A beloved Broadway classic will hop onto the stage this spring when Long Beach Playhouse presents \u201cHarvey,\u201d opening Easter weekend on Saturday, April 4.<\/p>\n
Written by Mary Chase in the early 1940s and directed by Bob Fetes, \u201cHarvey\u201d is a warm, whimsical Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy from one of the golden ages of American theater.<\/p>\n
The story follows the gentle and eccentric Elwood P. Dowd (played by Tod Walker), whose best friend just happens to be an invisible, six-and-a-half-foot-tall rabbit. As his increasingly exasperated sister Veta (played by Harriet Whitmyer)\u00a0 attempts to commit him to a sanitarium, a cascade of comic misunderstandings unfolds, raising questions about perception and social norms along the way.<\/p>\n
Opening night on April 4 will include a champagne gala, setting a fun tone for a run that will continue with Friday and Saturday evening performances and Sunday matinees through May 2.<\/p>\n
As an enduring audience favorite, \u201cHarvey\u201d has survived far beyond its original 1944 run. In 2012, for example, the Roundabout Theatre Company opened a Broadway revival at Studio 54 Theatre starring Emmy-Award winner Jim Parsons to positive reviews.<\/p>\n
That revival, and others like it, reaffirmed that the play\u2019s potent blend of humor, heart, and humanism can still speak to our contemporary world.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re interested in this quietly profound classic piece of theatre, grab your tickets for Long Beach Playhouse\u2019s production of \u201cHarvey\u201d at lbplayhouse.org.<\/a><\/p>\n Artist Morning<\/p>\n Artists and art lovers alike are invited to slow down and sketch in a serene, open-air setting during Artist Morning at Rancho Los Cerritos this Saturday, March 28.<\/p>\n Running from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (with last admittance at noon), this laid-back creative session offers early access to the Rancho\u2019s historic grounds.<\/p>\n It\u2019s an ideal backdrop for painters, sketch artists, and digital creators looking to work at their own pace.<\/p>\n Participants are encouraged to bring their own supplies, whether that means watercolors, oils, sketchbooks, or tablets.<\/p>\n The event leans into a casual, community-driven atmosphere at one of Long Beach\u2019s most picturesque sites. Bring a chair, easel, or blanket if you\u2019d like, and the Rancho will provide accommodations for safely disposing of materials afterward.<\/p>\n Artists will also have the option to submit work inspired by the site for potential inclusion in future Museum Store merchandise, a great opportunity to translate a morning\u2019s inspiration into something lasting.<\/p>\n The Rancho\u2019s monthly pop-up coffee cart will be on-site with beverages and pastries available for purchase, too, making it easy to ease into (or wind down from) a creative session.<\/p>\n With a suggested $10 donation and free onsite parking, Artist Morning offers a low-pressure, high-inspiration way to tap into your creativity.<\/p>\n