Miracle Worker on Broadway Revives Timeless Story
One teacher. One student. Endless possibilities.
In February 2010 William Gibson's "The Miracle Worker" returns to the Broadway stage, introducing yet another generation to the timeless story of a teacher who penetrated the darkness of a young girl's world and gave her the tools to inspire millions.
The play explores the fascinating story of a young teacher, Anne Sullivan (the "miracle worker"), who was sent from Perkins School for the Blind in Massachusetts to the Tuscumbia, Alabama home of a young girl who was deaf and blind, Helen Keller. Late dramatist William Gibson held a lifelong respect and admiration for Sullivan and his play depicts the remarkable first month of her relationship with Helen Keller. Gibson researched the history at Perkins, basing the play almost exclusively on letters Sullivan wrote to her Perkins housemother from the Keller home.
Watch Perkins' Interview with William Gibson
In 2005, Gibson gave an interview to Perkins President Steven Rothstein about the universally inspiring crux of the true life story.
“What’s fantastic about the story, these were two children,” Gibson said. “The whole adult world doesn’t know what to do and these two kids get together and in that first month, they solve this problem. Well that's amazing! ... It's a symbol of everybody's effort to get out of our own personal dungeons into contact with the larger world.”
Today the teachers at Perkins continue to open up the worlds of children and adults around the globe who are visually impaired, blind, and deafblind. The cornerstone of Perkins' philosophy remains what it was in 1887 when Anne Sullivan left for Alabama determined to accomplish what few believed possible. More than 120 years later, the commitment of Perkins teachers to break down barriers and maximize the potential of each individual student is unwavering.
President Rothstein sums up the play's monumental and enduring impact as follows: “Because of the understanding that The Miracle Worker has fostered, students have been served, government officials in country after country have funded programs, parents have been given hope, and countless teachers have been inspired to follow in Anne Sullivan’s footsteps."
The Miracle Worker on Broadway
Beginning February 12, 2010, the Miracle Worker will once again take the Broadway stage. Audience members who are blind or deaf will have access to up to the moment audio description systems detailing all of the visual aspects of the production as well as hand-held captioning devices displaying verbatim text of the show in real time.
To learn more about accessibility services, listen to interviews with the cast, and find ticketing information, visit www.miracleworkeronbroadway.com.
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