Butler Little Theatre is taking on the challenge of "The Miracle Worker" by William Gibson, which will open Nov. 27 at the theater at One Howard St.

The play is under the direction of Robert Snodgrass Jr. of Butler Township, who is making his directorial debut with the BLT and chose this particular play for a reason.

"I purposely chose this show for my debut because its themes of perseverance through adversity and growth through communication are applicable to every person in every community," Snodgrass said.

Despite the demanding script, Snodgrass has found the whole experience quite rewarding, he said.

"The script presented some very unique challenges, both logistically, requiring six separate playing areas, and dramatically, with regional accents, blind children and a blind and deaf girl who learns American Sign Language on stage," he said.

"This very diverse cast who comes from as far away as Sewickley and Slippery Rock and range in age from 9 to 69, has risen to every challenge and made my job as director an extremely rewarding one."

His right hand for this show is the producer, Sue Switzer of Center Township.

"This is a very complex and difficult show to stage. We are using the wings of the stage adding extension platforms to supplement the existing stage, pulling down the curtains and using creative lighting to focus attention on the various actions taking place at different locations on the stage," said Switzer, who has been juggling many details.

"The audience will be moved by the transformation they see Helen go through on stage," she added.

"The Miracle Worker" won a Tony Award for Best Play in 1960. It tells the story of Annie Sullivan and her student, blind and mute Helen Keller.

"The Miracle Worker" portrays the unpredictable relationship between the lonely teacher and her difficult charge. Helen, trapped in her secret, silent world, behaves in a violent and spoiled manner and treats those around her quite poorly.

Only Annie realizes that there is a healthy mind and spirit waiting to be rescued and shaped.

Olivia Drohan, a sixth grade student at Emily Brittain Elementary School in Butler, plays the young Keller.

"Helen is a deaf and blind child who is very naughty and frustrated because she doesn't know right from wrong. It isn't until Annie Sullivan comes into her life that she learns to communicate and become well behaved," said Drohan, whose mother Samantha also appears with her on stage as her mom.

"Working with my mom is really cool. Since she is my mom in the show and in real life, some parts of the show aren't acting," she said, noting that her favorite scenes are the ones where she gets to throw temper tantrums and food.

Olivia Drohan as well alluded to the fact that some of the scenes with her daughter transcend acting.

"It is a pleasure working with my daughter. I feel not only blessed to be in this show with her, but playing mother and daughter as well. It is an opportunity we may never have again," she said.

"I try to be very cognizant of that fact and appreciate it. I have real moments of definite tenderness with her onstage that are genuine and not acting at all."

As Helen Keller's mom Kate Keller on stage, Drohan said her character "is a strong Southern woman who is desperate to save her daughter from the definite possibility of being institutionalized and shut away from her family and society."

"The main challenge is to convey that sense of desperation without giving up hope. Kate never gives up. I love that about the character. I identify with her in that as a mother, you do whatever you need to do to protect your children and to do best by them and for them," Drohan said.

Harley Allen of Gibsonia plays her husband, Captain Arthur Keller, and finds the dialect and his silent moments on stage most demanding.

"Learning the 'Plantation Southern' dialect has been a challenge. Also, because of the unique staging of the play, I have had to learn to fill periods of time when I remain on stage and don't have any dialogue. Coming up with multiple interesting ideas for these situations has been daunting," Allen said.

Tickets for the show are available by calling 724-287-6781 from 7 to 9 p.m.

<B>WHO: </B>Butler Little Theatre<B>WHAT: </B>"The Miracle Worker" by William Gibson<B>WHEN: </B>Nov. 27 to Dec. 5, at 8:15 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2:30 p.m. Sundays and 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays to Thursdays.<B>WHERE: </B>Butler Little Theatre, One Howard St.<B>TICKETS: </B>$10; call 724-287-6781 between 7 and 9 p.m. starting today<B>INFORMATION: </B>www.bltgroup.org