Things are about to get “hare”y as SAAC prepares for the upcoming auditions for their spring production of Harvey. No, this is not your imagination! Auditions will be on Thursday, January 11 and Friday, January 12 at 7pm, with registration beginning at 6:30pm.

AD Ruth Griffin and Director Gary Hall

Click on the photo above for more information about the directors.

Sponsored by All About Flowers and Murphy-Pitard Jewelers, the play is under the direction of Gary Hall with Ruth Griffin serving as the assistant director and stage manager. Production dates will be March 1-3, 7-9.

For auditions be prepared to read one of the provided monologues, which are available online or in the SAAC office. Memorization is not required but is preferred. Also, expect cold readings from the script. Script copies are available at the SAAC office and may be checked out for 48 hours. Callbacks will be scheduled directly with individual actors. Rehearsals will begin on January 22.

There are roles for 6 men and for 6 women. Ages of the characters range anywhere from 20 to 80 years of age. Anyone 17 and up who can look or act the part is welcome to audition. Auditioners can attend either day of the auditions, which will be closed. Everyone will wait in the lobby until called into the theatre to read their monologue.

Harvey, a Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy by Mary Chase, is the story of a perfect gentleman, Elwood P. Dowd, and his best friend, Harvey — a six-foot tall, invisible rabbit. When Elwood begins introducing Harvey around town, his embarrassed sister, Veta Louise, and her daughter, Myrtle Mae, determine to commit Elwood to a sanitarium. A mistake is made, however, and Veta is committed rather than Elwood! What ensues is a comedy of errors resulting in mistaken identities, misdiagnoses, and a search for the elusive rabbit that reminds us to embrace the quirks that make us special.

Director Gary Hall said, “Through charm and humor, Harvey has transcended the years and continues to carry its message of acceptance. The play provides plenty of laughs, and I look forward to assembling a cast and crew that will unlock those humorous moments on the SAAC stage.”

CHARACTERS

Elwood P. Dowd (Lead, Age 35-55) a charming eccentric whose best friend is Harvey, an invisible six-foot-tall rabbit. Elwood is well mannered, very friendly, and has “old-school gentleman charm”. Soft-spoken and perhaps a bit naïve.
Dr. William B. Chumley (Age 50-80) an esteemed psychiatrist and the head of Chumley’s Rest with years of experience. He is a difficult, exacting, but somewhat comedic man who will go to any length to protect the reputation of his sanitarium.
Dr. Lyman Sanderson (Age 25-35) a young and highly qualified psychiatrist. Very stiff and self-impressed, but somewhat shy around Nurse Kelly.
Duane Wilson (Age 20-35) the muscle of Chumley’s Rest, a devoted orderly responsible for handling the patients who will not cooperate voluntarily. Big muscles with brains that are less so. Needs some comedic timing.
Judge Omar Gaffney (Age 40-80) an old family friend of the Dowds and the family’s lawyer. Devoted to the family and torn between Elwood and Veta.
E. J. Lofgren (Open Age) a cab driver whose monologue about sanitarium passengers is crucial to the climax of the play. This role has a single scene near the end and would have a limited rehearsal schedule.
Veta Louise Simmons (Age 35-55) Elwood’s younger sister. She is very concerned about fitting into society and all the social proprieties that involves. She also loves her older brother Elwood very much – a dynamic that drives the action of the play. Needs some broad comedic skills.
Ruth Kelly (Age 20-35) a sympathetic character, a pretty young woman who has a love/hate relationship with Dr. Sanderson. She is sweet and kind and looks for the best in people.
Myrtle Mae Simmons (Age 18-30) Veta’s Daughter (Elwood’s Niece) is somewhat self-centered and socially awkward. A good chance to play to comedic talent.
Ethel Chauvenet (Age 50-80) Mrs. Chauvenet is an old friend of the family. She is an elite member of the town’s social circle.
Betty Chumley (Age 50-80) Dr. Chumley’s kind and talkative wife. Can be older and very cultured or young and socially unaware.

MONOLOGUES: Select one to read at auditions. The Audition Packet includes print ready versions of all five monologues .

ELWOOD: One night, several years ago, I was walking early in the evening, alone. Fairfax Street—between 18th and 19th. I had just helped Ed Hickey into a taxi. Ed had been mixing his rye with his gin, and I felt he needed some help getting home. I started to walk down the street when I heard a voice saying, “Good evening, Mr. Dowd.” I turned and there was this great white rabbit leaning against a lamp post. Well, I thought nothing of that because when you live in a town as long as I have lived in this one, you get used to the fact that everybody knows your name. Naturally I went over to chat with him. He said to me, “Ed Hickey was a little spiffed this evening, or could I be mistaken?” Well, of course he was not mistaken. I think the world and all of Ed, but he was spiffed. So we stood there and talked and finally I said, “You have the advantage of me. You know my name, but I don’t know yours.” Right back at me he said, “What name do you like?” Well, I didn’t even have to think a minute. Harvey has always been my favorite name. So I said, “Harvey”—and this is the interesting part of the whole thing. He said, “What a coincidence. My name happens to be Harvey!”
ELWOOD: Aunt Ethel. What a pleasure to come home and find a beautiful woman waiting for me. Aunt Ethel, I want you to meet Harvey. As you can see, he’s a Pooka. (To HARVEY) Harvey, you’ve often heard me speak of Mrs. Chauvenet. We always called her Aunt Ethel. She’s one of my oldest and dearest friends. (Listens.) Yes—yes—that’s right—she’s the one. (ETHEL looks around wildly.) Harvey said he would have known you anywhere. Now come along, Harvey. We must say hello to the rest of the guest. (Bows to Ethel.) I beg your pardon, Aunt Ethel. (Puts his hands on her arm.) You are standing in his way. (To HARVEY) Come along, Harvey. (He watches Harvey cross to the door.) Huh-uh (He straightens Harvey’s tie and takes a speck of dirt off his suit coat.) You look fine. Now go right on in. (Elwood turns back to Ethel.) Aunt Ethel, I can see you’re disturbed about Harvey. Please don’t be. He stares like that at everyone. It’s his way. But he liked you. I could tell. He liked you very much.
ELWOOD: Harvey and I sit in bars and play the jukebox. Soon the faces of the other people turn toward mine and smile. They’re saying, “We don’t know your name, mister, but you’re a lovely fellow.” Harvey and I warm ourselves in all these golden moments. We have entered as strangers… and soon we have friends. They talk to us. They tell about the terrible things they have done. The big wonderful things they will do. Their hopes, their regrets, their loves, their hates. All large, because nobody ever brings anything small into a bar. And then I introduce them to Harvey. And he is bigger and grander than anything they can offer me. When they leave, they leave impressed. These same people seldom come back because they’ve told what they need to tell, and they’ve seen a little bit of a miracle. They no longer have a need to go back to a bar again.
LOFGREN: Listen, lady, I’ve been drivin’ this route 15 years. I’ve brought ‘em out here to get their injections, and then drove’ em back after they got it. It changes ‘em. On the way out here, they sit back and enjoy the ride. They talk to me. Sometimes we stop and watch the sunsets and look at birds flying. Sometimes we stop and watch the birds when there ain’t no birds and look at the sunsets when it’s rainin’. We have a swell time, and I always get a big tip. But afterwards… huh uh! They crab, crab, crab. They yell at me to watch the lights, watch the brakes, watch the intersection. They scream at me to hurry. They got no faith in me or my cab, yet it’s the same cab, same driver, same road. It’s no fun… and no tips. Lady, after this he’ll be a perfectly normal human being… and you know what bastards they are. I’ll be out in my cab.
VETA: Yes, Doctor… he’s… this isn’t easy for me, Doctor. I noticed it right away when Mother died, and Myrtle Mae and I came back home to live with Elwood. I could see that he… that he… Doctor, everything I say to you is confidential, isn’t it? Doctor, I want Elwood committed out here permanently because I can’t stand another day of that Harvey. Myrtle and I have to set a place at the table for Harvey. We have to move over on the sofa and make a place for Harvey. We have to answer the telephone when Elwood calls and asks to speak to Harvey. Then, at the party this afternoon—(overcome, she pauses for a moment.) We didn’t know about Harvey until we came back here. Doctor, don’t you think it would have been a little kinder of Mother to have written and told me about Harvey? Harvey is a rabbit, a big white rabbit, six feet high—or is it six feet and a half? Heaven knows that I ought to know. He’s been around the house long enough. My brother’s closest friend is this big white rabbit. He and Elwood go every place together. Elwood buys theatre tickets, railroad tickets for both of them. As I told Myrtle May—if your uncle is so lonesome he had to bring something home—why couldn’t he bring home something human? He has me, doesn’t he? He has Myrtle Mae. (Leans forward.) Doctor, I’m going to tell you something I’ve never told anybody in the world before. (Takes a deep breath.) Every once in a while, I see that big white rabbit myself. Now isn’t that terrible? I’ve never even told Myrtle Mae. And what’s more, he’s every bit as big as Elwood says he is. But don’t tell anybody I told you so.