"I needed to be sure that the other cast members would buy into it," he says. Olson had to think hard too - about casting Rebecca. Neeley says that she had to think hard about making the commitment because of the long commute between Bainbridge Island and Port Orchard. When auditions for "The Miracle Worker" were announced at school, Rebecca and several other students from the program tried out. Her first performance was at school during Deaf Awareness Week. Her introduction to theater was through school workshops presented by Billy and Howie Seago of the Deaf Moose Theatre. She attends the Bremerton Regional Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Program which recently moved from Crown Hill School to Olympic View EDementary School. Neely lives with her parents, Chuck and Bonnie Neeley, and sister, Sarah.
"(Rebecca) is a very, very perceptive young lady and she has done a really admirable job of developing a convincing character." "I liked what I saw both of them doing, and I decided to use both Cory and Rebecca," he explains. In the other performances, Helen will be played by Coralie Emans, winner of two wards for her portrayal of the Artful Dodger in PAG's 1991 production of "Oliver!"ĭirector Carl Olson decided to double-cast the role because he was so taken with Rebecca during auditions. But she's guaranteed stage time in the Sept. he 10year-old Bainbridge Island girl, who has been deaf since birth, is the understudy for the Helen Keller role. This is Neeley's first experience with community theatre, and she's holding her own like a veteran. Both actresses are flushed and sweating when the scene is #ver. She needs them for the next five minutes of wrestling, crashing chairs, flying spoons, moaning, spitting, and pulling hair. Neely, as Helen, wears knee pads for protection. Rebecca Neeley and Roberta Christensen are poised for their cue. Next up is the battle of wills in the dramatic dining room scene - the young blind and deaf Helen Keller struggles with her equally determined teacher, Annie Sullivan. It's the l`st rehearsal with prompts for the actors preparing "The Miracle Worker" for Friday's opening. Deaf actress to debut in 'The Miracle Worker' as Helen Keller