The Westport Community Theatre Announces The Miracle Worker

The Westport Community Theatre is proudly presenting The Miracle Worker, a Tony Award-winner for Best Play and the dramatic story of a young Helen Keller, on weekends from Friday, November 27 through Sunday, December 13. Keller, deaf, blind and mute as a child, eventually achieved many notable accomplishments as author, political activist and lecturer. She lived the latter part of her life in Easton, CT, near the Westport town line. Stratford’s Richard Mancini and Nora Watson are part of the cast and crew bringing this triumphant story of the human spirit to life. Mancini, who directs the play written by William Gibson, and has cast Watson as Helen Keller.

“Profoundly moving” is how the New York Times described the play, which portrays the touching evolution of a life-changing breakthrough for the young Helen Keller. “We are excited to produce this family-oriented show during the holidays,” said Mancini. “Audiences will be inspired by this powerful story that tugs at one’s heartstrings.”

The play premiered on Broadway in 1959 with Patty Duke as Helen Keller and Anne Bancroft as Annie Sullivan. It won the Tony Award for Best Play and was later made into a film adaptation in 1962. Nora Watson, a fourth grader and student of dance and voice, is making her debut as Helen Keller at WCT. She has enjoyed roles in Oliver, Annie, A Christmas Carol and Gypsy. Emma LaPlace, cast as Annie Sullivan, is a senior at Fairfield Ludlow High School. She has performed in Rabbit Hole and Arcadia with WCT and is a member of Downtown Cabaret Theatre’s Main Stage/Children’s Companies and Fairfield Teen Theatre.

Mancini returns to WCT after directing last season’s It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, and previously The Crucible, The Woman In Black, Broadway Bound, The Man Who Came to Dinner and Lost in Yonkers among others. Mancini has also directed many shows at other area theatres including Stamford’s Curtain Call, Wilton Playshop, Eastbound Theatre, Town Players of New Canaan and the Darien Arts Center.

Produced by arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. the WCT cast also includes Glenn Ghirardi, Tondrea Mabins, Sam Mink, Elayne Mordoff, John Pyron, and Dene Whitaker. Ann Baker is stage manager.

The Miracle Worker performances are from November 27 through December 13, on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and at 2:00 p.m. on Sundays, with a Thursday performance on December 3 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $23, $21 for seniors and students, and can be purchased at westportcommunitytheatre.com or by calling (203) 226-1983. Westport Community Theatre is located at 110 Myrtle Avenue in Westport.

Pictured: Emma LaPlace as Annie Sullivan and Nora Watson as Helen Keller in the WCT production of The Miracle Worker.