Church Hill Theatre will introduce its 2024 season with one of the most popular plays in the history of world theater, Charley’’s Aunt.  Directed by Michael Moore, the show will open in March, 2024.  Because of holiday season schedules, auditions will be held earlier than usual, on Saturday, November 4 at 10 am, and on Monday, November 6 and Tuesday, November 7, at 5:30 pm on the stage at Church Hill Theatre.

Charley’s Aunt is a mad-cap comedy in which star-crossed young (and old) lovers overcome bad luck and strict social expectations in their search for happiness. Mistaken identities, gender-bending twists, and incredible coincidences keep the action moving. Moore, who most recently directed Psycho Beach Party at the Garfield Center for the Arts, promises a modern vibe to his production.

Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script and possibly some group warm-up exercises.  Nothing has been pre-cast, so both actors and stage crew are invited.  If you are unfamiliar with the play, there are probably hundreds of online articles and videos with more information.

Here are the roles:

• 3 young male university students: Jack Chesney, Charley Wykeham and Lord Fancourt Babberley, all in love with….
• 3 young women, who return their affection: Amy Spettigue, Kitty Verdun and Ela Delahay
• Brassett, Jack’s valet, is a main male character of any age who often controls the action.
• Colonel Sir Francis Chesney (Jack’s father) and Stephen Spettigue (Amy’s uncle and Kitty’s guardian) complicate the young couples’ attempts to explore their passion.
• Donna Lucia d’Alvadorez is a handsome and mysterious middle-aged woman.

Harvey, one of Broadway’s all-time biggest comedy hits, starts September 8 at Church Hill Theatre and will run through September 24. Opening on Broadway in 1944, Harvey played until 1949, winning the Pulitzer Prize for Best Play and delighting war-time audiences.  The 1950 film version starring Jimmy Stewart then endeared Harvey to millions of people around the world. This Church Hill Theatre revival directed by Bonnie Hill will bring this iconic six-foot-tall rabbit to a whole new generation. 

The play’s premise is simple—The Dowd family and their friends cannot enjoy a normal social life because Elwood brings his best friend Harvey everywhere.  Harvey is what we would call a “party animal” but in addition to liking a drink, Harvey is an invisible pooka and, oh yes, also a very large rabbit. Elwood’s sister Vera decides that a long, even permanent, stay at Chumley’s Rest, a psychiatric facility, is the only solution. But a mix-up puts the wrong Dowd inside and the medical establishment is no match for pooka magic. By the end of the play, even the shrinks are struggling to define reality.

The always charming  Elwood P. Dowd is played by Frank St. Armour.  His frustrated sister Veta (Debra McGuire), niece Myrtle Mae (Brianna Johnson) and aunt Mrs. Chauvenet (Sheila Austrian) work with their lawyer, Judge Gaffney (John Kamp), to have him committed. The sanitarium staff then do their best but psychiatrists Dr. Chumley (Brian McGunigle) and Dr. Sanderson (James Diggs), along with a helpful nurse (Sharon Herz) and tough orderly (Michael Moore) are unable to bring order out of chaos.  Mrs. Chumley (Sheila Austrian) and an irascible cab driver (Bob Chauncey) eventually help sort things out. And because Harvey is a pooka, he plays himself.

Assisting Bonnie Hill on the production team are Stage Manager Steve Atkinson, Producer Sheila Austrian, Set Designer Earl Lewin, Set Construction Chief Carmelo Grasso, Lighting Designer Doug Kauffman, Assistant Stage Manager Jean Messick, Costumer Christina Johnson and Properties Chief Wendy Sardo.  

Lead image” Elwood introduces Harvey to his sister and aunt: Left to Right: Vera Louise Simmons (Debra McGuire ), Mrs. Chauvenet (Sheila Austrian), Elwood P. Dowd (Frank St. Armour)

Harvey opens at Church Hill Theatre on Friday, September 8 and will run until September 24. Performances are on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and on Sundays at 2 pm.  Tickets are available on the CHT website: churchhilltheatre.org or through the box-office at 410-556-6003.