Harvey opens April 25th at Summit Playhouse

SUMMIT, N.J. - The Summit Playhouse is proud to announce the opening of Harvey on April 25, 2014, playing through to May 10, 2014.  The show will be the 311th  produced by The Summit Playhouse since its inception in 1918.

“We can’t wait to bring the wit and charm of Harvey to our audiences at the Summit Playhouse”, says Steve Catron, director. “One of the things we love about this show is that folks know the title, since many have seen the movie with Jimmy Stewart. We know our patrons will love this story of the big white rabbit Harvey and his unflappable friend Elwood P. Dowd.”

Harvey tells the story of an affable man named Elwood P. Dowd and his presumably imaginary friend Harvey, a six-foot, three-and-one-half-inch tall pooka. When Elwood starts to introduce Harvey to guests at a society party, his society-obsessed sister, Veta, decides to have him committed to spare her daughter Myrtle Mae and their family from future embarrassment. When Veta takes Elwood to the local sanatorium, the doctors mistakenly commit the anxiety-ridden Veta. This sets off a hilarious whirlwind of confusion and chaos.

The play by Mary Chase opened in Broadway in 1944 and ran for four and a half years.  Harvey won the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize for best play.  The 1950 film starring Jimmy Stewart as Elwood P. Dowd was brought even more attention to the work as Harvey gained popularity in the theater and on the stage.

Harvey is under the direction of Steve Catron. Truc-Lan Vu is both producer and stage manager. Costume design for the show is by Sheila Rees, set design by Kevern Cameron, lighting and sound design by Wendy Roome, set décor by Risha Walden and set painting by Tina White.

The cast for Harvey features Stacey Petricha as Veta Louise Simmona, Jackie Jacobi as Myrtle Mae Simmons, Nerida Miller as Mrs. Ethel Chauvenet, Jon Beeler as Dr. Sanderson, Kendall Green as Nurse Kelly, Eric Friedman as Wilson, Arnold Buchiane as Dr. Chumley, Kathy Mierisch as Mrs. Betty Chumley, Frank Guerrasio as Judge Omar Gaffney, Steve Nitka as E.J. Lofgren, and Chip Prestera as Elwood P. Dowd.

Harvey at The Summit Playhouse will run April 25th and 26th at 8pm. May 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 9th and 10th at 8pm, and Sunday, May 4th at 2pm. Ticket are available at www.brownpapertickets.com  or 1.800.838.3006. Single tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for students (18 and under). Group rates for ten or more are also available; for details call the Playhouse at 908.273.2192.

About the Summit Playhouse

Since its founding in 1918, the Summit Playhouse has produced over 300 productions, making it one of the oldest continuously operating community theaters in the United States. The historic institution is devoted to maintaining the practice of theatre arts and encouraging those interested in all aspects of the performing arts and its operations.  The Playhouse’s original stone structure was constructed in 1891 and housed Summit’s first library.