Maitland Repertory Theatre announces auditions for
Harvey by Mary Chase
directed by Drew Pittman
AUDITION DATES
There are two dates set for auditions:
Wednesday 14 January 2026 – all arrive at 7pm for a group audition. Please choose ONE monologue to perform at your audition. Memorising your monologues is not required. Monologues and sides are available here.
Saturday 17 January 2026 at 10am – call backs and for those who could not attend the Wednesday audition time.
Any questions? Contact Drew: urukai@hotmail.com or on 0416 707 010
Membership: Successful auditionees will need to become members of Maitland Repertory Theatre Inc. which involves a nominal annual membership subscription of $5 or $10.
PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM TO REGISTER YOUR INTEREST
About the Play
Harvey is the story of a perfect gentleman, Elwood P. Dowd, and his best friend, Harvey -- a pooka, who is a six-foot tall, invisible rabbit. When Elwood begins introducing Harvey around town, his embarrassed sister, Veta Louise, and her daughter, Myrtle Mae, determine to commit Elwood to a sanitarium.
The play is a wonderful and heartwarming adventure, all about accepting eccentricities when they aren't hurting anyone and not to let our vanity cause rifts in relationships.
Harvey - Character Descriptions
Please note: There are no specific racial/ethnic requirements for any of these roles. Age ranges are a guide only. If you believe you can act the role then I encourage you to audition.
Elwood P. Dowd - Lead. Male-presenting. 40-60
Everyone’s pal. Kind, gentle, sweet, charming, and charismatic. Equally at home in sawdust on the floor tavern, a sewing circle, or a 4-year old’s birthday party. Beloved though he is, there is something haunted and ethereal about him, which strangely only serves to make him more likable. Lonely. Drinks too much. His best friend and platonic life partner is a six-and-a-half-foot tall rabbit only he can see.
Veta Louise Simmons - Lead. Female-presenting. 40-55
A proper and well-respected, old money society matron. Constantly embarrassed by her older brother Elwood and his best buddy, the invisible rabbit Harvey, who she also sees sometimes but also no, she does not, because good society ladies don’t see giant invisible rabbits. Eager to find a husband for her daughter, Myrtle Mae.
Dr. William B. Chumley - Lead. Male-presenting. 60-80
Has seen a lot of mental illness in his many years of selfless toil and has plenty of money to show for it. Crusty, but likes to think of himself as intellectually nimble. Respected by his peers, revered by his patients, celebrated by his community.
Dr. Lyman Sanderson - Lead. Male-presenting. 30-45
Young, arrogant, handsome, and career-focused. Wants to be Dr. Chumley someday but does not have Dr. Chumley’s humanity. Spends a lot of time hitting on nurses, especially nurse Kelly, with whom he has love/hate relationship (chemistry with that actress is important).
Nurse Ruth Kelly - Lead. Female-presenting. 25-30
Brighter than she comes across, but society has taught her that her only value lies in marrying a doctor and giving him children, so that’s mostly what she’s interested in.
Duane Wilson - Supporting. Male-presenting. 30-50
An orderly at the mental hospital who should probably be a patient himself. Mean, craven, a bit of a sadist. It is implied that he may take liberties with female patients. Probably quite powerless in his life outside the hospital. Sees the patients as less than human.
Myrtle Mae Simmons - Supporting. Female-presenting. 18-21
Veta’s daughter. Concerned with social standing, though less so than her mother. Eager to find an appropriate husband.
Judge Omar Gaffney - Supporting. Male-presenting. 60-80
The judge is an old family friend of the Dowds and the family's lawyer. He is fiercely protective of the family and surprisingly understanding of Elwood's belief in Harvey.
Betty Chumley - Supporting. Female-presenting. 60-80
Dr. Chumley's kind and talkative wife. (May double as Mrs. Chauvenet.)
Ethel Chauvenet - Supporting. Female-presenting. 60-80
Mrs. Chauvenet is an old friend of the family. She is an elite member of the town's social circle that Veta desperately wants Myrtle to break into. (May double as Betty Chumley.)
EJ Lofgren “Cab Driver” - Supporting. 50-70
Affable taxi driver who sees Elwood’s (and Harvey’s) value.
Monologues and sides are available here.
Performance Season: 9 performances - 6 - 24 May 2026
Evenings at 8:00pm: May: Wednesday 6, Friday 8, Saturday 9, Friday 15, Saturday 16, Friday 22
Matinees at 2:00pm: May: Sunday 17, Saturday 23, Sunday 24
Who Do I Contact?
Director Drew Pittman
If you have any questions about the show please email urukai@hotmail.com or call Drew on 0416 707 010.
Auditions are usually held 3 to 4 months before a play is performed and will be posted here once details are decided. Like us on facebook and subscribe to our eNews to find out about upcoming auditions.
