Stage Play: The Miracle Worker. Drama. Written by
William Gibson. Directed by
Arthur Penn. Playhouse Theatre: 19 Oct 1959- 1 Jul 1961 (719 performances). Cast:
Anne Bancroft (as "Annie Sullivan"),
Patty Duke (as "Helen Keller") [Broadway debut], Dale Ellen Bethea (as "Child"),
Juanita Bethea (as "Mary"), Miriam Butler (as "Martha"),
Kathleen Comegys (as "Aunt Ev"),
James Congdon (as "James Keller"),
Michael Constantine (as "Anagnos"),
Roger De Koven (as "Doctor"), Caswell Fairweather (as "Percy"), Lori Heineman (as "Child"), Rita Levy (as "Child"), John Marriott (as "John"), Eileen Musumeci (as "Child"),
Patricia Neal (as "Kate Keller") [final Broadway role], Donna Pastore (as "Child"),
Beah Richards (as "Viney') [Broadway debut], Lynn Schoenfeld (as "Child"),
Torin Thatcher (as "Captain Keller"). Understudies:
Dale Ellen Bethea (as "Martha/Percy"), Juanita Bethea (as "Mary/Viney), Clarice Blackburn (as "Kate Keller"). Replacement actors during run:
R.G. Armstrong (as "Captain Keller"), Mary Bell (as "Aunt Ev"), Dale Ellen Bethea (as "Martha"),
Clarice Blackburn (as "Kate Keller"), Clifford Cothren (as "Doctor"),
Candace Culkin (as "Child Jack Hollander (as "Anagnos/Doctor"), Karen Lee (as "Child"),
Geoffrey Lumb (as "Captain Keller"),
Suzanne Pleshette (as "Annie Sullivan"). Understudies:
Clifford Cothren (as "Anagnos"), Candace Culkin (as "Helen Keller"),
Jack Hollander (as "Anagnos/Captain Keller"), Ruth Hope (as "Aunt Ev"),
Tresa Hughes (as "Annie Sullivan"),
Karen Stride (as "Helen Keller"),
Bronia Wheeler [credited as Bronia Stefan] (as "Annie Sullivan"). Notes: (1) Filmed by Playfilm Productions (distributed by United Artists) as
Licht im Dunkel (1962). (2) Ms. Pleashette subsequently appeared with the touring company in the same role.
