Advocacy Groups Opposes Actress Search

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Advocacy Groups Opposes Actress Search

The Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts, as well as other groups, are protesting the decision to cast Abigail Breslin, who starred in "Little Miss Sunshine," as Helen Keller in the revival of "The Miracle Worker."

The groups are protesting that no hearing- or vision-impaired actresses were auditioned for the role of Keller, who was deaf and blind. The part was played in the original Broadway production by Patty Duke.

Lead producer of the show David Richenthal explained that he needed an established star for the role and his research did not producer any well-known deaf or blind young actresses.

Richenthal did say that he would audition deaf and blind actresses to be Breslin's understudy.

Gina Wilhelm Actress

Actress has Unique Insight into "Molly Sweeney"

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Actress has Unique Insight into "Molly Sweeney"

Tasha O'Brien was born nearly completely blind. For nearly all of her life, there's been no hope of her eyesight being restored.

However, she recently found out that stem-cell research could give her some vision. Since then, she's been trying to decide if that's a course she wants to take.

It's the same decision her character wrestles with in the play "Molly Sweeney," by Brian Friel at People's Branch Theatre in Hillsboro, TN. The show opens this week.

Although she finds the piece "difficult to get through," O'Brien's similarities to her character have allowed her to get a real perspective.

Her casting wasn't a gimmick--she had worked with the theater's artistic director before. On the other hand, blind actresses are frequently cast in the role.

O'Brien feels her disability gives her an "emotional availability" that will serve her well in the role.

Gina Wilhelm Actress