girls, Voices, Spectres
Aurora Rea
Blind Girls, Voices, Spectres
Rosalie Stephens
Blind Girls, Voices, Spectres
Firefly Weber
Blind Girls, Voices, Spectres
We saw this last night. The whole cast did a tremendous job! I am legally blind myself and marveled at how this play was portrayed! Please extend my congratulations to the entire cast for a fantastic job! Bravo!
My husband and I went and saw this. Wow what a great show. All the actors were amazing but shout out to the actresses who played Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan. They nailed it! Great job everyone!
Excellent production! A real “must see” !!!
I saw this show Sunday afternoon. The Miracle Worker performance was outstanding! Thank you! Bravo!
