Kristine Nielsen Joins Alley Theatre Company's HARVEY, Opens 4/21

Affable Elwood P. Dowd has a kind word for everyone he meets. He lives a quiet life with his social-climbing sister and her daughter and is devoted to his loyal and trustworthy friend and constant companion, Harvey. The fact that Harvey happens to be a six-foot tall invisible rabbit doesn't seem to bother Elwood but is an ongoing embarrassment to his family who decides to have him committed. In this Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy, the medical establishment is turned topsy-turvy as Elwood and Harvey cause pandemonium.
Recommended for general audiences.

Harvey, by Mary Chase and directed by Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd, begins performances Friday, April 16, opens officially Wednesday, April 21 and runs through Sunday, May 9 on the Hubbard Stage.

The cast for Harvey features Obie award winner Kristine Nielsen as Veta Louise Simmons and Alley Theatre Artists Jeffrey Bean as Duane Wilson, James Belcher as Judge Omar Gaffney, James Black as Elwood P. Dowd, Elizabeth Bunch as Myrtle Mae Simmons, Emily Neves as Ruth Kelly R.N., Melissa Pritchett as Miss Johnson/Betty Chumley, John Tyson as William R. Chumley M.D., and Todd Waite as E.J. Lofgren. Harvey also features Anne Quackenbush as Mrs. Ethel Chauvenet and Mark Shanahan as Lyman Sanderson M.D.

The design team for Harvey includes Scenic Design by Hugh Landwehr (Alley's Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps, Rock ‘n' Roll, Eurydice, Mrs. Warren's Profession), Costume Design by Judith Dolan (Alley's The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Arsenic and Old Lace, Leading Ladies, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest), Lighting Design by Pat Collins (Alley's Rock ‘n' Roll, The Man Who Came to Dinner, Arsenic and Old Lace, Journey's End), Original Composition and Sound Design by Josh Schmidt (Alley's The Farnsworth Invention, Mauritius, Eurydice, The Clean House) and Dramaturgs Mark Bly (Alley Theatre Senior Dramaturg and Director of New Play Development) and Lauren Halvorsen (Alley Theatre Literary Manager).
Harvey is generously sponsored by Lead Sponsor Enbridge Energy Company, Inc and Supporting Sponsors Bank of Texas and Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. The Alley Theatre is supported by the 2009-2010 season sponsor Continental Airlines, the official airline of the Alley Theatre.

TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets to Harvey start at $21. All tickets to Harvey are available for purchase at www.alleytheatre.org, at the Alley Theatre Box Office, 615 Texas Avenue, or by calling 713.220.5700. Groups of 10 or more can receive special concierge services and select discounts by calling 713.315.3346. The added convenience of reservations by phone or Internet is available for a nominal fee. Tickets purchased in person at the Alley Theatre Box Office have a $1 building restoration fee.

HOMELESS & ORPHANED PETS ENDEAVOR (H.O.P.E.) $10 TIX
Saturday, April 17, 2:30 PM
The Alley Theatre continues its efforts to make the theatre affordable to patrons. Partnering with other social non-profit organizations, the Alley seeks to generate in-kind donations and reward patrons with $10 Tix for the matinee performance. The $10 Tix are available in person, the day of the performance only and are limited to two tickets per person. Purchase in person at the box office (615 Texas Ave.) on the day of the performance only. Cash or check only. Limited availability. Bring donations of dog or cat food.

CAPTIONED AND AUDIO DESCRIBED PERFORMANCE
Saturday, April 17, 2:30 PM
The Alley Theatre is pleased to offer open captioning and audio description for many of our productions throughout the season. To ensure that your seats will accommodate your needs, please call the box office 713.220.5700 when ordering tickets to this performance. Discounted tickets are available for groups of ten or more. Call 713.315.3346 for more information.

CLUB 615
Thursday, April 22, 6:15 - 7:15 PM
Starting at 6:15 PM at 615 Texas in the Alley Theatre, Club 615 is a new pre-curtain mixer for young professionals. Enjoy a fabulous pre-performance reception with music, socializing, complimentary cocktails and appetizers, and specially priced theatre tickets. A-section seats are $35 and B-section seats are $25. This pre-curtain event is free with your ticket to the Thursday, April 22, 7:30 PM performance of Harvey, but must be purchased for the performance using the promo code: Club615.

ACTOUT
Thursday, April 29, 6:00 - 7:15 PM

Houston's premiere theatre group for gay and lesbian theatre fans and their friends celebrate the Alley Theatre's production of Harvey. To find out more visit www.alleytheatre.org. For tickets call 713.220.5700 and mention "ActOUT." Participants must have a ticket to the performance in order to attend this pre-show event.
TALKBACK
Saturday, April 24, 2:30 PM
Tuesday, April 27, 7:30 PM
Members of the cast return to the stage following the performance to take questions from the audience. TalkBacks are led by a member of the Alley Artistic Staff.

PAGES & STAGES
Tuesday, April 27, 6:30 - 7:15 PM
Alley Theatre is pleased to partner with the Houston Public Library for this new pre-curtain event. The perfect evening for the book worm in every theatre buff, this event combines the imagination of the written word with the excitement of live theatre. Patrons read a book that has been specially selected to complement each Hubbard Stage production, then enjoy a pre-curtain discussion group and then attend the performance. For Harvey, the selected reading is Being There by Jerzy Kosinski. Light refreshments will be served. After the performance, readers can stay for an additional Talk Back led by Alley artistic staff. This pre-curtain event is free with your ticket to the Tuesday, April 27, 7:30 PM performance of Harvey.

 

 

---

Join Team BroadwayWorld

Are you an avid theatergoer? We're looking for people like you to share your thoughts and insights with our readers. Team BroadwayWorld members get access to shows to review, conduct interviews with artists, and the opportunity to meet and network with fellow theatre lovers and arts workers.

Interested? Learn more here.

---