Auditions

"Harvey" by Mary Chase
Wed, November 19, 2025 - 7 pm
St Helena First Presbyterian Church
1428 Spring Street, St Helena

Rehearsals begin February 9th.
M/W/F - 7 pm -10 pm and SAT - 10 am - 1 pm

Performances:
April 17-May 3, 2026
FRI/SAT 7:30 pm and Sunday matinee 2:30 pm
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Elwood P. Dowd is inseparable from his best friend, Harvey. The pair does everything together and Elwood insists on introducing Harvey to everyone he meets. Unfortunately, Harvey is an imaginary 6' 3.5" tall rabbit. While some are charmed by Elwood’s eccentricities, others are simply too put off by his delusions to interact with him or his family. When his sister Veta begins trying to find a husband for her daughter, the damage Elwood has done to the family’s image becomes too much to tolerate. Veta decides that she will commit her brother to a sanitarium. However, when the doctor hears her frazzled and far-fetched story, he decides to commit Veta instead. When the truth is revealed, it will take all hands-on deck to track down Elwood and fix the doctor’s mistake. As the sanitarium staff frantically attempts to right the wrong, the line between imagination and reality becomes less clear. Harvey makes his presence known to them, though everyone has a different idea of who or what he is.

Harvey is a heartfelt and uplifting piece set in the 1940s, which was adapted into the critically acclaimed movie of the same name in 1950.
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“...if a visit to the Astor, where it opened yesterday, does not send you forth into the highways and the byways, embracing a warm glow—then the fault will be less with Harvey, we suspect, than it will be with you.”
- Bosley Crowther, The New York Times.
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Roles:
Elwood P. Dowd (Male, age 30-65)
A mild-mannered and charming man whose best friend is an invisible 6 3.5” tall rabbit. He is exceptionally kind to everyone he meets and has a profound appreciation for the beauty of the world.

Veta Louise Simmons (Female, age 35-65)
Elwood’s sister is an excitable and fragile lady who cares deeply about the reputations of her and her family. She struggles to balance her love for Elwood with her embarrassment at his behavior.

Dr. Lyman Sanderson (Male, age 25-35)
A skilled psychiatrist at Chumley’s Rest. He is pretty confident but ends up making a disastrous mistake. He has feelings for Nurse Kelly, but often dismisses or is rude to her.

Ruth Kelly (Female, age 18-30)
A nurse at Chumley’s Rest. Has feelings for Dr. Sanderson but is often frustrated by his attitude towards her. She is charmed by Elwood’s manners. She is sympathetic and wants to do her job well.

Myrtle Mae Simmons (Female, age 18-30)
Veta’s daughter, who is enraged by the way her uncle’s behavior has affected her social life. She has no hesitation about doing whatever it takes to get rid of him.
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Dr. William R. Chumley (Male, age 50-70)
The head of Chumley’s rest. An accomplished psychiatrist with a national reputation. Does not see patients anymore but is forced to get personally involved in Elwood’s case.

Duane Wilson (Male, age 25-35)
The muscle of Chumley’s Rest. He is irritable and impulsive.

Judge Omar Gaffney (Male, age 40-75)
An old friend of the Dowds and the family’s lawyer. He is outraged by any mistreatment of the Dowd family.

E.J. Lofgren (Male, age 35-70)
A cab driver who shares his two cents with Veta about the treatment Elwood is receiving at Chumley’s rest.

Betty Chumley (Female, age 50-70)
Dr. Chumley’s wife. She is a kind and generous lady.
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Mrs. Ethel Chauvenet (Female, age 50-80)
A wealthy woman of high society. She is an old friend of Elwood’s and is shocked by how he has changed.

Miss Johnson (Female, age 18-70)
A maid in the Dowd home.

Additional Audition Information

We strongly encourage women, persons of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals to audition. We are committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in all areas of our work.