Venice Theatre to present moving drama based on life of Helen Keller
The Miracle Worker closes out 2014-2015 MainStage Series with three-week run May 5 – 24
(Venice, FL) Venice Theatre will open The Miracle Worker, the 1959 Tony Award winning drama about Helen Keller (played by Alexia King), on Tuesday, May 5. Kelly Wynn Woodland is directing the play which will run on the theatre’s MainStage through Sunday, May 24, 2015. Performances are at 8 p.m. on Tuesdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $28 for adults, $13-$15 for students and are available at the theatre’s box office, online at www.venicestage.com or by phone at 941-488-1115. With support from the Venice Lions Club, the theatre will provide Sign Language Interpreters for the Thursday, May 21st performance. Also being offered is a performance for schools on Friday, May 8 at 11 a.m. Educators should contact Kristofer Geddie at 941-484-4033 x247 or [email protected] for tickets and more information. The Miracle Worker is generously sponsored by The John & Barbara Freeman Family Charitable Fun and Gulf Coast Community Foundation.
William Gibson’s script (first a teleplay and later adapted into the film’s screenplay) is based on Helen Keller’s autobiography, The Story of My Life. Keller’s childhood illness left her unable to see, hear or speak until her parents hired teacher Annie Sullivan (played by Corinne Woodland) when Helen was seven. The Miracle Worker focuses on Annie’s initial struggle to reach into Helen’s isolation and bring her mind and spirit into contact with the outside world through language. One of America’s most beloved citizens, Keller went on to graduate from Radcliffe College to become a well-known author, political activist and lecturer until her death at age 87 in 1968. Keller and Sullivan remained close until Sullivan’s death in 1936.
The original Broadway production of The Miracle Worker was praised by The New York Times as “profoundly moving.” It starred Anne Bancroft as Annie and Patty Duke as Helen. The pair went on to reprise their roles in the 1962 film which earned each of them an Academy Award. Tickets for The Miracle Worker and all Venice Theatre productions through June 2015 are available at the box office at 941-488-1115 or online at www.venicestage.com. Money-saving subscriptions are also available for the upcoming 2015-2016 Season. Venice Theatre is located at 140 W. Tampa Ave. on the island in Venice. Box office hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays, and one hour before all performances.
###
The Miracle Worker
By William Gibson
PRODUCTION STAFF
Director – Kelly Wynn Woodland
Stage Manager – Allyson Robertson
Technical Director – John Andzulis
Scenic Designer –Tim Wisgerhof
Lighting Designer – David Castaneda
Costume Designer – Nicholas Hartman
Sound Designer – Dorian Boyd
CAST
Helen – Alexia King
Annie – Corinne Woodland
Kate – Cheryl Andrews
Captain Keller – Michael Campbell
James – Patrick Tancey
Aunt Ev – Peg Harvey
Dr. Anagnos – Gary Grossman
Percy – Logan Schultz
Viney – Angela Benardo
Servants – Lexi McCorkle and Allison Pickens
Students – McKenna Dalton, Emma Andrews, Lauren Andrews, Lexi McCorkle, Allison Pickens, Ava Pickens
Tickets: 941-488-1115
Venice Theatre’s mission is making a dramatic impact on all stages of life. The second-largest out of 10,000 community theatres in the United States, it is located at 140 W. Tampa Ave .on the island in Venice, FL. Its MainStage offers seating for 432 patrons and features musicals, plays, concerts and special events. Its Yvonne Pinkerton Theatre seats 90 patrons and is home to the theatre’s “Generations”, Stage II and Cabaret Series. In addition to providing entertainment to the community, Venice Theatre has a wide range of education and outreach programs for children and adults.
