Audition for ‘The Miracle Worker’ Jan. 23, 25

Director Rebecca Rizzio will hold auditions for “The Miracle Worker,” by William Gibson, on Monday and Wednesday, Jan. 23 and 25 at 7 p.m. in the Black Box Theater of The Phipps Center for the Arts. Callbacks will be held on Thursday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. on the main stage.

Adults should prepare two one-minute monologues that demonstrate versatility. Children should prepare one short monologue. Girls auditioning for Helen should instead prepare to tell a well-known story using no words but only their bodies.

“The Miracle Worker” tells the story of Annie Sullivan and her student, blind and mute Helen Keller. Trapped in a secret, silent world, unable to communicate, Helen is violent, spoiled, almost sub-human and treated by her family as such. Only Annie realizes that there is a mind and spirit waiting to be rescued from the dark, tortured silence. With scenes of intense physical and emotional dynamism, Annie’s success with Helen finally comes with the utterance of a single, glorious word: “water.”

Ten performances will be given March 23 through April 15 on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. as well as Sundays, April 1 and 15 at 2 p.m. on the main stage.

The director provides the following character descriptions:

Annie Sullivan, early-late 20s, is Helen’s teacher. She is a strong and vibrant woman who is determined to connect Helen to the world. There is a crude vitality to her, and she is undeterred by the Kellers’ fierce protection of their daughter. She is involved in intense physical scenes.

Helen Keller, age 8 – 12, is a deaf blind mute. She is trapped in her own world, unable to speak, hear, or see. She is almost not human as she has been blind and deaf since she was stricken with scarlet fever as a baby. She is involved in intense physical scenes.

Captain Arthur Keller, age 40s - 50s, is Helen’s father. A captain, he is stern, but devoted to his family. He struggles to connect to young Helen, but he is loving nonetheless. Kate Keller, age 30s - 40s, is Helen’s mother. She is tormented by Helen’s perceivably insurmountable disability. She seeks to please Helen in order to avoid the tantrums and to compensate for her extreme misfortune. She is a captain’s wife, so submissive in some capacity, but a fiercely devoted mother.

James Keller, age teens - 20s, is Helen’s half-brother, the son of the captain. He is described as indolent. He sees Helen as mentally defective and believes it best she be put in an asylum. Aunt Ev, age 40s - 50s, is Helen’s aunt. She is a talkative, opinionated woman who serves as the catalyst for the Kellers’ contact with the Perkins School for the Blind.

Anagnos, age 40s - 50s, is Annie’s counselor at the Perkins Institution for the Blind. A dear and kind man, he is very fond of Annie. He serves as a mentor and friend. Viney, age 30s - 60s, is a servant. He is cheerful and very loving towards the Keller children. Martha, age 8 – 12, is a playmate of Helen.

Percy, age 8 - 12, is a playmate of Helen. Blind Girls, ages 8-17. Doctor, age 40s - 70s.

Rizzio has directed for Table Salt Productions, Chameleon Theatre Circle, and Theatre Unbound, for which she is a company member.

For further information, contact The Phipps Center at (715 386-2305.

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