Tess Ammerman to star in "The Miracle Worker"
By:David Koch
NORTH HANOVER Township resident Tess Ammerman, 9, is the star of a play where she has very few lines. In fact, when Tess does speak, it’s mostly grunts and moans.
But if playing Helen Keller in "The Miracle Worker" made Patty Duke a star, it might just make one out of Tess as well.
"She’s always been an outgoing kid, and liked to perform for us," said Tess’ father, Ken Ammerman.
Tess will perform for an audience in Actors’ NET’s production of "The Miracle Worker." The NET in Actors’ NET stands for Non-Equity Theater of Bucks County, and is a semi-professional theater company based in Morrisville, Pa., made of nonunion actors.
Their production of "The Miracle Worker" will run this month, starting off the theater company’s sixth season.
"Every year, we try to start the season off with a show that will appeal to family audiences, and this is an inspirational show," said the play’s director and co-founder of Actors’ NET, Joe Doyle.
Written by William Gibson, "The Miracle Worker" premiered on Broadway in 1959, and chronicled the turbulent, but rewarding, relationship between a 6-year-old Helen Keller and her teacher, Anne Sullivan.
Playing Anne Sullivan is 14-year-old BriAnne Sudia, a resident of Plainsboro and Tess’ close friend. In fact, one of the reasons why Mr. Doyle chose Tess for the part of Helen Keller was her close friendship with BriAnne.
"They had a good chemistry," said Mr. Doyle.
Tess and BriAnne are both home schooled, and met through their parents involvement in the Home Schoolers of Central Jersey, an organization for parents of home schooled children.
It was BriAnne’s friendship with Tess that got the 9-year old involved with Actors’ NET. Tess use to come to the Actors’ NET theater, to watch her older friend perform in plays, said Mr. Doyle.
From there, Tess signed up for last year’s Summer Stars, Actors’ NET monthlong program for children held in the summer. Tess starred in "Rock Around the Block," a children’s play written by Mr. Doyle for Summer Stars.
While working on the play, Tess not only learned about singing and dancing, but stage management and theater production.
But bigger things weren’t far away. When a young girl was needed to play a 6-year-old Helen Keller, Mr. Doyle immediately called up Tess.
"They just saw something in her," said Mr. Ammerman. "Joe Doyle thought he could direct her."
Tess was very excited about being selected to play Helen Keller, without having to try out.
"Actually, I’m very happy because he had a lot of people he was thinking of, but he thought I had a better attention span," said Tess.
Tess and BriAnne practice four days a week. Most days have two rehearsals one in the afternoon and the other at night.
When asked what she likes most about acting, Tess answered with "everything."
"I like working with different people and seeing who they are," said Tess. "There’s nothing I don’t like."
A moment later Tess said there was one scene that she doesn’t like doing. It’s the scene where Anne Sullivan pours water over a very spoiled Helen Keller.
"I really don’t like it when my friend BriAnne pours water over my head," said Tess. But Tess gets revenge on BriAnne in a later scene, where Helen Keller pours water over the head of her teacher.
Despite Tess’ objection, Mr. Doyle said he thinks rehearsals of the water scene have best demonstrated Tess’ acting ability.
"The screams that come out of that child were perfect," said Mr. Doyle. "I think she’s going to be terrific."
"The Miracle Worker" will run at the Heritage Center in Morrisville, Pa. It will premiere on Thursday, Sept. 13, at 8 p.m., and will run until Sunday, Sept. 30. There will be four performances for three weeks, three at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and one on Sunday at 6 p.m.
Regular tickets are $10, but $8 for children and seniors. For more information call Actors’ NET at (215) 428-0217.

