Patty Duke Sues Manhattan Ensemble Theater

As reported by the New York Post, Patty Duke is suing the Manhattan Ensemble Theater Co. for $2.5 million after she was dropped from the national tour of "Golda's Balcony" in 2005.

The Oscar- and Emmy-winning actress is accusing Broadway producer, David Fishelson, and the theater for discrimination on account of her heart condition. According to the suit, Fishelson and the theater released Duke from the title role after a January 2005 meeting where she disclosed she was unable to complete a television project after a heart-bypass surgery.

Duke, age 60, claims her contract was terminated after Fishelson and the theater "mistakenly, perceived her to be disabled and unable to perform" despite "clear oral promises" she would have the role of the Israeli Prime Minister, Golda Meir, on the national tour.

Duke contends she was physically capable to play the role and was learning the script when she was fired. Her suit charges Fishelson and the theater "damaged" her career and "unlawfully profited from her celebrity" by using her name in promotional campaigns for the play even after deciding to drop her.

Duke is well known for her performance as Helen Keller (1959-1961) in the Broadway play, "The Miracle Worker" – a role for which she later won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (1962) and an Emmy for the TV movie version (1979).

Emmy-winner Valerie Harper replaced Duke on the North American tour which is currently set to play next week at the Bushnell Theatre in Hartford, Connecticut.