The Averitt Center for the Arts will present “The Miracle Worker,” the inspirational story of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Emma Kelly Theatre.

A Special Education teacher for 34 years, director Susan Jackson said she always was interested in Hellen Keller’s story. While it is the first time the play has been featured at the Averitt Center for the Arts, Jackson hopes to expose the audience to a different genre.

“She was an advocate for people with disabilities,” Jackson said.  “It’s a play I had been wanting to do for years simply because I loved the story.”

According to Jackson, the play focuses on the persistence of Anne Sullivan and the challenges she faced will trying to teach Helen Keller how to communicate effectively. At just 19 months old, Helen contracted an unknown illness leaving her blind and deaf. She subsequently became unruly and known as a “feral child.”

Not knowing what else to do, Helen’s parents hired Anne Sullivan, a graduate of the Perkins School for the Blind, to help their daughter leave her world of darkness. If that didn’t work, Helen may have been put into an insane asylum.

“This is really about her beginning of learning,” Jackson said. “I think she always knew there was more out there, she just needed somebody to help her find it and Anne Sullivan did that.”

Playing the role of Anne Sullivan is Brandi Harvey, who finds the story interesting because it is based on a true story. Harvey watched the play prior to auditioning, and she said it gave her a perspective for the intensity of the relationships among the characters.

“The biggest challenge in playing Anne Sullivan has been connecting with her character,” Harvey said. “She has a lot of baggage that she brings to her interaction with Helen, so understanding her emotions has been the hardest to do.”

Anne Bancroft won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Sullivan in the 1962 film, also called “The Miracle Worker.”

Abbey McMillan is playing the role of Helen Keller. She watched clips of the movie and even met with a professional actor to learn different emotions and proper techniques to use while playing a deaf and blind person.

“Helen isn’t supposed to portray any emotion so having to portray to the audience that you’re happy without showing it on your face is very challenging’’ McMillan said.

Jackson says her vision of the play is coming to life on stage in rehearsals and will certainly be ready by Friday.

Tickets for members Friends of the Arts are $13 for adults, $10 for youth, and $15 box. For non-members, tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for youth, and $17 box. For more information about The Miracle Worker, visit www.averittcenterforthearts.com or call the box office at (912) 212-2787.