Above / Metea Valley High School Auditorium is located at 1801 North Eola Road in Aurora.
The curtain will rise on the 2015-2016 Metea Valley High School (MVHS) theater season with the student production of Harvey, a 1944 play made famous by Jimmy Stewart’s 1950 film. Performances will take place beginning at 7PM November 12, 13 and 14 in the MVHS Auditorium, located at 1801 North Eola Road in Aurora. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased online (mvhsharvey.brownpapertickets.com) or at the door beginning at 6PM prior to the performance.
Elwood P. Dowd, played by MVHS junior Daniel Grumbine, introduces his best friend to everyone he meets – townspeople, friends and his family, who is trying to climb the social status ladder. The problem? Elwood’s best friend is a six-foot, three-and-one-half-inch tall invisible rabbit named, Harvey. Comedy ensues when the embarrassed family, led by Elwood’s sister, Veta, played by MVHS senior Paige Eber, attempts to commit him to a sanitarium.
American playwright Mary Chase received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Harvey in 1945. Her work has been adapted many times for television and film, including the film starring Stewart.
“Harvey is a highly-entertaining, family-friendly show, and our students have done an amazing job bringing life to these amusing, memorable characters,” said Matt Wolski, who makes his MVHS theater debut directing Harvey. “I’ve been impressed with our students’ commitment and dedication. Everyone – from the actors on stage to the tech crew setting lights and sound and building sets – this has been a great introduction to Metea’s theater department. I’m looking forward to many more performances.”
Harvey is first of three MVHS theater productions
This year, all MVHS theater productions will explore the theme of family. With three contrasting looks at family life – starting with the comedy of Harvey to the drama of the winter musical Next to Normal (January 20, 22 and 23, 2016) and the uniqueness of The Addams Family musical in the spring (May 5, 6, and 7, 2016) – MVHS cast and audiences will discover that families come in all types and styles.
For more information, visit the MVHS Theater webpage or contact Metea Valley main office at (630) 375-5900.
Submitted by Beth Schlesinger, Parent Volunteer Theater Committee Co-chair
