The Miracle Worker is a cycle of 20th century dramatic works derived from Helen Keller’s autobiography The Story of My Life. Each of the various dramas describe the relationship between Keller — a deafblind and initially almost feral child — and Anne Sullivan, the teacher who introduced her to education, activism, and international celebrity.
Its first realization was a 1957 Playhouse 90 broadcast written by William Gibson and starring Teresa Wright as Annie and Patricia McCormack as Helen. Gibson adapted his teleplay for a 1959 Broadway production with Anne Bancroft as Annie and Patty Duke, who reprised their roles for the 1962 feature film.
The Miracle Worker was remade for television in 1979, with Patty Duke as Annie Sullivan, Melissa Gilbert as Helen, and Diana Muldaur and Charles Siebert in supporting roles. In 2000, another television production directed by Nadia Tass starred Alison Elliott as Annie and Hallie Kate Eisenberg as Helen, with David Strathairn and Lucas Black in supporting roles.
A 1984 made-for-television sequel, Helen Keller: The Miracle Continues, starred Blythe Danner as Annie, Mare Winningham as Helen, and Jack Warden as Mark Twain.
