Live Theater Returns In Beverly Theatre Guild's 'Harvey'

CHICAGO — After more than a year of dark stages due to the pandemic, live theater returns to the South Side with the Beverly Theatre Guild’s live staging of the old chestnut, “Harvey,” the story of a man and his unseen (presumably imaginary) 6-foot tall rabbit.

Members of the guild will hit the boards this weekend at Morgan Park Academy, 2153 W 111th St., Chicago. Tickets to the Friday, April 30 show are SOLD OUT, but there are still seats available for Saturday and Sunday, May 1 and Sunday, May 2 shows.

“Harvey” is the story of an affable gentleman, Elwood P. Dowd, and his best friend, Harvey, a pooka who is a 6-foot-tall invisible rabbit. When Elwood starts introducing Harvey around town, his embarrassed, social-climbing sister, Vera Louise, and her daughter, Myrtle Mae, become determined to commit Elwood to a sanitarium. A mistake is made and Vera winds up in the sanatorium instead. Eventually things get straightened out but Elwood and the invisible pooka — an anthropomorphic rabbit — are nowhere to be found. A frantic search begins, which ends up with Elwood appearing voluntarily at the sanitarium. In the end, however, Vera realizes that she loves her brother and his invisible best friend just as they are and does not want either of them to change.

“Harvey,” by Mary Chase, premiered on Broadway on Nov. 1, 1944, at the 48th Street Theatre and took the 1945 Pulitzer Prize for drama. The show closed on Jan. 15, 1949, after 1,775 performances, making it the fifth longest-running Broadway show up to that point. Universal Pictures acquired the film rights for a then record $1 million and the play was adapted for film by Chase, Oscar Brodney and Myles Connolly in 1950. Directed by Henry Koster, it starred Josephine Hull, who won an Academy Award for her performance and James Stewart.

The play is directed by Dan Taube and produced by Glen Haring. Cast members feature residents from Chicago, Blue Island, Tinley Park and Bolingbrook, featuring Susan K. Andrews, Joe Bushell, Katherine Delicath, Martin Donovan, Monique Horton, Elizabeth Keller, Austin Lutvi, Scott Lynch-Giddings, Jessica McCluskey, Faiz Siddique and Julie Zebleckis.

Tickets are $22 for non-guild members, and $20 for members. The Beverly Theatre Guild is presently between online ticket vendors, but tickets can be reserved here and picked up at the will-call window, or call to reserve at773-BTG-TIXS (284-8497). Performances are at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 1, with a 2 p.m. matinée Sunday, May 2.

The theatre guild is following all COVID-19 guidelines. Seats are roped off and theater-goers will be able to sit with their families and friends. There will be plenty of hand sanitizer, along with electronic playbills. Audience members will be required to wear face masks. Packages concessions will be for sale.

“We’re doing the play for the love of it,” said Aaron Arellano, publicity chair and guild member. “We felt it was an important route to take because we didn’t know long the pandemic would last.”

The Beverly Theatre Guild’s roots go back to 1929 in the Chicago Park District. Various members ventured out on their own. This is the guild’s 58th season, which produces two musicals and a play every season.