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Title: Miracle Worker, The
Author(s): William Gibson
Licensing Agent: Samuel French, Inc
Genre: Drama
Length: Full Length
Male Roles: 7
Female Roles: 7
Extras: 0
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Description: This stirring dramatization of the story of Helen Keller is one of the most successful and warmly admired plays of the modern stage. Blind and mute, and nobody knows what Helen's fate might have been had she not come under the tutelage of Annie Sullivan, an Irish girl who had been born blind. The Miracle Worker is principally concerned with the emotional relationship between the lonely teacher and her blind charge. Little Helen, trapped in her secret world, is bitter, violent, spoiled and almost animal like. Only Annie realizes that there is a mind waiting to be rescued from that dark, tortured silence. Annie's success with Helen comes only after some of the most turbulent, violent, and emotion packed scenes ever presented on the stage.
| Character |
Gender |
Role Size |
Min Age |
Max Age |
Description |
| Annie Sullivan |
F |
Lead |
20 |
30 |
Annie is an upstart Irish girl from Boston who takes on the daunting task of reaching Helen. Extremely confident (in front of others) and strong willed, she often confronts the Kellers over the way Helen is treated. |
| Helen Keller |
F |
Lead |
8 |
12 |
A demanding and undisciplined child, we must see the intelligence and frustration of a child that has lived in darkness nearly all her life. She must have a small build. This is a physically demanding role that requires some staged fights with the actress playing Annie Sullivan. |
| Captain Arthur Keller |
M |
|
45 |
55 |
A powerful and influential newspaper publisher and ex-Confederate officer. Opinionated and very much a Southern gentleman, he has no time or patience with anyone or anything from the North. He is the master of his domain. |
| Kate Keller |
F |
|
25 |
35 |
A Southern gentlewoman and Keller's second wife. She is patient and gentle, but with a backbone to stand up to her husband when her child's future is at stake. |
| James Keller |
M |
|
20 |
30 |
Captain Keller's son from a previous marriage. He is described as flippant and sarcastic, afraid of his father, and hurt by all the attention paid to his half-sisters. |
| Aunt Ev |
F |
|
40 |
60 |
Aunt Ev is Captain Keller's sister who is a frequent visitor at the Keller home. She is talkative and slightly pushy, but still very conscious of the Southern class system. |
| Viney |
F |
|
30 |
40 |
A servant in charge of housework and meals in the Keller household. She is very fond of the Keller daughters, but shows a preference for the baby, Mildred. An African-American actress is preferred for the role. |
| Anagnos |
M |
Supporting |
35 |
65 |
Annie's counselor at the Perkins Institute, he is stern but compassionate with the students. |
| Doctor |
M |
Supporting |
50 |
65 |
The epitome of an old country doctor, he is very comforting toward Kate, but matter-of-fact with Captain Keller. |
| Martha |
F |
|
12 |
16 |
Viney's daughter, she is playful, curious and bossy with Percy but is terrified by Helen's behavior. |
| Percy |
M |
|
8 |
12 |
Viney's son. Although frightened of Helen, he becomes an important part of her education. |
| Jimmy Sullivan |
M |
|
8 |
12 |
Annie's younger brother who died of tuberculosis at the asylum in the past. Throughout the show, he is seen in flashbacks as the voice of Annie's conscience when she is experiencing moments of self-doubt. |
| Perkins Girls |
G |
|
8 |
17 |
Six blind girls at the Perkins Institute with whom Annie has the closest relationship. They are like a group of sisters, excited, lively and loving. The youngest has difficulty accepting Annie's departure. |
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