🎭 The Stage Shines Again: The Miracle Worker Brings History & Heart to the King Opera House

This week, the lights rise once more on one of Van Buren’s most storied landmarks. The King Opera House, built in 1891 as part of the Wallace Block and converted into an opera house in 1901, has stood for generations as a showcase of the River Valley’s creative spirit. Now, it sets the stage for a timeless story of perseverance and connection as Skokos Performing Arts Center and Arts on Main present The Miracle Worker by William Gibson.

 

Running November 14–16 and 21–23, this community production brings together Arts on Main, The Alma Education and Arts Foundation, and PAC’d House Productions, uniting regional arts partners to deliver professional-quality theater close to home. Directed by Jessye Wooten, the play tells the powerful true story of young Helen Keller and her teacher, Annie Sullivan — a story about courage, communication, and the triumph of understanding over silence.

 

“The Miracle Worker is not just a story about Helen Keller,” says Wooten. “It’s a story about relationships — about breaking through walls of silence and the messy, beautiful struggle to truly connect with one another.”

 

For longtime residents, the production offers more than a night out; it’s a reminder of how far the local arts scene has come. The King Opera House, lovingly restored and maintained, continues to serve as a living link between Van Buren’s Victorian past and its vibrant present. From vaudeville acts and silent films to today’s live theater, its stage remains a gathering place for shared experience and local pride.

 

Tickets are available now at skokospac.org or by calling 479-632-2129.

 

As the leaves turn and the holidays approach, The Miracle Worker offers a perfect pre-season outing — a story of perseverance and light just as downtown prepares to glow for the holidays.

Be sure to check back next week for our full guide to the Freedom Park Tree Lighting and Christmas at the Parks festivities!

 

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Image credit: Promotional artwork courtesy of Arts on Main, The Alma Education and Arts Foundation, and PAC’d House Productions.
Poster for “The Miracle Worker,” a play by William Gibson, directed by Jessye Wooten. Performances run Nov 14–16 and 21–23 at the King Opera House in Van Buren. Tickets available at skokospac.org.