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On Thursday, November 19, we continue our "outsiders" series with William Gibson's compelling play "The Miracle Worker" (1959). "Unfailingly absorbing" (New York Times), the play portrays a pivotal period in the life of the blind & deaf child Helen Keller, when Annie Sullivan taught her the concept & power of language. The Philadelphia Inquirer called "Miracle Worker" "radiant, emotion-charged, memorable, superb," while the New York Herald-Tribune described it as "powerful, hair-raising, spine-tingling, touching and just plain wonderful." A 1962 film version won Academy Awards for Anne Bancroft (Best Actress) & Patty Duke (Best Supporting Actress). Our discussion will feature Footlights' own Dr. Rachel Hartig, professor of foreign languages at Gallaudet University, who has written extensively on teaching the handicapped.
We will meet at a new location: the award-winning Delray Vietnamese Garden, 4918 Del Ray Ave., Bethesda (301-986-0606). The restaurant is just N of the Bethesda Metro; take both up escalators, turn left, walk up to Del Ray Ave. & turn right. You can also park across Del Ray Ave. in the Montgomery County lot (free after 7 p.m.).
Dinner begins at 6:30 & our discussion at 7:30. Make reservations now by calling (202-638-0444 or e-mailing [email protected]. You can find the play in Rockville at Barnes & Noble, 12089 Rockville Pike, & in NW DC at Backstage Books, 2101 P St.; Super Crown, 11 Dupont Circle; & for a special Footlights discount at Olsson's, 1307 19th St. & Politics & Prose, 5015 CT Ave.
Footlights has arranged a video viewing of the Academy Award-winning film "The Miracle Worker" (1962) at 8 p.m., Saturday, November 21, at the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Arlington, 4444 Arlington Blvd. (US-50). Admission is $2 & includes refreshments. For reservations & directions, call George Manno at 703-370-1838. After 5 p.m. Friday, you can reach the church at 703-486-8927.
We may still have tickets for the Saturday, November 7 matinee performance of "A Raisin in the Sun." Don't miss what the Washington Post called a "deeply felt and beautifully paced production." Send e-mail to Robin Larkin at [email protected] or call 240-669-6300.
On Monday, December 21 we explore what "outsider" meant in Atlanta's Jewish community in 1939, on the opening night of "Gone With the Wind" & the eve of World War II. Our play: "The Last Night of Ballyhoo" (1997), by Alfred Uhry, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for "Driving Miss Daisy" (1988). "Achingly beautiful" (Los Angeles Times), "Ballyhoo" won numerous awards, including the 1997 Tony Award for Best Play. Director Serge Seiden will join our discussion. We will attend Ballyhoo at the Studio Theatre 2 p.m. January 23. Tickets are $14. Mail your check, payable to Footlights, to Robin Larkin, 5403 Nibud Ct., Rockville, MD 20852 [email protected]
November brings plays by Footlight members Jean Sinclair Symmes, Debbie Minter Jackson, & Roy Berkowitz. All are included in the Actors' Theatre of Washington's Act Out '98, a series of staged readings by Washington-area playwrights. All readings are free. ATW presents Jean's "Nail Dreams" at 7:30 p.m. October 26 & November 2, both at St. George's Episcopal Church, 915 Oakland St., Arlington. You can see Debbie's "Tea Ceremony" and "Visitation" at 2 p.m. October 31 & November 15, on the 31st at Luna Books, 1633 P St., NW & on the 15th at Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 7th St., SE. Roy's "The Life and Death of Daddy Dumpling" will have its readings at 7:30 p.m. November 10 & 17 at the Washington Stage Guild, 924 G St., NW. For more information call 202-319-1919 or visit http://members.aol.com/safford.
Over the next several months, public schools in Alexandria will host a theater competition, at both the middle & high-school level. Those running the competition have invited Footlights members to serve as judges. The middle-school competition takes place Saturday December 5, at Holmes Middle School, 6525 Montrose St., & the high-school competition takes place Saturday February 27, at Thomas Jefferson High School, 6560 Braddock Rd. For further information, call Rip Claassen at 703-780-3673 or e-mail [email protected].
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