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  • MATTHEW MODINE: I was flabbergasted by how I didn’t know the material when I read the play.

  • Because, while it’s still very much a story about a teacher and a student,

  • it’s much more a story about a family dealing with a crisis in the house.

  • JENNIFER MORRISON: Upon re-reading it, I just realized how complicated all the relationships in the story were,

  • and how beautifully developed all the characters were.

  • It’s not one of those stories where the two main characters are developed

  • and everybody else is just there to help. Every single character has real depth.

  • ALISON PILL: This story is well known, but the details have been kind of fudged around the edges.

  • It’s a really incredible thing that they did, and to not take for granted that any of it was possible.

  • KATE WHORISKEY: Weve been doing two hours of physical training with Abigail and Alison every day,

  • so that they can, particularly Abigail, get a sense of how to communicate if the body is all she has,

  • and what she’s been finding is really extraordinary.

  • ABIGAIL BRESLIN: The difference between doing film and doing Broadway, is obviously,

  • in film you can get as many takes as you need. In this you don’t.

  • You get one take every night, that’s it.

  • MATTHEW MODINE: The miracle in this play comes when Annie Sullivan finds a way

  • to communicate through letters in Helen Keller’s hand.

  • There was no way they were going to make Helen see again or hear again,

  • but they made Helen to see and hear in a different way, so it’s a story about communication.

  • That’s a very contemporary story.

  • ELIZABETH FRANZ: Youre going to go out veryhope-filled,” and youre going to see that obstacles in life can be overcome.

  • You have to fight; you have to fight for life.

  • JENNIFER MORRISON: People in general, based on the circumstances in the country right now,

  • at this very moment are going to really relate to what this family is going through, and find hope.

  • This family is ultimately able to get through the adversity,

  • and is able to come together to find a solution for them to move forward.

  • ABIGAIL BRESLIN: We really just go through a lot of emotions in this play,

  • and I really just think that it has a million differentcolorsto it.

  • KATE WHORISKEY: If youre willing to go with us through the journey of it, youll actually have something at the end.

  • I think the story is triumphant.

  • ALISON PILL: It’s an inspiring and incredible story.

  • There’s not going to be another chance to see this cast in the round, as close as we are.

  • It’s a Broadway house, but it’s tiny, and so much of what we get to do is so near and so raw.

  • I think it’s going to be a really exciting night at the theatre. You will walk out of it changed.

MATTHEW MODINE: I was flabbergasted by how I didn’t know the material when I read the play.

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