Alison Pill Talks Career and THE MIRACLE WORKER with New York Mag.

Alison Pill, currently starring on Broadway in the Helen Keller drama, THE MIRACLE WORKER, recently sat down with New York Magazine to discuss her career and her penchant for playing dark roles.

Pill is well-known in the Theatre World for truly embracing her characters. "I've broken a lot of sets," Pill told New York Magazine. In a scene in her most recent Broadway outing, reasons to be pretty by Neil LaBute, she was using a breakaway ashtray that "got obliterated. I mean, it was dust. And they're like, Maybe we can just give you a normal ashtray. I guess I don't know my own strength."

On her initial understanding of just how powerful and complex THE MIRACLE WORKER was, Pill reveals: "I was like, ‘Yeah, it's The Miracle Worker ... she works miracles!' ... But it's an incredible play. It's really dark."

To read the full article from New York Magazine, click here.

Pill notes that even in Miracle Worker, a play that at first seems rather hopeful, has its dark sides. "[At first] I was like, ‘Yeah, it's The Miracle Worker ... she works miracles! But it's an incredible play. It's really dark. Yesterday, we were doing a radio spot and I was supposed to say, ‘It's triumphant, it's joyful!' Which it is ... but, I mean, in the end."

Alison Pill returns to the stage following starring on Broadway in Mauritius and in the Off-Broadway hits reasons to be pretty and Blackbird, for which she received Lucille Lortel, Outer Critics Circle and Drama League Award nominations. She was nominated for a Tony Award® for her Broadway debut in The Lieutenant of Inishmore. She recently appeared in the hit feature film Milk opposite Sean Penn and the acclaimed HBO series "In Treatment."

The 50th Anniversary production of William Gibson's Tony Award winning THE MIRACLE WORKER, directed by Kate Whoriskey and starring Academy Award nominee Abigail Breslin and Tony Award nominee Alison Pill, played its first preview performance February 12th, ahead of a March 3rd opening at Circle in the Square Theatre.

Staged in the round for the first time ever, THE MIRACLE WORKER also stars Golden Globe(r) and Emmy Award(r) nominee Matthew Modine, Jennifer Morrison , and Tony Award(r) winner Elizabeth Franz, with Tobias Segal, Daniel Orsekes, Michael Cummings, Simone Joy Jones, Yvette Ganier and Lance Chantiles-Wertz.

Set in Tuscumbia, Alabama in the 1880s, THE MIRACLE WORKER tells the story of the young Helen Keller, who became blind and deaf after a childhood illness, and the extraordinary woman, Annie Sullivan, who taught her to communicate with the world.

Scenic design is by Derek McLane, costume design is by Paul Tazewell, lighting design is by Kenneth Posner, original music & sound design is by Rob Milburn & Michael Bodeen, hair design is by Charles LaPointe, and physical coaching & movement is by Lee Sher.

THE MIRACLE WORKER is produced by David Richenthal, Eric Falkenstein, Randall L. Wreghitt, Barbara & Buddy Freitag/Dan Frishwasser, Joseph J. Grano, Jr., Mallory Factor, Cheryl Lachowicz, Martha Falkenberg, Bruce J. Carusi & Susan Altamore Carusi, Lynn Shaw, David & Sheila Lehrer; in association with Connie Bartlow Kristan, Jamie deRoy/Remmel T. Dickinson and associate producers Rosalind Productions, Inc. and Patty Baker/Anna Czekaj.

THE MIRACLE WORKER tickets are $117.00 (including $2.00 facility charge) and are available by calling Telecharge at 212-239-6200, visiting www.telecharge.com or in person at Circle in the Square Theatre box office at 235 West 50 Street. Group sales tickets may be purchased by calling 212-239-6262 / 800-432-7780.

Previews from Friday, February 12th through Saturday, February 27th:
Monday - Saturday evenings at 8:00pm, Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2p. No performances Sunday.

Week of March 1st, 2010:
Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday at 8:00pm. Sunday evening at 7:00pm. Opening night curtain Wednesday, March 3rd at 6:30pm. No performance Thursday, March 4th. Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:00pm.

Beginning week of March 8th, 2010:
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7:00pm, Friday and Saturday at 8:00pm, Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2:00pm. Sunday matinees at 3:00pm. Dark Monday.

For more information, visit www.miracleworkeronbroadway.com.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride