A miracle is coming to Woodbridge High School

Suppose you couldn’t see or hear or talk? It would practically be a miracle, wouldn’t it– if you could learn to communicate.

That’s the drama you will see unfold before your eyes Feb. 2, 3 and 4 at 7:30 p.m., and Feb. 5 at 2:30 p.m. ...when Mia Amado portrays the young blind, deaf, mute Helen Keller and Clara Hoch steps into the shoes of Annie Sullivan, Helen’s teacher.

The Tony award winning play, The Miracle Worker,” by William Gibson is being presented by the Woodbridge Senior High School’s Center for the Fine and Performing Arts.

This isn’t just a high school production. According to their director, WSHS drama teacher Terri Caretti, it’s a rare opportunity to see two of the area’s most accomplished young actresses perform together before they fly off to faraway places to perfect their craft. Hoch, who aspires to become a director or stage manager, graduates in June.

Caretti said that while Hoch’s part in “The Miracle Worker” is very challenging, “Mia (Amado) has the toughest part. While she has no dialogue, it’s an incredibly difficult role. She brings so much to the part. I can’t wait to see what she can do in the future.”

”We’re working really hard and it’s going to be really good,” said Hoch, noting that “high school theater sometimes gets a bad rap.” Another incentive to do well is that “The Miracle Worker” is the high school’s entry in the annual National Capital Area Cappies theatre competition.

Hoch and Amado consider themselves fortunate to be working with Caretti. In addition to teaching theater-related classes at WSHS, she is an award-winning community theater director.

At Woodbridge High School, Hoch has performed in “Zombie Prom,” “Carwash,” “The Children’s Hour,” “Grease,” “Twelve Angry Women,” “Seussical” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Amado has been involved in community theater since she participated in an after-school program. In fifth grade, the director told me I was really good. She said, ‘if you love theater, you should go for it.’” She also hopes to direct someday. Since then, Amado has been in VpStart Crow and Fauquier Community Theater productions, including “The Sound of Music,” “Willie Wonka, Jr.,” and “Cinderella, Jr.,”

For more information, contact drama teacher Terri Caretti at Woodbridge Senior High School at 703-497-8000.