History Theatre / TheMiracleWorker

There have been three movie adaptations. The best known is the 1962 film directed by Arthur Penn, with Bancroft and Duke reprising their Broadway roles. Both actresses earned UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}s for their performances; Bancroft for Best Leading Actress and Duke for Best Supporting Actress (at 16, the youngest-ever Oscar winner up to that time). In 1979, Patty Duke took on the role of Annie while Creator/MelissaGilbert played Helen. In 2000, Creator/{{Disney}} took its shot at the story, with Alison Elliott and Hallie Kate Eisenberg as the leads. The 1979 and 2000 versions were [[MadeForTVMovie made for television]], with the former winning an UsefulNotes/EmmyAward.

* AndStarring: "Anne Bancroft in ''The Miracle Worker'', also starring Creator/VictorJory with Creator/IngaSwenson, Andrew Prine, Kathleen Comegys, and introducing Patty Duke."

The play has been critically acclaimed, winning several Tony Awards during its initial Broadway run. Anne Bancroft even made the [[https://content.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19591221,00.html cover]] of ''Magazine/{{Time}}'' magazine for her role.

The play has been critically acclaimed, winning several Tony Awards during its Broadway run. Anne Bancroft even made the [[https://content.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19591221,00.html cover]] of ''Magazine/{{Time}}'' magazine for her role in 1959.

The play has been critically acclaimed, winning several Tony Awards and even making the [[https://content.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19591221,00.html cover]] of ''Magazine/{{Time}}'' magazine in 1959.

The play has been critically acclaimed, winning several Tony Awards and even making the cover of ''Magazine/{{Time}}'' magazine in 1959.

The play has been critically acclaimed, making the cover of ''Magazine/{{Time}}'' magazine, and has won several Tony Awards.

The play originated in 1957 as a ''Series/Playhouse90'' television broadcast, starring Creator/TeresaWright as Annie Sullivan and Patty [=McCormack=] as Helen Kaller. In 1959, it was shown on Broadway with Creator/AnneBancroft as Annie and Creator/PattyDuke as Helen. In 1961, it was performed on London's West End with Creator/AnnaMassey as Annie and and Creator/JaninaFaye as Helen.

* TimeSkip: The opening scene has a doctor reassuring Helen's parents their infant daughter will live following a severe attack of scarlet fever, only for them to subsequently discover she can't see or hear. Then we skip ahead five or six years for the remainder of the story.

''The Miracle Worker'' is a play by William Gibson (not ''that'' Creator/WilliamGibson.) Written in 1956, it tells the true story of how [[UsefulNotes/AnneSullivan Annie Sullivan]] became the teacher and companion to deaf-blind UsefulNotes/HelenKeller in 1880s Alabama.

* TimeSkip: The opening scene shows Helen's birth. Then we skip six to seven years ahead for the remainder of the story.

''The Miracle Worker'' is a play by William Gibson (not ''that'' Creator/WilliamGibson.) Written in 1956, it tells the true story of how [[UsefulNotes/AnneSullivan Annie Sullivan]] became the teacher and companion to deaf-blind UsefulNotes/HelenKeller.

* FamousAncestor: Aunt Ev reminds Kate that Helen is a Keller, and that all the Kellers are cousins to General Robert E. Lee.

* UnbuiltTrope: This play was one of the earliest examples of InspirationallyDisadvantaged, but it [[DeconstructedCharacterArchetype demonstrates a logical consequence]] of putting a disabled person on a pedestal. The Kellers' refusal to discipline Helen after she lost her sight and hearing resulted in her becoming a violent brat. Annie's therapy to bring Helen out of her darkness and tone down her behavior is far from being clean and organized; it's a horrifically excruciating process for both Helen and Annie.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/miracle_worker_3547.jpg]]

->''"I wanted to teach you- oh, everything the earth is full of, Helen, everything on it that’s ours for a wink and it's gone, and what we are on it, the- light we bring to it and leave behind in- words, why, you can see five thousand years back in a light of words, everything we feel, think, know- and share, in words, so not a soul is in darkness, or done with, even in the grave. And I know, I '''know''', one word and I can- put the world in your hand- and whatever it is to me, I won’t take less!"''

''The Miracle Worker'' is a play by William Gibson (not ''that'' Creator/WilliamGibson.) Written in 1956, it tells the true story of how UsefulNotes/AnneSullivan became the teacher and companion to deaf-blind UsefulNotes/HelenKeller.

The play premiered in 1957 in a ''Series/Playhouse90'' TV broadcast. In 1959, it was shown on Broadway with Creator/AnneBancroft as Annie Sullivan and Creator/PattyDuke as Helen Keller. In 1961 it was performed in London’s West End starring Anna Massey and Janina Faye.

There have been three movie adaptations. The best known is the 1962 version, with Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke reprising their Broadway roles. Both actresses won UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}s; Bancroft for Best Leading Actress and Duke for Best Supporting Actress (at 16, the youngest-ever Oscar winner at the time). In 1979, Patty Duke took on the role of Anne Sullivan and Creator/MelissaGilbert played Helen. In 2000, Creator/{{Disney}} took its shot at the story, with Alison Elliott and Hallie Kate Eisenberg as the leads. The 1979 and 2000 versions were [[MadeForTVMovie made for television]], with the former winning an UsefulNotes/EmmyAward.

* AndStarring: Anne Bancroft in ''The Miracle Worker'', also starring Creator/VictorJory with Creator/IngaSwenson, Andrew Prine, Kathleen Comegys, and introducing Patty Duke.

* AndStarring: Anne Bancroft in The Miracle Worker, also starring Creator/VictorJory with Inga Swenson, Andrew Prine, Kathleen Comegys, and introducing Patty Duke.

The play premiered in 1957 in a ''Series/Playhouse90'' broadcast. In 1959, it was shown on Broadway with Creator/AnneBancroft as Annie Sullivan and Creator/PattyDuke as Helen Keller. In 1961 it was performed in London’s West End starring Anna Massey and Janina Faye.

There have been three movie adaptations. The best known is the 1962 version, with Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke reprising their Broadway roles. Both actresses won UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}s for their roles; Bancroft for Best Leading Actress and Duke for Best Supporting Actress (at 16, was the youngest Oscar winner at the time). In 1979, Patty Duke took on the role of Anne Sullivan and Creator/MelissaGilbert played Helen. In 2000, Creator/{{Disney}} took its shot at the story, with Alison Elliott and Hallie Kate Eisenberg. The 1979 and 2000 versions were released direct to TV.

The play has been critically acclaimed, making the cover of ''Time'' magazine, and has won several Tony Awards.

There have been three movie adaptations. The best known is the 1962 version, with Anne Bancroft and Creator/PattyDuke assuming their Broadway roles. Both actresses won Oscars for their roles; Bancroft for Best Leading Actress and Duke for Best Supporting Actress (who at 16, was the youngest Oscar winner at the time). In 1979, Patty Duke took on the role of Anne Sullivan and Melissa Gilbert played Helen. In 2000, Disney took its shot at the story, with Alison Elliott and Hallie Kate Eisenberg. The 1979 and 2000 versions were released direct to TV.

* RemakeCameo: Patty Duke, who had played Helen both on Broadway and in the 1962 movie, came back to play Annie in the 1979 version.

* AdaptationalNationality: Creator/AnneBancroft played Anne Sullivan with [[FakeIrish an Irish lilt]]. While the real Sullivan had Irish parents, she was born and raised in Massachusetts.

* DisabilityAsAnExcuseForJerkassery: Zig-zagged. Helen has been indulged by her parents, who pity her because of her disabilities and let her have her own way all the time, which has resulted in her becoming a SpoiledBrat. The fact that she can't communicate beyond a few basic gestures doesn't help. Annie, however, defies this trope by setting firm boundaries around Helen's behaviour, leading to a battle of wills between her and Helen. (A notable example is the scene where Annie is trying to teach Helen, who has previously been allowed to eat with her hands and to take food from other people's plates, table manners.) However, the Kellers continue to spoil Helen, and Annie eventually has to take Helen and move into a cottage on the Keller property so that she can work on taming Helen without being undermined by Helen's parents.

* AndStarring: Anne Bancroft in The Miracle Worker, also starring Victor Jory with Inga Swenson, Andrew Prine, Kathleen Comegys, and introducing Patty Duke.

* TroubledChild: Helen is a violent child who cannot communicate and frequently puts herself and others in danger. Her parents fear being forced to put her in [[BedlamHouse an asylum for "mental defectives"]].

* AdultFear: Dealing with a violent child who cannot communicate and frequently puts herself and others in danger, especially when the alternative is to put her in [[BedlamHouse an asylum for "mental defectives"]].

* DontYouDarePityMe: Annie tells Kate not to pity her, despite the fact that Annie had grown up in an almshouse, because it made her strong.

''The Miracle Worker'' is a play by Creator/WilliamGibson. Written in 1956, it tells the true story of how UsefulNotes/AnneSullivan became the teacher and companion to deaf-blind UsefulNotes/HelenKeller.