Orcas Center has brought to the island theater from London, opera from New York, dance from Russia and now from the Island itself, the classic American play, “The Miracle Worker,” with a stellar all-local cast.

This powerful play opens on the OffCenter Stage on Thursday, March 12 with additional performances Friday and Saturday, March 13 to 14, Thursday and Saturday, March 19 to 21 at 7:30 p.m.

This profoundly moving play by William Gibson is directed by Robert Hall and based on Helen Keller’s autobiography. Stormy Hildreth (Helen Keller) and Aaimee Johnson (Annie Sullivan) lead the all local cast which includes Tom Fiscus, Kellen Comrie, Gillian Smith, John Cunningham and Cat Gilliam.

In Alabama, an illness renders infant Helen Keller  blind, deaf and mute. Pitied and badly spoiled by her wealthy Southern parents, Helen is not disciplined, so by age six she is a wild, angry, tantrum-throwing child. The Kellers hire Annie Sullivan from New York City to serve as governess and teacher. “One word and I can put the world in your hand,” Helen’s teacher tells her with fervor. Through Annie’s fiery persistence and unflagging love, Helen learns to trust, discipline herself and to use her hands to make signs to communicate.

“What drew me to this play, though, was something else,” said from Director Robert Hall. “Ultimately, this is a family drama about a broken, defeated family and the story of how a mom and dad struggle to communicate with their daughter. They fight, they break, they give up. Fight, break and give up over and over again. Years of fighting to help a child they love. Years of trying to get through to her. Years of loss and pain. This play is about a broken family finally finding a way to heal itself. And I think we can all relate to that.”

Tickets are $15, $11 for students, $2 off for Orcas Center members, and may be purchased at www.orcascenter.org or by calling 376-2281 ext. 1 or visiting the Orcas Center Box Office.