The show will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, all in the Black Box Theatre.
The Wayne State College Theatre Program will present the family-friendly comedy “Harvey” Thursday through Sunday, Nov. 20-23, in the Black Box Theatre, located on the lower level of the Lied Performing Arts Annex in the Peterson Fine Arts Building.
Performances for this wonderfully imaginative and inspiring comedy will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday; and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets, available at the door, are $5 per person, with free admission for Wayne State students, faculty, and staff with their college ID. Seating is limited, and there is no reserved seating.
“Harvey” imparts a powerful message of acceptance, benevolence, and the power of imagination. Affable, carefree Elwood goes about town introducing his friend, a life-sized invisible rabbit named “Harvey.” This seemingly delusional behavior incites angst within his family. Desperate to avoid embarrassment, his sister, Veta, contrives to commit Elwood to a sanitorium. Her plan backfires, triggering her own commitment instead. Comedy ensues, revelations emerge, and everyone is left to question their perceptions of reality and sanity.
Written in 1944 by Mary Chase, “Harvey” won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1945. The play was adapted for film and television, most famously for the 1950 film starring Jimmy Stewart. “Harvey” also won acclaim as one of the most popular plays in American theatrical history and one of Broadway’s longest running shows.
The three-act production runs approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes with intermission. “Harvey” is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection. “Harvey” is directed by Rusty Ruth, associate professor of theatre at Wayne State.
Cast members include:
- Missouri Valley, Iowa – Mariah Pleskac
- Bellevue, Neb. – Max Bales
- Carleton, Neb. – Gracie Hinz
- Columbus, Neb. – Caroline Klitz
- Fort Calhoun, Neb. – Cayden Otte
- Hebron, Neb. – Jordan LeFave
- Murray, Neb. – Ella Lewis
- Norfolk, Neb. – Anna Gaster
- Oakland, Neb. – Elijah Gahan, River Wallerstedt
- Stuart, Neb. – Mary Belle Hamilton
- Wausa, Neb. – Hannah Kleinschmit
- Wayne, Neb. – Hunter Peardon
Brian Begley, associate professor of theatre at Wayne State, is technical director, scenic designer, lighting designer, and stage combat director. Mollie Young, adjunct instructor of theatre at Wayne State, is stage intimacy coordinator.
Stage managers are Kyle Hubbell of Le Mars, Iowa, and Ethan Hajek of Wahoo, Neb. Kaitlyn Nelson of Castana, Iowa, serves as costume designer with makeup design by Katie Stodieck of Schuyler, Neb. Wayne State alumna Anna Bjorklund is costume shop manager. The paint charge team includes Madison Dvorak of Grand Island and Mary Belle Hamilton. The costume assistants and run crew are Kore Quimby of Ralston, Neb., Anna Bjorklund, Katelyn Nelson, and Katie Stodieck. Maddie Fairman of Papillion, Neb., assists with lighting and electrics.
For more information, contact Rusty Ruth at [email protected].