UNK Theatre, 308.865.8406
NOTE TO MEDIA: There will be a Press Night performance on Monday, Nov. 17, at 7:30 p.m. This is the only opportunity for photos and video of the production to be taken.
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UNK- The Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy ‘Harvey’ opens Wednesday, Nov. 19, at the University of Nebraska at Kearney Miriam Drake Theatre.
The production, directed by Dr. Sam Umland, UNK English professor, will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, Nov. 19-22, with a 2 p.m. matinee performance on Sunday, Nov. 23.
Written in 1944, “Harvey” won the 1945 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It played 1,775 performances on Broadway from 1944 to 1949 and was adapted for a film starring Jimmy Stewart in 1950.
The plot centers on Elwood P. Dowd, which is being played by Sam Ratzlaff of Kearney, and his imaginary friend Harvey, a pooka in the form of a 6’3” white rabbit. Friends and relatives begin to question Dowd’s sanity when he starts introducing Harvey to guests at a society party. To save further embarrassment, his sister Veta, who is being played by UNK Theatre faculty member Janice Fronczak, decides to have Dowd committed, and the story continues to unfold.
Reservations may be made by contacting the UNK Box Office at 308.865.8417 or boxoffice@unk.edu. Tickets for general admission are $7; $5 for non-UNK students, seniors and UNK faculty/staff; $3 for groups of 10 or more; and free for UNK students with a valid ID. For more information, please contact Susan Deiger in the University Theatre office at 308.865.8406.
Members of the cast, and the roles they play, are listed below, alphabetically, by hometown and state:
Grand Island- Derrick Morrison (Judge Omar Gaffney)
Hastings- Katy Fagiolo (Myrtle Mae Simmons)
Kearney- Sam Ratzlaff (Elwood P. Dowd)
Lincoln- Sadie Lubeck (Miss Johnson/Vocalist)
O’Neill- Jordan Peterson (E.J. Lofgren/Pianist)
Ord- Ryan Hruza (Duane Wilson)
Red Cloud- Eric Reitcheck (Dr. William R. Chumley)
Wahoo- Matt Braunsroth (Dr. Lyman Sanderson)
Winside- Brittany Greunke (Betty Chumley)
KANSAS-
Goodland- Jillian Parker (Ruth Kelly, RN)
Manhattan- Carolyn Wirtz (Mrs. Ethel Chauvenet)
The student stage managers are:
Axtell- Kassandra Wendell, assistant stage manager
Columbus- Elizabeth Uchtman, stage manager
The faculty/staff artistic team includes:
Dr. Sam Umland, director
Darin Himmerich, technical director
Sara Ice, costume designer
Rick Scholwin, sound director
Mark Wethington, scenic and lighting director
