Author: putnamcountyplayhouse

“Harvey” Will Close the 52nd Season!!!

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Veta Louise (Kathi Elliott) is aghast as Mrs. Chauvanet (Karen Temple) is introduced to
Harvey by Elwood (Michael McClaine).

HARVEY ENDED ITS RUN ON SEPT. 21.

The Putnam County Playhouse 52nd season will close with a production of Harvey by Mary Chase. The comedy won the Pulitzer Prize in its first season on Broadway in 1944. It was made into a popular film starring James Stewart in 1950. Stewart had replaced the original Elwood P. Dowd (Frank Fay) on Broadway during the summers of 1947 and 1948. He also later appeared in a Broadway revival of the play and also starred in a London production. Stewart and Helen Hayes were in a 1972 television production of the show as well. 

The play is being directed by Jim Rambo. He last appeared onstage in The Curious Savage and directed Don’t Drink the Water in 2011. Serving as assistant and technical director is Bryan Schroeder. Schroeder has appeared onstage in Death By Chocolate and also designed the set for Angel Street this season. He is also running the sound board for Harvey.  Set design and painting is by Linda Gjesvold who most recently designed the set for The Drowsy Chaperone.  Production stage manager is Eva Huang who is working at PCPH for the first time.

Harvey and Elwood (Michael McClaine)
Michael McClaine has the leading role of Elwood P. Dowd. He believes he has a best friend in a six-foot tall rabbit he has named Harvey. His friend is visible to him, but invisible to everyone else. His sister Veta Louise Simmons (Kathi Elliott, making her PCPH debut) and her daughter Myrtle Mae (Jerica Bean) are both appalled at Elwood’s insistance that Harvey share their home.

Kathi Elliott plays Veta Louise Simmons.

Veta is convinced by family friend Judge Omar Gaffney (Jim Elliott, making his PCPH debut) that Elwood should be put away. She chooses the sanitarium run by Dr. Chumley (Don Collins), who has his own problems with his assistant Dr. Sanderson (Dustin Bond) and his nurse Miss Kelly (Sarah Bond). Collins has appeared in many productions including The Sunshine Boys, Barefoot in the Park, and Don’t Drink the Water. The Bonds most recently appeared in The Drowsy Chaperone.

Don Collins plays Dr. William B. Chumley

Playing other characters in the play are Karen Temple, David Roberts, Sandi Rossok, Cheyanne Elliott (PCPH debut), and Alan Zerkel (PCPH debut). Shelly McFadden and Marilyn Burdsall are heard as featured performers at a party in the first scene.

Karen Temple plays Mrs. Ethel Chauvanet
Temple has appeared in many productions including Annie, I Remember Mama, and Pippin. Roberts appeared earlier this season in The Drowsy Chaperone. Rossok appeared in The Curious Savage and was assistant director for Angel Street earlier this season.

Sandi Rossok plays Mrs. Chumley
Also working on the production side of Harvey are Brenda McClaine, Diana Van Middlesworth, and Ruth Poor.

Harvey is being sponsored by Duke Energy.

Click HERE to learn more about our sponsor.

“HARVEY” UP NEXT AT PCPH!

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The Drowsy Chaperone has ended its run.  

Next up on the mainstage will be the comedy Harvey. It will be presented September 12-14 and 18-21.

Tickets will go on sale at 5 p.m. on Monday, September 9!!

Harvey is sponsored by:

Click HERE to learn more about our sponsor.

“THE DROWSY CHAPERONE” Continues For Second Week

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Jack Randall Earles as Man In The Chair. Photo by Julie Watson

THE DROWSY CHAPERONE HAS ENDED ITS RUN

The musical comedy The Drowsy Chaperone continues its second week of performances. It will be presented August 14-17.  All shows are at 8 p.m. All tickets are reserved. 

The Drowsy Chaperone is being sponsored by:

Click HERE to learn more about this sponsor.

AND

Click HERE to learn more about this sponsor.

See “The Drowsy Chaperone” First, So You Can Tell Your Friends!!!

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The 52nd season of Putnam County Playhouse continues with the musical “The Drowsy Chaperone.”  It will be on stage August 8-10 and August 14-17.  All performances begin at 8 p.m. Tickets can be reserved by calling the box office at 765-653-5880 during its regular hours 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. beginning Monday, August 5th. All seats are reserved and all seats are $10.

“The Drowsy Chaperone” book is by Bob Martin & Don McKellar with music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison.  It was nominated for thirteen Tony Awards in 2006, and won five.
The production is sponsored by First National Bank and Shuee’s Furniture and Mattress.

                                                                          
Click HERE to learn about this sponsor.
Click HERE to learn more about this sponsor.

This production is being directed by Shelly McFadden. Shelly directed “The Music Man” in 2011 and “Thoroughly Modern Millie” last season. Vocal director is Ric McFadden (who also appears in the show briefly). Ric has appeared in many shows at PCPH including “Camelot” (twice) and “I’ll Be Back Before Midnight.”   Marilyn Burdsall is music director and pianist for the show.  Marilyn has been the musical director or pianist for many shows including “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown”, “Man of La Mancha”, “Clue The Musical”, and “The Music Man.” The band includes Michael McClaine, percussion; Drew Brattain, bass; and Geoff Price, keyboards. Choreography is by Deb Grammel, who is an Assistant Adjunct Professor at DePauw where she teaches dance and movement.

Shelly McFadden, the director.

At the top of the show, the Man in the Chair (Jack Randall Earles) tells us about his favorite musical, the 1928 production of “The Drowsy Chaperone.” As he plays the record, the musical comes to life in his living room. Earles last appeared onstage at PCPH in “See How They Run”. He also directed “Angel Street” earlier this season. Characters in the show include the bride-to-be Janet (Meghan Armitage) and her love struck groom Robert (Brad Sandy).  Sandy and Armitage appeared in leading roles together in “Bye Bye Birdie.” Handed the task of keeping them apart until the wedding are the best man George (Cameron Callan) and the Drowsy Chaperone (Julia Kapke). Callan played the title role in “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” this season and has also appeared in “Camelot” and “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” Kapke is making her PCPH debut with “The Drowsy Chaperone.”

Meghan Armitage & Brad Sandy. 

The wedding is to be held at the estate of the wealthy Mrs. Tottendale (Tammy Hunter) who is having trouble with her butler, Underling (Lee Reberger).  Hunter was in “The Curious Savage” last season and earlier played a major role in “Don’t Drink the Water”. Reberger is making his PCPH debut in this production although he is well known to Brazil audiences for his work at Community Theater of Clay County.  Other guests include a Broadway producer, Mr. Feldzig (David Roberts); his chorine girlfriend, Kitty (Sarah Bond); and the King of Romance,  Aldolpho  (TJ Tincher). Roberts is making his PCPH debut. Sarah appeared in “Thoroughly Modern Millie” and five other musicals at PCPH. Tincher appeared as Jack Manningham in “Angel Street” earlier this season.

Tammy Hunter & Lee Reberger

The proceedings are further interrupted by a pair of Broadway gangsters (Troy Pierce and Dustin Bond) and a high-flying aviatrix (Ashlee Vitz). Pierce and Bond appeared together at PCPH in “The Music Man.” Dustin has also appeared in “Thoroughly Modern Millie” and “The Music Man.” Vitz was Guenevere in the 2011 production of “Camelot.”

Troy Pierce, Sarah Bond, Dustin Bond

The ensemble includes Jacob Peterman, Chris Wurster, Abby Cheek, Hannah Brattain, Lori Briones, and Joe Lippard. Wurster, Brattain, Briones, and Lippard have all been onstage at PCPH.  Peterman and Cheek are making their PCPH debuts.

Julia Kapke as Beatrice Stockwell as Hamlet

Scenic designer is Linda Gjesvold. Technical design is by Bryan Kent.  Costumer is Diana Van Middlesworth with new costume construction by Pat Armitage. Brenda McClaine is running the light board, and the sound board is being controlled by Craig Armitage.  Vitz is the production stage manager and assistant director. She is being assisted by Jessica Masner on the stage crew. Elijah Brattain and Ciara Lippard are the spotlight operators.