Nine-year-old Lauren Elledge can see and hear, but for the next 10 days, she will be portraying someone who couldn't.

The Central Manor Elementary School third-grader will take on the challenging role of Helen Keller in Ephrata Performing Arts Center's production of "The Miracle Worker."

Keller, who could see and hear at birth, lost both senses at age 19 months from what was described by doctors as "an acute congestion of the stomach and the brain," but was most likely scarlet fever or meningitis. She went on to become the first deaf and blind person to receive a college degree. She was also an author and a world-famous advocate for the handicapped, women's suffrage, workers' rights and other causes.

Elledge, who lives in Washington Boro, said her portrayal of this isolated child was a challenge.

"It's difficult to keep my head up all the time and not look at things," she said. "But it's a lot of fun, too. It's sort of like work that's fun at the same time."

But for a youngster with limited acting experience — her lone stage appearance outside of school productions was as Gretel in Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre's "Sound of Music" — Elledge is more than holding her own.

"It's been a challenge for her, but she's doing a really great job," said Matt Good, the show's director.

Good said casting the role of Helen Keller was a lengthy process. He initially auditioned "30 to 40 girls."

"We called back about a dozen and had them go through a lot of the things the script calls for, and Lauren just really stood out," Good said.

And there was another plus. Lauren can do American Sign Language, as can Amy Hoke, who plays Keller's teacher and lifelong companion Annie Sullivan. In fact, Good soon discovered that other cast members can sign as well, including Larry Gessler, who plays Captain Keller, and Kelly Brennan Lefever, who portrays his wife, Kate Keller.

"So it's interesting as we're rehearsing to see all of these things coming out about the cast members that I didn't realize they were able to do," Good said.

Like Elledge, Hoke is a newcomer to EPAC, having done much of her performing at Hershey Area Playhouse. Good said the two are great together and are "working very hard to make their roles work."

Good is delighted that the Feb. 15 matinee show will be signed for the deaf. In addition, a deaf and blind man will be in the audience, which will require a translator to sign the words into the man's hand so he can "feel" the words.

"I'm really excited about that, because it's the same thing that Helen and Annie went through after they left Alabama, and for the rest of her life," Good said.

Adapted from Keller's autobiography, "The Story of My Life," a film version written by William Gibson appeared in 1957 on TV's "Playhouse 90."

Two years later, it was taken to Broadway and starred Patty Duke as Keller and Anne Bancroft as Sullivan. The show won three Tony Awards and led to its movie adaptation in 1962. Both Duke and Bancroft won Oscars for their performances.

Good is happy to be able to bring the show to the EPAC stage.

"It's such an American play about a very iconic American figure," he said. "It is very historical and is such a great piece of American literature."

"The Miracle Worker" runs through Feb. 15. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children 12 and younger. For tickets or more information, call EPAC at 733-7966.

E-mail: lalexander@lnpnews.com