The WGHS Drama Department was thrilled to finally present Mary Chase's fabulous, funny, and Pulitzer Prize-winning script Harvey. A story about the wonderfully charming Elwood P Dowd.
This was a long time coming. The department had plans to do this play almost a decade ago, and we ran into licensing issues and didn't get the rights. We decided to do a revival of Y.C.T.I.W.Y instead. This time however, it worked out for us and we got to stage this amazing story of family, love, loss and trying to define what matters in life.
Our color flyer/poster used to get the word out
THEATER DURING COVID
We were trying to come out of a pandemic in the theater and so it was decided early on that we would be producing nothing but comedies for the 2021-2022 season; Harvey turned out to be a perfect fit. The script is humorous, had lots of great parts for our actors and there were many technical challenges (Making a two sided set, making doors open and close on their own, costuming the characters in period looking clothing, several wigs, and ultimately tricking the audience into thinking there is an imaginary 6 1/2 ft tall white rabbit on stage in front of them when in fact he was invisible).
THE AUDITIONS
We held a single day of auditions. Mr. Schaefer posted the cuttings for all of the characters, and we had over 35 people show up for 12 parts. It was a good turn out and we definitely found actors for each role. The show is fast and funny, the characters are to be played larger than life but with sincerity. We were looking for character actors for this one.
One by one the actors took the stage and delivered a monologue for the casting table.
We held open auditions in the Auditorium to test the actors on how big they could play and how well they could project their voices. We knew we were most likely not going to be using personal mics for this show, and teaching projection during a rehearsal process sometimes proves to be difficult.
It took about 2 hours to see everyone read and after some short discussion we had an ensemble.
THE CAST/CREW
The ensemble and production crew was truly diverse. We had all sorts of groups represented in this cast and crew; there were Freshman through Seniors, and we had all levels of theater experience.
We were so happy to have so many students in the cast
that had never done anything like this before.
REHEARSALS
We started almost immediately after auditions. Mr. Schaefer worked out the rehearsal and beat schedules, got the technical crews set up and we began meeting on Mon, Tues, and Thurs from 3:30-5:00. Once we got closer to the opening of the show we of course met a bit more.
The first thing we needed was a rough idea of how the set was going to work, so Mr. Schaefer made a mock up of the set and some drawings to help the cast see what it was going to look like in the end. This also helps the stage managers map the show's set movement and all of the props
.
This took quite a bit of thought and planning; lots of practice to get it smooth. The set crew we assembled was an amazing team and they worked hard to get the scene transitions fast and quiet (Thurs's show was a little rough, but we got it down for the next two nights; by Sat we were pros)
Trey (Wilson)and Isaac (Dr Sanderson) Teddy (Elwood) and Bella (Nurse Kelly)
Fynn (Veta), Joe (sound) and Willow (SM)
Sophia, Adreonna (Cab driver), and Dylan (Aunt Ethel) working on the flower arrangements for the set and the corsage Claire and Fynn need in the first scene of Act I.
Nate and Jack (running crew) sitting in a rehearsal closer to opening
This side of the set is for the sanitarium scenes. The three wagons all connected (some with hook and eye) and formed the stage picture. We did have to cover some spaces with fabric but it all worked out great in the end and the two locations looked completely different from the other.
Miss Pettey and Mr Schaefer had some fun adding the little details into the set dressing.
Both sets had to have a door (or two) and a set of stairs that took them "upstairs" to the next floor.
Willow Sinclair (one of the stage managers) did a great job tracking all of the stuff we knew we wanted in each scene. We make a lot of the final decisions on some things in the blocking and staging rehearsals at the very beginning of the process.
Mariella Lucear (the other stage manager) also helped track the stuff the characters used in the scenes. This usually got written into the ipad/prompt book as a note and as we got closer to moving into the Aud we started to go back over the list to determine the props we will need for the actual run.
Sarah Bailey (running crew/stage manager) then mapped all of them for the run. There was a lot of stuff on the set that did not get used by an actor and many things on the set that did. The crew had to move the wagons, set curtains, set props, remove props...it was a lot to figure out.
Claire, Adreonna and Fynn in the last scene of the show.
The Senior display case turns into our marquee and we included all of the headshots and some fun stuff to get the students talking about the production.
The cast gathered in the Drama room to get a final focus
Jack Shelton brought the tunes and kept the greenroom kicking!
The cast and crew always does a FIRE UP right before we go on stage.
Cate Curtis and a friend helped with box office during the run.
Veta comes home after being thrown in the tub Dr Chumley and Judge Gaffney making a deal
The cab driver comes in at the very end of the play Dr Chumley loses his chance to use Harvey
The model Mr Schaefer built to show the way the three wagon units would work to form the two locations in the play; the mansion and the sanitarium.
We rehearsed in the Drama Room and the Black Box while we blocked and staged the entire show...
Willow was one of our fabulous stage managers, and she really held the group to task...
We then moved rehearsals into the Aud...
The actors really began to feel the size of the show when we moved rehearsals into the Auditorium...
Fynn (Veta) and Bella (Nurse Kelly)
Bella also began to test the wigs for the show...she ended up using this wig, but in blonde.
Claire (Myrtle Mae) and Aidan (Judge Gaffney)
the characters really came to life and little things like a cane began to age the actors in their performance. Many of the actors played characters much older than themselves.
The Technical aspects of the show began to take shape. The designers and running crew began to attend rehearsals to see what is being planned and how to navigate the set changes, track props, track sound effects and lights.
Willow (SM), James (Light Board OP), and Hannah (SM)
Hannah Smith was a huge help during the production, helping where needed during rehearsals.
The cast always needs a support staff
they can trust will have their backs.
Teddy and Trey Everyone watching a rehearsal
Sophia (Mrs Chumley) waiting for her scene
to see all of the set changes and when they happen in the show.
An ARTICLE in the ECHO!!!
The ECHO Article that came out while we were in rehearsal, it is always nice to get the coverage.
The press we receive from the ECHO can help boost ticket sales.
THE DESIGNS
We used the department's set, costume, and prop stock as much as we could, hoping to keep costs down on this production. COVID had really eaten into our surplus of cash. By having the show in the Aud and picking a title that would appeal to the community as well as the high school we hoped to also grab some additional sales from the parents and older folks in Webster. It worked, we had great audiences turn out for the show.
THE SET
Mr Schaefer designed the show and the 6th Hour Technical Theater Class (Spring 2022) built the set during the class period over the course of one week!!!
We had a great team and they worked really hard to get it all done on time!
We had a very packed calendar in the Auditorium in the Spring and Hudson Harmonies had a concert booked early April that pushed off our build until 2 weeks before opening. It was a mad dash to get this set done by curtain, but in the end it turned out great!
The wagons all had a platform base that we added castors to in order to make'em roll!
LOCATION #1
The Dowd Mansion
The Dowd Mansion was charming and felt lived in...
Harvey always makes quite an impression...
The front door stain glass design, The flower arrangement in the foyer
with the graphic built by Kai Lawson.
The actors were given lots of places to sit, stand and move.
The scenes moved all over the set and tried to use all of the space we had available.
Aidan (Judge Gaffney), Claire (Myrtle) and Flynn (Veta)
LOCATION #2
The Chumley's Rest Home - a sanitarium office
The signage on Dr Chumley's door
Hand drawn and designed by Anna Dorsey
The Sanitarium office and waiting room was supposed to be a completely different color palette than the mansion set, so with some research on actual sanitariums we modeled the location with many period elements...as much as we could (then we just faked it)
Dr Chumley runs a tight ship...and doesn't know what to do with the new guy!
TK Kessler, Sophia Monaco, and Isaac Groene
Keeping some things simple...
Due to the fact that it was a two sided set (and you essentially have to paint 2 sets), we decided to keep the paint jobs simple. We didn't do a lot of extra texturing or texture treatments. The floor stayed solid black (no rugs due to the wagons needing to turn), and the walls were mostly color blocked with a trim of another color. No wallpaper, stone, brick or tile on this one...
It had to have some traditional medical imagery to sell this location to the audience.
The audience was only seated in the orchestra section.
It allowed for some fun entrances and exits for the actors.
PROPS
The show had quite a few props to manage and we are very fortunate we had a great team.
Willow Sinclair (one of the stage managers) did a great job tracking all of the stuff we knew we wanted in each scene. We make a lot of the final decisions on some things in the blocking and staging rehearsals at the very beginning of the process. Mariella Lucear (the other stage manager) also helped track the stuff the characters used in the scenes. This usually got written into the ipad/prompt book as a note and as we got closer to moving into the Aud we started to go back over the list to determine the props we will need for the actual run. Sarah Bailey (running crew/stage manager) then mapped all of them for the run. There was a lot of stuff on the set that did not get used by an actor and many things on the set that did. The crew had to move the wagons, set curtains, set props, remove props...it was a lot to figure out. Miss Pettey made the portrait of Elwood & Harvey The corsage
It turned out so great it got it's own applause!
The "gas bill" - with hand drawn stamps
The desk in the sanitarium had all sorts of props needed in the show.
Aunt Ethel's hat made by Miss Pettey
all of the stuff came out of stock and she designed a beautiful addition to Dylan's drag
HAIR
It was a lot of fun to be the Black Box backstage during the time the cast got ready every night. The energy was great and the whole thing really started to move like a well-oiled machine. At the center of it was Miss Pettey and Audrey Culver.
Miss Pettey rocked it out with Fynn's wigs. We had two for this character and there was a wig change during the first act. She took one of the wigs from stock and styled it into a beautiful "gibson" style of that time for Veta. Looked amazing.
So many bobby pins!!!
She also worked on many of the boys' hair as well...no one knew how to comb their own hair.
Miss Pettey was with us up through opening night. This got us through that show and we mapped it for the next two nights when she would be in Kansas City.
It worked out great!
MAKE-UP
Audrey Culver hit it out of the park as Make-up Chief on this show!
A true natural with make-up. This show offered Audrey some things to play with. She painted many of the cast's "old age" faces and helped with hair as well. She was great at staying calm and keeping the room of people moving through.
We had many old age characters and some glamour applications, so there was a lot of make-up and hair products pulled from stock. Audrey did a good job with keeping it all organized.
Mr. Schaefer stepped in on Friday and Saturday to helped paint faces and prep some hair.
The amount of time we had to get everyone ready was minimal and we just had to keep painting.
We even used two real hair /fake mustaches on the boys!
Very focused!
Bella did all her own make-up and hair and
turned herself into a wonderfully cartoonish Nurse Kelly.
She had the double wig, the long lashes, the bright red lip and of course... fake nails.
COSTUMES
The costumes for the show weren't terribly difficult to pull off. We have done this time period before and a lot of our stock can play in many periods with a little work. Mr. Schaefer pulled most of the show from our stock and then asked two drama students to join the process about three weeks out. Every show must have costume managers to keep everything organized. The cast is always asked to bring in shoes, undergarments, etc.
The show is set in the 1940's and several of the characters dress from previous periods as well. It took some research and the cast measurements to take full use of the department's costume stock.
Ellen (with the ears), Isaac and Madi (working the tie)
Maddie and Ellen had just wrapped up a show with Miss Pettey in the Fall, and were happy to join the Harvey team. They prepared the costume rack with name tags, wrote out everything on the hangers for check in/out form, and were the ones who physically handed out all of the costumes and checked it all back in at the end of the show each run. There were a lot of small accessories to track, and they did an amazing job!
The skirt that Adreonna is wearing was had made by Madi Gibson.
We had a great team that came together to hang the lights and we had James Duckett on the board for run as our operator.
At first we were having James run the show in the booth,
LIGHTS/SOUND
This show did not have a ton of stage lighting needed. The show basically had simple cues of lights up/down for the various scenes with one nighttime scene at the end of the first act. It did involve timing but there were not a lot of individual cues to record.
We had a great team that came together to hang the lights and we had James Duckett on the board for run as our operator.but moved him down to the floor with Luca.
The sound on this show was also simplified a bit, and we decided to not have personal mics on each actor. However Luca Thies had another job in collecting and engineering all of the sound effects needed for each scene. Things like phone's ringing, alarms (gong), Harvey's footsteps, door's closing, and music from the next room. He also worked on some great house music for the preshow and intermission.
The sound on this show was also simplified a bit, and we decided to not have personal mics on each actor. However Luca Thies had another job in collecting and engineering all of the sound effects needed for each scene. Things like phone's ringing, alarms (gong), Harvey's footsteps, door's closing, and music from the next room. He also worked on some great house music for the preshow and intermission. 
Luca and James at the boards getting ready for an audience to arrive.
PR MARKETING
The Technical theater class did a round of t-shirt designs. Anna Dorsey's design was the one that impressed the cast/crew the most. There were several designs that got votes, but Anna's was the top pick for the show's t-shirt. Once the design is chosen, we print it in reverse on transfers. Mr. Schaefer and his partner Brian use the machines in the Makerspace to print the shirts during the start of show week.
Anna Dorsey designed this in pencil and then add the sharpie.
The hat also went through some transitions to get it to the style we were using in the show.
We also had a poster printed in B/W and then added some color by hand
We had several banners made for the hallways and a sandwich board
Backstage before the show...
Mr Schaefer making sure everyone's getting their jobs done...
We love this tradition of coming together for one last moment of focus and energy building.
We like to have our drama Seniors working the box and selling tix.
Fynn and Claire Teddy was perfect as Elwood
The programs were a different color each night and acted as the audience's ticket
THE SHOW PICS
River Padilla was the maid for two nights and started the show
Aunt Ethel (Dylan) comes to the party and causes Veta (Fynn) and Myrtle (Claire) some extra stress
Elwood (Teddy) really gave the Dr. Sanderson (Isaac) trouble throughout the show...
Elwood replacing the painting over the mantel.
The audience gets to see Harvey for the first time...
Dr Chumley and his wife plan to attend a dinner party...
Elwood (Teddy) was very fond of Nurse Kelly (Bella)
Dr Chumley (Thomas) telling Elwood his dreams...
what he would have Harvey do for him if time was stopped.
Nurse Kelly was always kept busy in the office
Elwood (Teddy) and Wilson (Trey Clark) finally become friends by the end...
We have started a tradition in the last several seasons where we throw a party in the theater brings the cast and crew together to honor everyone who worked on the show. This usually happens after one of the performances. This time we had the awards on Thursday. We had pizza and handed out fun prizes and gifts to everyone involved. We also hand out the Thespian PIG and we announce the MVT (most valuable technician). Sarah Bailey took the PIG and Audrey Culver was MVT and signed the trophy.
The Black Box works great as the Green Room during our Auditorium shows and allows everyone to have space to spread out. We also can feel safe making a mess if needed.
The yearbook gave us a page and gave us a great write up with some pictures of the show.
Fynn says,
GO SEE A PLAY!!!
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