Director Jerry Tracy will hold open auditions for volunteer actors for Mary Chase’s classic American comedy “Harvey,” at 6 p.m. March 4-5 at the historic Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu.
If necessary, an invitational call back audition will be held 6 p.m. March 6. Production dates are May 3-19. Candidates should prepare a joke or funny story to tell as part of the audition, which will also consist of reading from the script. Scripts are available at the Aloha Theatre office. Call Nikki Johnson at 322-9924 to arrange a checkout.
“Harvey” was written in 1944, and received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1945. A memorable 1950 movie version starred Jimmy Stewart and won an Oscar for actress Josephine Hull.
There are five male roles, five female roles, and one gender-neutral role. Male roles are Elwood P. Dowd, age 35-55, the central figure of the play. He is a charming eccentric whose best friend is an invisible six-foot-tall rabbit; Dr. William B. Chumley, age 50-80, a respected psychiatrist and the head of Chumley’s Rest, a sanitarium; Dr. Lyman Sanderson, age 25-40, a young psychiatrist, whose talent is only surpassed by his vanity; Duane Wilson, age 20-50, a devoted orderly who serves as the bouncer at Chumley’s Rest; and Judge Omar Gaffney, age 40-80, the Dowd family lawyer, fiercely protective of them and surprisingly understanding of Elwood’s belief in Harvey.
Female roles are Veta Louise Simmons, age 35-65, Elwood’s sister, who loves him very much, and who is very concerned about fitting into society; Myrtle Mae Simmons, age 18-40, Veta’s daughter and Elwood’s niece, self-centered and critical of Elwood; Ruth Kelly, age 18-40, a nurse in a love/hate relationship with Dr. Sanderson; Ethel Chauvenet, age 50-90, an old family friend and elite member of the local social circle; and Betty Chumley, age 50-80, Dr. Chumley’s kind and talkative wife.
The gender neutral role is E.J. Lofgren, age 20-80, a cab driver who dispenses wisdom in the last scene and enables the play’s climax.
The cast will initially meet twice, March 13 -14, and then regular rehearsals will commence March 25. Rehearsals will generally be conducted Sunday afternoons and Monday-Thursday evenings.
Cast members must be available for the entire rehearsal schedule with a minimum number of conflicts, and must commit to the entire performance run, May 3-19. Time commitment varies, depending on the role. The rehearsal and performance schedule is posted online, and will be posted at auditions as well.
An optional “Harvey” Boot Camp will be offered Saturday, Feb. 23, from 2-4 p.m. at the theater. This is a workshop designed to familiarize possible cast members with the play, and prepare them for auditions. For more information, go to alohatheatre.com, or call 322-9924.
