playbill vip

A Note From the Director...

It’s a little daunting to direct such a classic and beloved play as Harvey by Mary Chase. Ms. Chase received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1945. It has been adapted for film and television several times, most notably in a 1950 film starring Jimmy Stewart. Harvey premiered on Broadway in 1944 and closed in 1949, after 1,775 performances, making it the fifth longest-running Broadway show up to that point. Since then, it has been revived and produced on Broadway and other professional theatres as well as by high school and community theatre groups around the country.

            My anxiety, however, has been eased by the work of this fabulous cast and crew. I don’t think they will disappoint you. This may be an old play, but its message is just as fresh and relevant as it was 81 years ago. That’s why I love theatre. It’s a living, breathing thing that changes with every performance. Every new production brings a new viewpoint, a new cast, and a new audience. You are one of the essential elements of theatre—without you, it’s just a rehearsal. So I hope you enjoy our interpretation of this wonderful play and maybe even welcome a pooka into your life if you get the chance!

                                                                                       --Jill Stapleton Bergeron