Casting Call For Classic Comedy Play "Harvey"
Open auditions for Mary Chase’s classic comedy, "Harvey". Actors needed. Please see the breakdown below. About the project: Winner of the 1945 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. THE STORY: Elwood P. Dowd insists on including his friend Harvey in all of his sister Veta’s social gatherings. Trouble is, Harvey is an imaginary six-and-a-half-foot-tall rabbit. To avoid future embarassment for her family—and especially for her daughter, Myrtle Mae—Veta decides to have Elwood committed to a sanitarium. At the sanitarium, a frantic Veta explains to the staff that her years of living with Elwood’s hallucination have caused her to see Harvey also, and so the doctors mistakenly commit her instead of her mild-mannered brother. The truth comes out, however; Veta is freed, and the search is on for Elwood, who eventually arrives at the sanitarium of his own volition, looking for Harvey. But it seems that Elwood and his invisible companion have had a strange influence on more than one of the doctors. Only at the end does Veta realize that maybe Harvey isn’t so bad after all. Rate: This opportunity is unpaid. Additional info: Director and Assistant Director are seeking a diverse cast of 10-12 adults. People ages 18 and up of all genders, races, abilities are encouraged to audition. Portrayed genders and age ranges are suggested for roles as described below. Some actors may perform multiple roles. Doors at 6:30 PM. Auditions at 7:00 PM. PREPARATION: Please review the materials attached. You should be comfortable with the text for all characters for which you’d like to read. Memorization is neither necessary nor preferred. You may be asked to read for other characters during the audition. Tech Week: April 7-11, 2024. Performances: April 12-14 & 18-20, 2024. Individuals cast in this production agree to be available for ALL listed tech & performance dates. This is an all-volunteer, non-equity, community theatre organization. If you are interested, please apply.
12 roles
Lead. Male-presenting. Everyone’s pal. Kind, gentle, sweet, charming, and charismatic. Equally at home in a sawdust on the floor tavern, a sewing circle, or a 4-year old’s birthday party. Beloved though he is, there is something haunted and ethereal about him, which strangely only serves to make him more likable. Lonely. Drinks too much. His best friend and platonic life partner is a six-and-a-half-foot tall rabbit only he can see.
Lead. Female-presenting. A proper and well-respected, old money society matron. Constantly embarrassed by her older brother Elwood and his best buddy, the invisible rabbit Harvey, who she also sees sometimes but also no, she does not, because good society ladies don’t see giant invisible rabbits. Eager to find a husband for her daughter, Myrtle Mae.
Lead. Male-presenting. Has seen a lot of mental illness in his many years of selfless toil and has plenty of money to show for it. Crusty, but likes to think of himself as intellectually nimble. Respected by his peers, revered by his patients, celebrated by his community.
Lead. Male-presenting. Young, arrogant, handsome, and career-focused. Wants to be Dr. Chumley someday but does not have Dr. Chumley’s humanity. Spends a lot of time hitting on nurses, especially nurse Kelly, with whom he has love/hate relationship (chemistry with that actress is important).
Lead. Female-presenting. Brighter than she comes across, but society has taught her that her only value lies in marrying a doctor and giving him children, so that’s mostly what she’s interested in.
Supporting. Male-presenting. An orderly at the mental hospital who should probably be a patient himself. Mean, craven, a bit of a sadist. It is implied that he may take liberties with female patients. Probably quite powerless in his life outside the hospital. Sees the patients as less than human.
Supporting. Female-presenting. Veta’s daughter. Concerned with social standing, though less so than her mother. Eager to find an appropriate husband.
Supporting. Male-presenting. The judge is an old family friend of the Dowds and the family's lawyer. He is fiercely protective of the family and surprisingly understanding of Elwood's belief in Harvey.
Supporting. Female-presenting. Dr. Chumley's kind and talkative wife. (May double as Mrs. Chauvenet.)
Supporting. Female-presenting. Mrs. Chauvenet is an old friend of the family. She is an elite member of the town's social circle that Veta desperately wants Myrtle to break into. (May double as Betty Chumley.)
Supporting. 18+. Servant in the Dowd household. (May double as Cab Driver.)
Supporting. Affable taxi driver. Sees Elwood’s (and Harvey’s) value. (May double as Johnson.)
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