actor factor-miracle worker

1Actor Factor Theatre

Actor Factor Theatre Company

Proudly Presents

The Miracle Worker

byWilliam Gibson

Directed by

Jim Heatherly

This performance is presented in Two Acts. There will be a fifteen minute intermission.

The time: 1887The place: Ivy Green, the Keller Homestead, Tuscumbia, Alabama.

PROGR A M

Act IScene 1 ........................................................The upstairs nursery of the Keller homestead.Scene 2 ...............................................................................The yard outside the Keller home.Scene 3 ......................................................................................Grand Central Station, Boston.Scene 4 ......................................................................................................The Keller homestead.Scene 5 ................................................................................................. Tuscumbia Train Station.Scene 6 .................................................... The upstairs bedroom of the Keller homestead.Scene 7 ............................................ The dining room and yard outside the Keller home.Scene 8 .................................................... The upstairs bedroom of the Keller homestead.Scene 9 ..........................................................................The dining room of the Keller home.Scene 10..........................................................................The front porch of the Keller home.

INTERMISSION: 15 Minutes

Act IIScene 1 ...........................................Outside the garden house on the Keller homestead.Scene 2 .................................................................................... The garden house the first day.Scene 3 ...................................................................................The garden house one evening.Scene 4 ...............................The garden house and the front porch of the Keller home.Scene 2 .....................................................................................The garden house the last day.Scene 6 ..........................................................................The dining room of the Keller home.Scene 7 ........................................................................................................................At the pump.

The Miracle Worker is produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. New York City.

PLEASE NOTE: The use of any cameras or any type of recording devices is strictly pro-hibited during the performance. Please silence all cell phones, I-pods, or other electronic devices while in the theatre. There is no smoking allowed inside the theatre building.

2 Actor Factor Theatre

THE CAST ( i n o r d e r o f a p p e a r a n c e)

Kate Keller .............................................................................................................. Lisa SavegnagoCaptain Arthur Keller .........................................................................................Dennis EdwardsThe Doctor .............................................................................................................. Dennis StewartHelen Keller .......................................................................................................... Christina ZaeskePercy .......................................................................................................................Emmanuel GrothViney ................................................................................................................................Bibi LebechiMr. Anagnos ............................................................................................................ Dennis StewartAnnie Sullivan ............................................................................................................ Carrie HardinJames Keller ........................................................................................................... Tyler ThompsonAunt Ev ................................................................................................................................ Lori Holm

Understudies: Emily Matson (Helen), Jeanne Scurek (Kate Keller/Aunt Ev), Lisa Tosti (Annie Sullivan), Casey Watson (Helen)

PRODUCTION STAFF

Artistic Director/Producer ................................................................................... Jim HeatherlyAssociate Producer ....................................................................................................Cynthia HallStage Manager .................................................................................................... Katie Cora ClarkAssistant Stage Manager .............................................................................. Rebecca RobbinsProperties ..............................................................................................................Pan’s Prop ShopSet Designer .................................................................................................................Jon SmejkalLighting Designer........................................................................................................Eric PhillipsLighting Programmer ..................................................................................... Jim Van DeVeldeSound Designer ........................................................................................................ Robert KreszCostumer ............................................................................................................ Marissa SummariFight Choreographer ............................................................................................Victor BayonaMaster Carpenter ..............................................................................................................Stef HiltzConstruction Crew ......................................... Jon Smejkal, J.P. Heatherly, Sean Heatherly Running Crew ................................................................................ Amanda Zaeske, Ryan GoffHouse Manager .......................................................................................................Judy Laughlin

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

With grateful appreciation for support for this production

Thomas BauerChristina GriffinKandiss HernandezRobin HughesRobert JacksonJudy LaughlinJoe SteadDonna SteeleRebecca StobierskiDave StrykerJim Van DeVeldeBernie WeilerFred & Cindy ZaeskeBeacon NewspaperChicago Stage Style

Daily Herald NewspaperFair Lady ProductionFootlightsGo-Daddy.comGrand Stage LightingHoly Cross Catholic

SchoolLa Fleur Antiques &

OdditiesLions Club InternationalLions Club Region 1JMercedes Benz of

Hoffman EstatesMoss Funeral Home

My Suburban LifePerformInkR&D ChoreographyRepublican NewspaperSamuel French, Inc.St. Charles Chamber of

CommerceSt. Charles Park DistrictSteel Beam TheatreTheatre-In-ChicagoThomas A. Bauer &

AssociatesTicket TurtleZap Props

And Special Thanks to: Rx Café for Hosting the Opening night Reception


DIRECTOR ’S NOTES

Imagine for a moment sitting in your seat in this theatre, unable to hear a single sound and unable to see anything around you. Try it…close your eyes for a minute…feel the darkness surround you. Now imagine that you have to exist like that for the rest of your life. A pretty devastating thought, isn’t it? Well, that was the world Helen Keller found herself in from her infancy. Stricken deaf and blind at the tender age of nineteen months, Helen’s world was black and soundless. Her very active mind could not grasp the devastation a childhood fever had wrought upon her tiny body. And so she became angry, frustrated and violent. She spent the first seven years of her life raging against that still, dark world she was fated to live in.

But, fate can be kind as well as cruel. Annie Sullivan, herself blind for a portion of her life, was brought to Ivy Green, the Keller homestead, as a hired teacher for the wild and unruly Helen. Their meeting and early association was not an ideal situation by any means. Annie was the daughter of Irish immigrants. She was smart, young, strong-willed and opinionated. She believed, with all her heart, that Helen could be reached. And, that faith led to a miracle.

Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller became lifelong friends and companions and lived and travelled together until Ms. Sullivan’s death in 1936. Theirs is truly a story of faith, perseverance, and devotion. It speaks to courage of the heart and the strength of the human spirit. It calls out to the best in each of us.

Tonight, we are proud to present the incredible true story of the first month at Ivy Green where the relationship between Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan began. We hope it will touch your heart as it has touched ours.

Jim HeatherlyDirector

Once the show is over…

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Dennis Edwards (Captain Keller) Dennis has been performing for several years. Notable performances

include: 12 Angry Men, Proof, Sleuth, Doubt, and Rabbit Hole, and Cloistered Honey and Chernobyl’s Fire by Laura Lewis-Barr for Inspirare Theatre. He performed a one-man show as Ben Franklin for Historical Perspectives and has performed in elementary schools in the Chicagoland area and Indiana, and done independent films and industrial video work. Dennis lives in West Chicago with his wife Dawn and son Noah. Dennis works as a graphic artist/illustrator/painter, but his passion is acting.

Emmanul Groth (Percy) Manny is a seventh grader at Wredling Middle School. He is very excited to be part of the cast of The

Miracle Worker. Previous shows include Seussical, Annie, Jr., and Sing Along With Santa. He loves making movies and playing kickball with his brothers and friends. He thanks Mrs. Jassoy to for telling him about the audition and Mr. Heatherly for offering him Percy. Enjoy the show!

Carrie Hardin (Annie Sullivan) Carrie is excited to be making her Actor Factor Theatre debut. She most recently appeared

in Dream of a Common Language for Prologue Theatre, where she is a company member. She has also worked with CityLit Theater, Promethean Ensemble, Remy Bumppo Theatre, T.U.T.A., 20% Theatre, and Point of Contention Theatre, among others. Lots of

thanks to Jim, and everyone involved, and to Brett.

Lori Holm (Aunt Ev) Lori is pleased to be a part of the cast of The Miracle Worker for the Actor Factor’s inaugural season. Over the last ten

years, some of her credits include: The Guys (Janus Theatre), Corpse (Steel Beam), The Tempest (First Folio Shakespeare Festival), Butterfly (Night Blue Theatre), and Early One Evening at the Rainbow Bar and Grill (Albright Theatre). Lori Holm directs as well as instructs young actors at Steel Beam Theatre and through her own company CUE THE LIGHTS. Lori is also well known for her favorite roles as Coach’s wife and mother of three lovely children.

Bibi Lebechi (Viney) Bibi is excited to be part of AFTC’s inaugural production. Recently, as an ensemble member with

Greenman Theater Troup she appeared in Shakespeare in Hollywood, and in its earlier production, The Rimers of Eldridge. Bibi has appeared in several short films and independent projects, and is thrilled to have had a supporting role in The Lioness of Lisabi, filmed on location in Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies. Bibi also has appeared with Stage Coach Players (Dekalb), Chicago ScriptWorks, and Artistic Home Theatre. She wishes to thank God for everything, as well as her husband and children for their endless support!

Emily Matson (Helen u/s) Emily makes her debut into theatre with Actor Factor Theatre Company. She has never performed

professionally prior to this production,

WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST


WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST (cont.)

but has really enjoyed the experience. She has a passion for acting and has found the challenge of a preparing for a live theatre production very exciting. She would like to thank the theatre family for welcoming her and hopes to fulfill her dream of becoming a professional actor.

Lisa Savegnago (Kate Keller) Lisa is honored to be making her debut as Kate Keller with the Actor Factor Theatre. She recently

appeared as Edith Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank at Metropolis Performing Arts Center and earlier this year as Jacqueline in Don’t Dress for Dinner at Steel Beam. When she isn’t auditioning, she teaches spinning, runs a screen-printing company, presides as board president of The 100 Club of DuPage County, and loves to hang out with her seven year old daughter, Sophia, and her race car driver, Randy Johnson.

Jeanne Scurek (Kate/Aunt Ev u/s) is happy to be a part of Actor Factor Theatre Company’s inaugural production! Recent roles include Mrs.

Webb in Our Town and Sabina in the Chicago Reader recommended Robin Hood; both for Theatre-Hikes. Other theatres she has performed at include Fox Valley Repertory, Illinois Theatre Center, Steel Beam Theatre, Circle Theatre and Chicago Dramatists. Next up for Jeanne will be the role of Barbara in Night of the Living Dead for Theatre-Hikes.

Dennis D. Stewart (Doctor/Mr.Anagnos) Since his retirement, Dennis has appeared in a couple dozen plays in the greater Chicago area. His

first appearance here on the Steel Beam stage was in the role of Stage Manager in Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town.” He dedicates this performance to Virginia, his wife who stood by his side and grew old with him for over fifty years. She is never far from his side.

Tyler Thompson (James Keller) Tyler is thrilled to be working with the talented artists and performers who have assembled for this

inaugural production of the Actor Factor Theatre Company. Originally from Central Illinois, Tyler lives in Elgin where he is a video editor at Harvest Bible Chapel. Some of his favorite past roles include Les Miserables, Fiddler on the Roof, Our Town, and Gifts of the Magi. He would like to thank his parents who resemble Annie Sullivan in their tenacity and endurance.

Lisa Tosti (Annie Sullivan u/s) Lisa is originally from upstate New York and holds a BFA from Hofstra University in Acting

and is an EMC member of Actor’s Equity. Lisa has worked as an actor in Saratoga Springs, Brooklyn, Boston and now Chicago. Past credits include Hamlet (Ophelia), High School Musical (Gabriella), Romeo and Juliet (Lady Capulet), as well as 25th…Spelling Bee and After Dusk with Metropolis Performing Arts Center. Thanks to Jim, cast and crew! Love to Matt.

Casey Watson (Helen u/s) Casey is an 8th grader at Franklin Middle School and she enjoys acting, singing and running on the track team.

Her favorite roles have been Anne


WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST (cont.)

PRODUCTION STAFF

Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank and Oliver Twist in Oliver! She wants to thank Mr. Heatherly for this learning experience.

Christina Zaeske (Helen Keller) Christina is excited to be part of the inaugural production of the

Victor Bayona (Fight Choreographer) Victor is excited and honored to be a part of this production and for the opportunity to stage its uniquely challenging violence. Victor is a violence designer in the Chicagoland area who has trained with and worked alongside R&D Choreography. His previous works include choreography and stunt-fighting for The Nutcracker with the Berkshire Ballet Theater and Port Washington Piratefest, and choreography for the independent films Batman: Black and White and Skitzo.

Katie Cora Clark (Stage Manager) Katie is an EMC member with Actors Equity and has assistant stage managed for First Folio’s Woman in Black and A Moon for the Misbegotten, for Drury Lane Oakbrook’s Spamalot!, and Thoroughly Modern Millie, North Carolina Shakespeare Festival’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and the Peninsula Players’ Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure. Katie Cora has also stage managed with Canamac Productions, Music by the Lake, and Thirteen Pocket Productions as well as with NCC’s Summer Musical Community Theatre.

Cynthia Hall (Associate Producer) Credits include productions from children’s theater, high school

productions and professional theater, and regional premiers. Favorite choreography credits, Mark Hollmann’s Wild Goat at Steel Beam Theater, We Will Rock You at Theater On The Hill. I am honored to be part of Actor Factor’s inaugural production. Merde!

Jim Heatherly (Director/Producer) Jim is excited to be directing this classic production and Midwest premiere of The Miracle Worker. Jim has spent a good deal of time in front of and behind the footlights in the past eleven years, working in nearly sixty productions in the Chicagoland area. The varied productions he has directed include: Other People’s Money, The Uninvited, Moon Over Buffalo, BIG – the Musical, To Gillian On Her 34th Birthday, Twelve Angry Men, Annie, Jekyll & Hyde - the Musical, and the World Premiere of Caliban, Dancing. Jim is a proud EMC member of Actor’s Equity. Jim thanks his family for their ongoing support. Annamae, I found the muse!

Bob Kresz (Sound Designer) Bob is thrilled to work with the fantastic cast, crew and production team in his first endeavor with the Actor Factor Theatre Company. Previous productions at Steel Beam Theatre have included “Greater Tuna”, “Rabbit Hole” and most recently “Later Life”. He also is a keyboard player.

Actor Factor Theatre Company’s The Miracle Worker. Christina’s favorite roles include Grace in A Christmas Carol, and Esther Jane in A Christmas Story, both at Steel Beam Theater. Her most exciting theater experience was being called back for the role of Debbie in Billy Elliott. Thank you Mr. Heatherly for this miracle opportunity. I’ll be sure to cry with my downstage eye. Papa this one is for you, Bean.


PROGR A M (c o n t.)

He’s had the pleasure of playing for or musical directing a number of local productions, including “Grease”, “Forever Plaid” and “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown”.

Eric Phillips (Lighting Designer) Eric is very happy to be working with Actor Factor Theatre Company on this production of The Miracle Worker. Over the past few years, Eric has helped create lighting for several companies in the Chicagoland area including The Summer Place, Naperville; RJ Recording and Sound, Geneva; Momenta, Oak Park; and The Brown Paper Box Company, Chicago. Eric studies at College of DuPage, and plans to transfer to Columbia College of Chicago to study Lighting Design.

Rebecca Robbins (Assistant Stage Manager) Becky is excited to be part of The Miracle Worker and Actor Factor Theatre Company. She holds a BA in Theatre from Carthage College and has interned as a stage manager at The Goodman Theatre. She has also worked for various theatres in the western suburbs. She has worked on such productions as Uncle Vanya, Lend Me a Tenor, Ruined, Proof, Gas For Less, and La Posada Magica.

Jon Smejkal (Set Designer) Jon began set painting and prop construction in high school with the Chicago Heights Drama Group. With a MS in Engineering and over 13 years with Argonne National Laboratory, Jon returned to set design with the Stray Dog Theater Group for Tuesdays with Morrie and Born Yesterday. Jon’s most recent works were showcased in Marmion Academy’s West Side Story, M.A.S.H., and South Pacific. Jon is excited to work with Actor Factor Theater Company on The Miracle Worker.

Marissa Summari (Costume Designer) Marissa is a Chicago-based costume designer. She most recently designed for the production Beer Don’t Break Your Heart produced by Two Birds Casting Company. She has also designed for About Face Theater Company in past. She is currently pursuing her BFA in Apparel Design at Dominican University where she works in the theater’s costume shop. She is excited to be working with Actor Factor Theatre Company on this production of The Miracle Worker.

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