`MIRACLE' ACTRESS FITS THE PART.Byline: Tere Marshall Daily News Staff Writer Jenna Zuccari, a seventh-grader at Placerita Junior High School, is creating her own kind of miracle on stage portraying Helen Keller in the Canyon Theatre Guild's production of ``The Miracle Worker.'' ``I knew she was good, but I had no idea she had this in her,'' said Jeri Zuccari, the actress's mother. ``This is coming from somewhere else.'' ``We wouldn't let her watch Patty Duke's version so that she wouldn't be imitating - she has an original portrayal that I think is closer to the original Helen Keller,'' Jeri Zuccari said. Jenna and her cast mates researched their characters by observing at the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Blind Children's Center, and learning sign language was a requirement for the part as well. ``When we visited the school for the blind, I warned her that it would be hard to deal with,'' Jeri Zuccari said. ``I was worried it would be too much for her, but it definitely changed her inner feelings about the role. She went to McDonald's and pretended pre·tend·ed adj. 1. Not genuine or sincere; feigned: a pretended interest in the proceedings. 2. Supposed; alleged: the pretended heir to the throne. she was blind - she was pretty convincing. Everyone was staring. ``At home, she shut herself in the walk-in closet with cotton in her ears. She could only stand it for 10 minutes. She said it was very scary.'' Jenna has played small roles in such productions as ``Beauty and the Beast'' and ``The Wizard of Oz'' at the Canyon Theatre Guild Theatre Guild U.S. theatrical society. Founded in New York City in 1918 by Lawrence Langner (1890–1962) and others, the group proposed to produce high-quality, noncommercial plays. , and other minor parts at the Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, Children's Theater production of ``Oliver!'' and ``The Sound of Music.'' She studied with drama coach Diane Arnold of Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, . Jenna also studies piano and voice, then heads to school where she maintains a 3.8 grade-point average. During the demanding months of rehearsals, a private tutor helps her keep up with homework. ``She's fabulous,'' said guild director Ben Boydston. ``She has a level of concentration that is very unusual for someone her age. It's an incredibly moving production looking on the triumph of human spirit over adversity ad·ver·si·ty n. pl. ad·ver·si·ties 1. A state of hardship or affliction; misfortune. 2. A calamitous event. .'' Show times are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through July 3. Tickets are $9 for adults and $5 for children and seniors. The Canyon Theatre Guild is at 13660 Sierra Highway Sierra Highway is a road in Southern California, United States. It runs from Tunnel Station near the north limit of the City of Los Angeles, where it intersects with San Fernando Road and Foothill Boulevard, as well as Interstate 5, and continues north to Mojave, mostly paralleling in Saugus. For information, call (805) 298-0058. CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO (Color) Ingrid Boydston, left, as Anne Sullivan Noun 1. Anne Sullivan - United States educator who was the teacher and lifelong companion of Helen Keller (1866-1936) Anne Mansfield Sullivan, Sullivan helps Jenna Zuccari as Helen Keller feel water from a pump. |
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