Theatre Casting Call for Play "Harvey"
Seeking cast for upcoming play "Harvey". See more info below. About the project: Harvey, by Mary Chase, winner of the 1945 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, is a whimsical comedy of errors about Elwood P. Dowd, a gentle, warmhearted man whose best friend happens to be an invisible six-foot-tall rabbit named Harvey. When Elwood’s well-meaning sister Veta attempts to have him committed to a mental institution to preserve the family’s social standing, a series of comic misunderstandings ensues, resulting in Veta herself being mistakenly admitted. As doctors and relatives scramble to untangle the chaos, the play subtly challenges conventional ideas of sanity, suggesting that kindness, imagination, and compassion may matter more than societal notions of “normal.” Despite its status as a comedy classic, Harvey feels especially timely in today’s fast-paced digital world, offering a warm reminder that authentic human connection is what gives our lives meaning. Rate: Unpaid. Additional info: Non-equity production. Audition Requirements: Headshots and resumes are welcome but not required. Please come prepared to list all potential conflicts from February 10 through March 27. No rehearsal or performance absences will be accepted after that date. Please note that there is a mandatory set strike call for all cast on April 26. You may complete the audition form attached ahead of time or in person at the audition. If needed, callbacks will take place the evening of Monday, February 2 at a location yet to be determined. First rehearsal: February 10. Show dates: April 10-12, 15-19, 22-25.
12 role s
The central character of the play, a charming eccentric whose best friend is Harvey, an invisible six-foot-tall rabbit. Elwood is well-mannered, friendly and kind. He has the charm and manners of a gentleman of his time. Veta’s brother. (Lead)
Elwood’s sister. Veta has returned to the family home after the death of her mother and is intent on landing a suitable husband for her daughter, Myrtle Mae. She is anxious about helping her daughter fit in with “proper society.” She also loves her brother Elwood very much and feels conflicted about committing him to the sanitarium. (Lead)
Veta’s daughter (and Elwood’s niece). Both Veta and Myrtle are about the business of finding Myrtle a man to marry–a mission that is made impossible with Elwood and Harvey constantly popping in. Frustrated, deeply embarrassed, and a bit self-centered in the way of the young. (Supporting)
An esteemed psychiatrist and the head of Chumley’s Experimental Rest Home for the Mentally Askew. He is a difficult, stern man who will go to any length to protect his reputation as one of the most renowned psychiatrists in the world, but his interactions with Elwood and Harvey reveal an unexpected vulnerability. Eventually becomes fascinated by – and even afraid of – Harvey. Has his own moment of breakdown. Dry comic timing. (Supporting)
A young and highly qualified psychiatrist, handpicked by Chumley. His talent is only surpassed by his vanity. Competent but sometimes pompous. He is as infatuated with Nurse Kelly as she is with him, though he struggles with shyness in her presence. (Supporting)
The muscle of Chumley’s Rest, a devoted orderly responsible for “handling” the patients who will not cooperate voluntarily. Not the brightest bulb, but very loyal, with a crude charm. (Supporting)
An attractive young woman who has a love/hate relationship with Dr. Sanderson. Warm, compassionate nurse who looks for the best in people. (Supporting)
An old family friend of the Dowds and the family’s lawyer. Perhaps a little in love with Veta. Definite representation of order and reason in the story. (Supporting)
A cab driver whose monologue about their sanitarium passengers is crucial to the climax of the play. Blue-collar, practical, honest. Gives a speech about how sanitariums change people, which influences Veta’s final decision. (Featured)
Elderly high-society Grande Dame who has known the Dowd family for years. Shocked by Elwood’s behavior but charmed by his politeness. (Featured)
Dr. Chumley’s kind and talkative wife. Gentle and well-meaning. (Featured)
A maid in the Dowd household. (Featured)
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