Lexi Gwynn & Jennie Eisenhower to Lead Media Theatre's MIRACLE WORKER

The classic play by William Gibson which focuses on the stormy relationship between Helen Keller and her governess Annie Sullivan is at The Media Theatre January 28-February 15. It's "The Miracle Worker", which follows Media's new tradition of placing a classic play within its annual Broadway Series schedule.

The tradition started last winter with the highly acclaimed "Diary of Anne Frank" and, again, Artistic Director Jesse Cline has chosen a play which has much educational and historic value. Cline will also direct "The Miracle Worker", another fact-based drama.

Helen Keller was rendered blind, deaf, and mute due to a childhood illness. William Gibson's play highlights the struggles of her family to control her wild behavior and their subsequent hiring of teacher Sullivan in an effort to assist their cause.The moving, triumphant show is a testament to the power of the human spirit as it highlights the struggle to be heard without speaking, to find one's way without sight, and to function without the ability to hear.

With several 10am performances scheduled on Wednesday and Thursday specifically for school students, The Media Theatre will highlight certain educational aspects of the production.

A professional cast of Actors Equity Association union members will bring the show to life, led by Lexi Gwynn as Helen Keller and Jennie Eisenhower as Annie Sullivan. Lexi Gwynn is a New School student at The Media Theatre who becomes a union member with this production. Eisenhower, well known to Media audiences and throughout the Philadelphia region, is a Barrymore Award winner.

Keller's parents will be played by Andrew Criss, making his Media Theatre debut, and Hillary Parker, seen previously in "Dr. Dolittle". Alex Kryger is James, Helen's teenage half-brother who holds resentment toward her.

Audience favorite Nicholas Saverine is Agnanos, the headmaster for the Perkins Institute of the Blind. Maria Wolf plays Aunt Eve, and Kelly Briggs portrays a Doctor.

Viney, a servant in the Keller household, is played by Tamara Woods with the young Kennedy Ndiaye and Nasir Turner as her children.

Other blind children in the cast are portrayed by Josh Atkinson, Katie Davis, Katheryn Cooper, Anna Rosenthal, Brea Turner, Mary Kate Vink, and Carter Weiss--all students at The Media Theatre.

For tickets to "The Miracle Worker" call 610-891-0100 or visit mediatheatre.org. The theatre has a Family Pack available (four tickets for $100). The show plays January 28 to February 15.

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