Real Life Imitates Art in Miracle Worker
Story from staff reports. Photo by Debra Grannan. (L–>R) Kirsten Ehlert and Ashton Layh in the Cary Players production of The Miracle Worker.
Cary, NC – In an unusual bit of casting, real-life teacher and student play the roles of teacher Annie Sullivan and student Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker, opening this week at Cary Arts Center.
Teacher & Student
Kirsten Ehlert teaches drama at Endeavor Charter School in North Raleigh where young Ashton Layh, cast as young Helen, attends first grade. This February they will portray the historic teacher Annie Sullivan and her student Helen Keller in Cary Players’ production of The Miracle Worker.
Ms. Ehlert was delighted to learn that one of her students was being considered for a part in the same play for which she, herself, had auditioned. “I didn’t realize that Ashton had auditioned until I saw her name on the call back list.” Ehlert explained. “We were there on different days so it was a pleasant surprise.”
Ashton Layh wasn’t aware that her teacher had auditioned for the same play either, until Ms. Ehlert mentioned it at school. Once the cast list was finalized, the Art teacher at school shared the exciting news with everyone during morning announcements.
Since rehearsals began, teacher and student have gotten to know one another much better. “Anne Sullivan and Helen Keller’s relationship was always a physical one, with Anne spelling words into Helen’s hands as she taught her” says director, Tina Vance. “They were also very combative, so Kirsten and Ashton are exploring new experiences as actors that would not be common or appropriate in a typical classroom.”
Getting Comfortable
Both teacher and student agree that it’s taken time to get comfortable relating to one another on such a different level. “I told my friends at school that I get to lock Ms. Ehlert in a room and I get to slap her!” Ashton explained with a giggle.
Steve Whetzel, the fight choreographer is close-by to be sure the blows look realistic and that no one gets hurt.
Director Tina Vance
This is director Tina Vance’s third show with Cary Players. She directed the delightful comedy Over the River… in 2011 and the popular Agatha Christie mystery And Then There Were None in 2012.
Ms. Vance and her husband Glen have also designed the set for the show.
Event Info
The Miracle Worker
Presented by The Cary Players
February 1-2 and 8-9 at 7:30 pm and Sundays, February 3 and 10 at 3 pm.
Cary Arts Center
101 Dry Ave.
Cary, NC
Note: The performance on Sunday, February 3rd will be audio described by Arts Access.
Tickets
Visit CaryPlayers.org for tickets or call the Cary Arts Center box office at (919) 481-5190.
This is my granddaughter and I am so proud of her. So nice that she can work with a teacher who is familiar. I was visiting from Ohio and was lucky to see her audition. It was such good news to hear she would be the one to play this role. Kudos to The Cary Players!Grandpa and Grandma will be there on the final Saturday performance.
She is a terrific little actress!!