An adaptation of Mary Chase’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play comes to Albuquerque.

Harvey, By Nancy Chase and Directed by Nancy Sellin

Harvey, directed by Nancy Sellin, opensFriday, August 23, 2019 at the Adobe Theater.

Mary Chase’s Harvey,won the Pulitzer Prize in 1945 prompting Universal Pictures to purchase the rights for a record-breaking one million dollars. In 1950 the iconic film starring Jimmy Stewart and Josephine Hull debuted. Hull went on to win an Academy Award for her performance as Veta.

Elwood P. Dowd (Micah Linford) insists on including his friend Harvey in all of his sister Veta’s social gatherings. Trouble is, Harvey is an imaginary 6’ 5” tall rabbit.

To avoid embarrassment for her family, especially her daughter, Myrtle Mae (Sarah Kesselring), Veta (Carolyn Hogan) decides to have Elwood committed to a sanitarium.

In a classic “comedy of errors” style the sanitorium doctors hastily commit Veta instead of mild-mannered Elwood. The truth eventually comes out, the search for Elwood ensues and, during the confusion, Elwood and his invisible companion have a strange influence on the doctors.

Only at the end does Veta realize, through what may not have been random circumstance at all, that Harvey isn’t so bad.

Director Nancy Sellin says: “Harvey is a delight... No murders, no hidden agendas, no dark skeletons in the closet. The only conflict seems to be the invisible presence of a giant, harmless white rabbit. The brilliance of Mary Chase to pull off such an idea! The writing is superb, the characters are eccentric and well-drawn, and the story line is, well, fantastical. But there is an important message lurking below the surface - that acceptance, compassion, and a generous spirit are the most important things in life.”

Mary Chase said in a CBC interview “I was raised on Irish folk tales told to me by my uncles. I think that’s always had an impact on my work… I have to say, I’m very grateful for that heritage.”

Harvey also features Tim Reardon (Gaffney), Megan Pribyl (Kelly), Eric Werner (Sanderson), Lewis Hauser (Chumley), Joel Miller (Wilson), Ken Bennington (Cabbie), Terri Ross (Chauvenet), Paula Dunlap (Betty) and Harvey will play himself.

Is Harvey real or not? Is Elwood certifiable or not? Is Veta? The only way to find out is to make plans now to see Harvey at the Adobe Theater!

Harvey opens Friday, August 23 through Sunday, September 22at The Adobe Theater, 9813 4th Street NW. Friday and Saturday evenings performances start at 7:30pm, Sundays at 2:00pm. General Admission $20, Discount $17 (Seniors, Students, ATG/PBS Members, Military, First Responders) and PWYW Thursday, September 19, at 7:30pm. Opening Weekend Special: All Tickets $15!

Tickets: www.adobetheater.org