Clackamas Repertory Theatre opens its ninth season Friday, June 28, with Mary Chase’s classic American play “Harvey.”
The CRT production features company member Jayson Shanafelt as Elwood P. Dowd, and Portland favorites Tobias Andersen as Dr. Chumley and Amanda Valley as Elwood’s sister, Veta Simmons. Doren Elias directs this light-hearted, timeless comedy about a loveable eccentric whose best friend is a 6-foot tall invisible rabbit whom he introduces to everyone.
Mary Chase was a journalist, but her real passion was playwriting. She wrote 14 plays but her most popular and memorable is “Harvey,” which opened on Broadway in 1944 where it ran for four-and-a- half years. It won both the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize for best play.
The play is still popular today due in large part to the film version featuring Jimmy Stewart’s iconic performance as Elwood Dowd. Ironically, Stewart was not the studio’s first choice for the role. Bing Crosby was favored, but he turned it down. Steven Spielberg planned to remake the film in 2009 but had to drop the project because he couldn’t find the right actor for Elwood.
CRT’s “Harvey” also features company favorites Annie Rimmer, Cyndy Smith-English and Michael Mitchell and newcomers Nathan Crosby, William Wilson and Kevin Newland Scott. “Harvey” runs through Thursdays through Sundays through July 21. CRT continues its season in August with “Kiss Me Kate” and concludes with the farce “The 39 Steps” in late September.
CRT performances take place Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. with Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. All performances are in the Osterman Theatre at Clackamas Community College. Season tickets and single tickets may be purchased at www.clackamasrep.org or by calling 503-594-6047. The low-price preview is June 27.\
For more information, contact CRT managing director Cyndy Smith-English at 503-594-3915. [/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
