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Reminder Assistant Editor WEST SPRINGFIELD Last weekend, the Majestic Theater raised the stage lights on "The Miracle Worker," the first of five plays to illuminate the stage during the theater's 12th season. Over the course of the next nine months, the Majestic will be home to Annie Sullivan, Helen Keller, two geriatric best friends named Jerry and Ed, some lovey-dovey lumberjacks, a group of bus passengers, John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Danny Eaton, producing director of the Majestic Theater, said audiences should expect a continuation of the Majestic tradition to "produce good plays and produce them well" throughout its 12th season. He said he chose a lineup of plays for this season that will continue to challenge actors and all those behind the curtain. "The Miracle Worker," which runs through Oct. 12, is the true story of teacher and Feeding Hills native Anne Sullivan, who managed to transcend the barriers of sight and sound to teach a deaf and blind child named Helen Keller to speak and read Braille in multiple languages. He explained that he chose to bring "The Miracle Worker" to the stage because of its striking message about the power of teachers on one's life. The second play to take the stage on Oct. 23 will be "Jerry & Ed," written in 2007 by Indian Orchard resident Steve Henderson. Eaton explained that he chose this play because of its success during a weekend workshop at the Majestic last year. In an interview with Reminder Publications Henderson explained that his play chronicles the longtime friendship between Jerry and Ed. "Jerry is more of a wise cracker and impulsive and is always getting into trouble," he said. "Ed is cautious but goes along [with Jerry] and gets into the trouble that Jerry's made." Henderson said the play is told through a series of flashbacks as the friends have entered their twilight years and Jerry now has dementia. He explained that this is his first play to be produced at the Majestic but has been writing plays for the past decade. Henderson said the majority of his plays revolve around the "human plight of aging in our particular society." Jerry and Ed provide a humorous look at the twilight years in America. The third play of the 12th season will mark the return of a musical to the Majestic's stage. In light of the soaring popularity Fred Alley and James Kaplan's "Guys on Ice," which was produced last year, Eaton said he chose another musical comedy from the same team. "Lumberjacks in Love" will open on Jan. 8, telling the story of four bachelor lumberjacks in the Wisconsin woods. Eaton said that for the fourth play of the season he chose a play he's been wanting to produce for years. "Bus Stop" will open on Feb. 26, illustrating the experiences of a bus full of passengers stuck in a diner during a snowstorm. The final production of "John & Paul," a musical about the lives and friendship of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, will take the stage on April 16. Eaton stressed that those attending the musical should not expect to hear Beatles music, however. The musical features original music and none of the Beatles tunes. "I think it's going to be a good year as long as we work at keeping the Majestic [Theater] affordable and produce quality plays," Eaton said. Tickets for "The Miracle Worker" cost between $19 and $27. Tickets can be purchased by calling the box office at 747-7797. For more information visit www.majestictheater.com. The performance schedule for "The Miracle Worker" are as follows: Sept. 10 at 7 p.m.; Sept. 11 at 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 12 at 8 p.m.; Sept. 13 at 8 p.m.; Sept. 14 at 2 p.m. (Talkback with cast following show); Sept. 17 at 7 p.m.; Sept. 18 at 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 19 at 8 p.m.; Sept. 20 at 8 p.m.; Sept. 21 at 2 p.m.; Sept. 21 at 7 p.m.; Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. (Talkback with cast following show); Sept. 25 at 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 26 at 8 p.m.; Sept. 27 at 8 p.m.; Sept. 28 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Oct. 1 at 7 p.m.; Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 3 at 8 p.m.; Oct. 4 at 8 p.m.; Oct. 5 at 2 p.m.; Oct. 8 at 7 p.m.; Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 10 at 8 p.m.; Oct. 11 at 8 p.m.; Oct. 12 at 2 p.m. curtain (Closing performance). | ||||||
