The Miracle Worker is the inspiring story of American author, political activist and lecturer Helen Keller.
Left deaf and blind and unable to communicate at 19 months old from a childhood illness, Keller grew to be a spoiled and indulged 7-year-old until Anne Sullivan became her teacher.
The Little Theater of Walla Walla will present the play Nov. 20-21, 27-28 and Dec. 4-5.
Keller's story first was adapted into a Broadway play in 1959 and ran for two years before it was made into a feature film in 1962. The play and film starred Patty Duke as Keller and Anne Bancroft as Annie Sullivan. Both won Oscars for their roles.
The story follows the determination, strength and love that evolved between Keller and her teacher.
Sullivan was able to break through Helen's isolation and develop a language that allowed Helen to communicate in the late 1800s.
Husband and wife team of Terry and Sherry McConn are co-directers for the drama.
"We both graduated from Whitman College with degrees in dramatic arts and have co-directed many times in the past," Terry McConn said. "We quit directing together in 1978 while we raised our kids then restarted in 2002 at the community college here."
The Miracle Worker is their first venture together for The Little Theater.
Taking on the role of Helen is Cassidy Meliah, 11, of Walla Walla. She beat out 30 other youngsters for the role.
"Cassidy has done an amazing job," McConn said. "She stood out in the audition process because she was believable as the blind Helen. She also brought a darkness to the role that tapped into the character beautifully."
Jessica Barkl portrays Anne Sullivan with Topher Murphy as the doctor, Shauna Lilly Bogley and Gil Alden as Helen's parents.
◗ Dori O'Neal: 582-1514; doneal@tricityherald.com
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Play auditions start Oct. 4 in Walla Walla
Play auditions start Oct. 4 in Walla Walla
Auditions for Arthur Miller's play All My Sons , a Little Theatre of Walla Walla production, are at 7 p.m. Oct. 4-5 at the theater, 1130 Sumach St., Walla Walla.
Roles are available for six men, four women and one 8- to 10-year-old boy.
Richland Players start season with a classic
Richland Players start season with a classic
Of Mice and Men is one of those classic tales of doom and gloom.
Written in 1937 by Nobel Prize-winning writer John Steinbeck, it follows the tragic tale of two drifters -- cynical George Milton and dim-witted gentle giant Lennie Small -- as they try to find work during the Great Depression.
The Richland Players will kick off their 2011-12 theater season with the stage version of this story Sept. 9 at The Players Theatre in Richland. Performances continue Sept. 10, 16-17, 23-24. Curtain time is 8 p.m. with a 2 p.m. matinee Sept. 18.
Movie guide: Capsule listing of current releases
Movie guide: Capsule listing of current releases
Ratings by the Motion Picture Association of America are: (G) for general audiences; (PG) parental guidance urged because of material possibly unsuitable for children; (PG-13) parents are strongly cautioned to give guidance for attendance of children younger than 13; (R) restricted, younger than 17 admitted only with parent or adult guardian; (NC-17) no one younger than 17 admitted.
Fast focus: A little of everything
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Miracle on 34th Street, the original. The one with Maureen O'Hara, Edmund Gwenn, John Payne, and Gene Lockhart.
It had a really great story line, kindness, comedy, greed, romance -- it really had it all. The best part was when the judge couldn't decide whether Mr. Claus was crazy or real! I loved it when the postal workers carried into and placed before the judge bag after bag of letters children had written to Santa Claus. Since the United States Post Office took these letters that meant that the post office, being a government institution, had inadvertently declared Santa Claus to be a "real person." The story was heart warming and made you feel good, and that's why I've always loved this one.
-- Helen Thompson, Othello
'Steel Magnolias' to hit Walla Walla stage
'Steel Magnolias' to hit Walla Walla stage
Steel Magnolias is the quintessential story of friendship, trust and the heartache of death, all served up Southern style.
The Little Theatre will present the beloved drama starting Feb. 10 in its vintage red barn theater at 1130 Sumach St., Walla Walla.
The story was a smash on Broadway when it premiered in the mid-1980s. It became an even bigger hit once the movie came out in 1989 starring Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, Daryl Hannah and a newcomer to the acting game, Julia Roberts.
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