‘The Miracle Worker’ playwright dies at 94

‘The Miracle Worker’ playwright dies at 94

NEW YORK — Playwright William Gibson, whose “The Miracle Worker” has thrilled audiences for nearly a half-century with the true story of the deaf-blind Helen Keller’s rescue from a world of ignorance, has died. He was 94.

Gibson died Tuesday in Stockbridge, Mass., according to the Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home in Great Barrington.

Gibson wrote a dozen plays, including the Tony-winning “Two for the Seesaw,” but would be forever known for “The Miracle Worker.” First written for television, the story of a young Keller forging a relationship with her teacher, Annie Sullivan, made its Broadway debut in 1959.

The production, directed by Arthur Penn and starring Anne Bancroft and 12-year-old Patty Duke, earned Tonys in 1960 for best play, best actress (Bancroft) and best director. It was made into a movie in 1962, bringing Academy Awards for Bancroft, as best actress, and Duke, best supporting actress, and Oscar nominations for Penn and Gibson.

Rapper serves dinner to needy in Atlanta

ATLANTA — In his hit “Whatever You Like,” rapper T.I. offers iced Patron tequila and stacks of money to the lady in his life.

On Thursday at Turner Field, the Atlanta native was instead offering steaming spoonfuls of corn, but the stacks were still involved — this time for an Atlanta food bank struggling during the bad economy.

T.I. volunteered at the city’s largest Thanksgiving dinner at the Atlanta Braves’ home field. The event, which turned out close to 22,000, was organized by the Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless.

T.I. raised nearly $100,000 within two hours on a local radio show Wednesday. Meanwhile another Atlanta rapper, Young Jeezy, was donating $5,000, his manager said.

Event co-director Elisabeth Omilami said the donations came at the right time. She said the program, dedicated to feeding the poor and homeless, had a 10 percent decrease in income because of the slumping economy.

Today’s birthdays

Blues musician John Mayall is 75. Actress Diane Ladd is 73. Musician Chuck Mangione is 68. Singer-keyboardist Felix Cavaliere of The Rascals is 64. Comedian Garry Shandling is 59. Director Joel Coen is 54. Actor-comedian Howie Mandel is 53. Actress Cathy Moriarty is 48. Actress Kim Delaney (“NYPD Blue”) is 47. Actor Tom Sizemore is 47. Actor Don Cheadle is 44. Singer Jonathan Knight of New Kids on the Block is 40. Actress Anna Faris (“Scary Movie”) is 32. Rapper The Game is 29.