Auditions for braille reader's theater set for Dec. 9 & 10.

MUSEUM TO HOLD AUDITIONS FOR BRAILLE READER’S THEATER PRODUCTION OF THE MIRACLE WORKER

The Museum of the American Printing House for the Blind will hold auditions for a Braille Readers Theater production of William Gibson’s classic play, The Miracle Worker, on Friday December 9, at 11 a.m. and Saturday, December 10, at 1 pm. Those who audition should plan to attend only one of the two audition times.


The Miracle Worker tells the story of the young Helen Keller, blind and deaf since infancy. As an adult, Helen won the world’s admiration for her activities as an author, lecturer, and passionate advocate for the rights of the disabled. As a young child, she was wild and uncontrollable, frustrated by her inability to communicate. The play chronicles one year in Helen’s life, when her parents sought help from the Perkins Institute for the Blind, which sends them a tutor named Annie Sullivan. Through persistence, love, and sheer stubbornness, Annie breaks through Helen's walls of silence and darkness and teaches her to communicate.


Reader's theater is often defined by what it doesn’t involve -- no memorizing, no props, no costumes, no sets. Instead, it is rather like a radio play, performed in front of a live audience. The actors use intonation and gestures appropriate for their characters and their characters’ words; the stage directions are also read by an actor.


The production will take place on Saturday, March 24, at 1 p.m., in the Museum. The cast will meet for a read-through shortly after parts are assigned. Two more rehearsals will take place in March.


Auditions will consist of cold readings, in braille, from the script. Those who audition should plan to attend only one of the two audition times.

Reading parts available are as follows.

§ Annie Sullivan, Helen’s teacher, and the “miracle worker” to whom the title of the play refers.

§ Kate Keller, Helen’s mother

§ Captain Arthur Keller, Helen’s father

§ James Keller, an older teen or young man

§ Evelyn, Helen’s aunt

§ A doctor

§ James, Helen’s brother

§ Anagnos, Annie’s counselor at the Perkins Institution for the Blind.

§ Viney, a servant to the Keller family

§ Martha, a young girl

§ Percy, a young boy

§ Several young girls, Annie’s classmates at Perkins

§ Stage manager

Questions should be directed to Katie Carpenter at kcarpenter@aph.org or 899-2213.

The Museum of the American Printing House for the Blind is located at 1839 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville, KY 40206


Roberta Williams, 502-899-2357
Public Relations Manager
Tours, InSights Art, General Publicity

visit our web site: www.aph.org
and our YouTube site, http://www.youtube.com/user/aphftb

American Printing House for the Blind
1839 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, KY 40206

Building Independence Since 1858