‘Harvey’ opens Friday at Rogers City Theater
The sound of laughter is certain to be heard coming from the Rogers City Theater this weekend and next. The Rogers City Community Theatre (RCCT)group is staging “Harvey,” Mary Chase’s Pulitzer Prize winning play.
The play opens on Friday, with additional performances on Saturday and Sunday as well as Nov. 1-3. The curtain rises at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings, with a matinee on Sunday afternoons at 2 p.m.
“This is a wonderful classic play that I remember seeing when I was in high school. I have always looked forward to having an opportunity to be a part of this play. It has been a pleasure for me to be the director for ‘Harvey.’ I have a wonderful cast. They have really been putting in 110 percent to make sure we have a good show,” said director Donna Klein.
“We have been laughing at and with each other the whole time. If you laugh half as much as we have been, you are guaranteed to have a good time.”
“Harvey” is the story of Elwood P. Dowd and his pooka, an “invisible” 6-foot tall white rabbit with mysterious abilities. Harvey causes quite a stir in the Dowd household and at Chumley’s Rest, the sanitarium where the family wants Elwood to be committed. A case of mistaken identity and Harvey’s strange influence on those involved will keep you laughing from beginning to end. This one’s been a fan favorite for years and it is easy to see why this is classic comedic theatre at its finest.
The cast includes Wesley Eagleson as Elwood P. Dowd, Theresa Gibson as Veta Louse Simmons (Elwood’s sister), Drew Rose as Myrtle Mae Simmons (Veta’s daughter), Robert Starnes III as Dr. William Chumley (the head of Chumley’s Rest), Andrew Hoffmeyer as Dr. Lyman Sanderson (lead physician at Chumley’s Rest), Celestine Petoskey as Ruth Kelly, registered nurse, Robert Starnes IV as Duane Wilson (an orderly at Chumley’s Rest), Ed Perrault as Judge Omar Gaffney (a family friend), Val Schalk as Betty Chumley (Dr. Chumley’s wife), Jodi Collins as Mrs. Ethel Chauvenet (a socialite friend of the family), Karl W. Heidemann as E.J. Lofgre
“This is one of my favorite plays of all time” Klein said. “Even at auditions, the actors couldn’t help but laugh, the play is that funny. We have a cast made up of seasoned veterans and some newcomers. It’s great to see the community taking part in community theatre.”
The crew includes Karen Maher assistant director, Lawrence Anderson, technical director, Mary Chapp, set decorator/prop master, Val Schalk, costumes, Dawn Rose, prompter, Mike Marx lights, Bill Halsey, sound design, and Donna Klein, sound tech.
The hilarity takes place at the Rogers City Theater, 257 N. Third St., Rogers City. Tickets are $12 adults, $10 seniors, and $6 students and are available through the RCCT Web site (rcctheatre.org), the box office, the Advance office in Rogers City and at the door. For more show information, please call 989-734-3861 or connect with the theatre on Fa