THE MIRACLE WORKER: Broadway Bound?

Reports are circulating that William Gibson's classic, THE MIRACLE WORKER, will get a Broadway resurrection in the near future at the hands of Finnian's Rainbow producer David Richenthal.

Reportedly, Kate Whoriskey will direct the revival, about headstrong teacher Annie Sullivan who teaches a deaf, dumb blind Helen Keller to connect with the world after being largely cast aside by her family. The play is based on the real life story of Helen Keller, derived from her autobiography, The Story of My Life, and starred Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke both in the award-winning productions on both stage and film in 1962 and 1979 respectively.

According to an Equity casting notice out by Jay Binder, the roles of both Annie and Helen have already been cast. Also according to the notice, rehearsals will begin in January 2010 with a February 2010 start at a yet-to-be-named theatre. 

The Miracle Worker's first realization was a 1957 Playhouse 90 broadcast written by William Gibson and starring Teresa Wright as Sullivan and Patricia McCormack as Keller. Gibson adapted his teleplay for a 1959 Broadway production with Anne Bancroft as Sullivan and Patty Duke as Keller. The two reprised their roles for the 1962 feature film. It was remade for television in 1979, with Patty Duke as Sullivan, Melissa Gilbert as Keller, and Diana Muldaur and Charles Siebert in supporting roles. In 2000, another television production was made, directed by Nadia Tass and starring Alison Elliott as Sullivan and Hallie Kate Eisenberg as Keller, with David Strathairn and Lucas Black in supporting roles. A 1984 made-for-television sequel, Helen Keller: The Miracle Continues, starred Blythe Danner as Sullivan, Mare Winningham as Keller, and Jack Warden as Mark Twain. Gibson's additional plays include: Two for the Seesaw, A Cry of Players, Golda, The Butterfingers Angel, Handy Dandy and Goodly Creatures. He is the author of a novel, "The Cobweb," as well as the musical version of Clifford Odets' Golden Boy. His books include "The Seesaw Log," "A Mass for the Dead," "A Season in Heaven" and a volume of poetry entitled "Winter Crook," plus "Shakespeare's Game," a critical study.

No official announcement on the show by producers has been made.