Upcoming Play Will Feature A Special Cast

Muskogee's Little Theatre production of "The Miracle Worker" is coming up in just a few weeks.  News On 6 anchor Craig Day reports the story about Helen Keller will be even more inspirational due to some of the actors who were cast in the play. 

At the Muskogee Little Theater, they're just a few weeks away from opening night.

"We enjoy rehearsal, but we thrive with an audience here," said Nick Sweet, Oklahoma Arts Council.

The inspirational story about Helen Keller will be even more special.  For the first time, all of the roles of blind characters are filled with children from the Oklahoma School for the Blind.

Play director, Nick Sweet with the Oklahoma Arts Council, says the same type of casting worked well in the past with kids from the Oklahoma School for the Deaf.

For this performance, it just made sense.

"I don't have to tell Ashley how it is to be blind.  She tells me and the rest of the cast how it is to be blind.  So we've got a built in advantage and that advantage is authenticity," said Sweet.

The Ashley he's referring to is Ashley Biggs.  She is playing the part of Helen Keller.

"I'm excited, but on the other hand, I'm kind of nervous about how this is going to turn out," said Ashley Biggs, Student Actress.

Ashley says it's a big honor to play one of her heroes.

Her mom says it's also a big opportunity for all of the student actors.

"It makes them feel so good to do something that everyone else gets to do.  Society puts so many limitations on our kids with disabilities and if they just give them a chance to do things, they shine," said Christy Biggs, Ashley's Mom.

Soon that moment to remove limitations and to create opportunity will come, as the students hit the stage, for that moment to shine.

The performances of the Miracle Worker run February 15th to the 23rd.