Harvey

By Mary Chase

Directed by Dave Pausch

Meet the eccentric Elwood P. Dowd and his very good friend, Harvey. Elwood is an eccentric and loving soul who insists on inviting Harvey to all of his sister’s social gatherings. Elwood’s friend, however, is a six-foot, one-and-one-half inch tall rabbit whose actual physical presence seems to allude most people. Elwood’s high society sister, Veta, has had it with Harvey and Elwood’s. To save the family from embarrassment, she decides to have Elwood committed. You know, for his own safety.
But things do not go quite as planned. Problems arise when doctors fear for Veta’s sanity, Elwood and Harvey go missing and all hope seems to be lost! Have the delusions of a 6-foot-tall rabbit finally taken their toll on this peaceful family?

Produced by Madison College Performing Arts at Mitby Theater, Madison College, Madison College, 1701 Wright Street, Madison

Performances: March 3 – 13, 2022 

Performance Times: Sundays @ 2:00 PM, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays @ 7:30 PM

Ticket Prices: $12 - $15

Call 608-243-4000 for reservations or more information.

Auditions

Auditions will be held on the following days:

1/18/2019
1/19/2019

AUDITION INFORMATION

Madison College Performing Arts in Theater is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. As such, we encourage performers of all races and ethnicities, gender identities, sexualities, physicality, abilities, and ages, as well as d/Deaf, to attend every audition. Age ranges are guidelines.

Auditions are open to all students, alumni, staff, faculty, and other interested individuals.

AUDITION DATES & TIMES

Tuesday 1/18 @ 6:00, 6:30, 7:00, 7:30 PM Wednesday 1/19 @ 6:00, 6:30, 7:00, 7:30 PM

Each audition slot will include a group of 5 - 6 and last approximately 30-minutes.

Seeking 12 actors, 6 male presenting, 6 female presenting. Casting decisions are based on skill, positivity, and availability. All experience levels encouraged to audition.

WHAT TO PREPARE

• Review the character breakdown for the show.
• Review sides (excerpt from the script) corresponding to the character(s) you would like to be considered.
• Schedule an audition appointment by visiting madisoncollegetheater.org.

WHAT TO EXPECT

• Auditions will consist of reading from script.
• Each group will be paired, reading scenes from the sides provided. Be prepared to stay the entire 30 minutes. Some may be asked to stay for another timeslot.
• Auditionees may be asked to read for another role.
• Callbacks may be scheduled for Jan. 20, 2022.

PERFORMANCES

Mitby Theater, Madison College, 1701 Wright Street, Madison WI 53704 March 3 – 13, 2022

TIME COMMITMENT

Rehearsals begin Jan. 24, 2022.

Five rehearsals per week, some weekends.

AUDITION/PRODUCTION QUESTIONS

Performing Arts Leadership: pal@madisoncollege.edu

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN

Age ranges are guidelines.

Myrtle Mae Simmons (Age range 18-30) The daughter of Veta Simmons, Myrtle Mae is in her early twenties and still unmarried, a source of concern for her mother.

Veta Simmons (Age range 35-55) Myrtle Mae's mother and Elwood's sister, Veta considered herself a member of the "better society" of their small town and is a member of the Wednesday Forum, a social club for the ladies of the town. She is, however, slightly embarrassed by her brother.

Elwood P. Dowd (Age range 35-55) Veta's brother, Elwood is forty-seven years old and owns the family home he lives in with Myrtle and Veta. He is pleasant, loveable, and a friend to everyone. He enjoys his visits to the neighborhood bar but is by no means a drunk.

Miss Johnson (Age range 18-30) A member of the staff in the Dowd household. Mrs. Ethel Chauvenet (Age range 50-80) Sixty-five years old, Mrs. Chauvenet is wealthy and a member of the Wednesday Forum. She also has a suitable grandson about Myrtle's age.

Ruth Kelly, R.N. (Age 18-35) Twenty-four years old and pretty, Ruth is head nurse at Chumley's Rest, a sanitarium for mental patients.

Duane Wilson (Age range 20-50) About twenty-eight years old, large, and muscular, Duane is the sanitarium's attendant and strong arm. He admires Dr. Chumley, perhaps excessively.

Dr. Lyman Sanderson (Age range 20-35) A young doctor of psychiatry, Dr. Sanderson is quite attractive and has caught Ruth's eye. Dr. William R. Chumley (Age range 50-80) In his late fifties, Dr. Chumley is the head of Chumley's Rest. He is a confident, sometimes pompous, man.

Betty Chumley (Age range 50-80) Dr. Chumley's wife, Mrs. Chumley is a lovely woman about fifty-five years old.

Judge Omar Gaffney (Age range 40-80) An elderly lawyer, Judge Gaffney represents the estate of Veta and Elwood's late mother.

E.J. Lofgren (Age range 30-50) A "salt of the earth" cab driver, who ultimately knows more than you would think he does.