‘Harvey’ director meet-and-greet Dec. 14 at SAAC
The South Arkansas Arts Center welcomes director Gary Hall and assistant director Ruth Griffin for their spring production of Harvey and will host a “Meet and Greet” on Thursday, December 14 from 5:30 until 7 p.m.
The meet and greet will offer the opportunity to learn more about auditions, ask questions, pick-up audition materials, as well as learn more about the production, particularly for those considering auditioning.
According to a SAAC press release, Harvey features “very likeable” Elwood P. Dowd, a man from a forgotten era who has never met a stranger and his best friend, a 6’3” white rabbit named Harvey. This is not good news for his sister Veta, who is struggling to reach the top of her local social ladder. What follows is a comedy of errors resulting in mistaken identities, misdiagnoses, and a search for the elusive rabbit that “reminds us to embrace the quirks that make us special,” the release states.
Director Gary Hall commented, “This play is full of charm and humor. It amazes me how it has reached through the years to find new audiences, but its message of acceptance is what appeals most to playgoers - that, and the six-foot rabbit. It’s not the frantic comedy or something like Rumors but it certainly has plenty of laughs and I look forward to unlocking those humorous moments with the cast and crew.”
Growing up with “SAAC in his blood,” director Hall performed in his first show on the SAAC stage in 1975 and hasn’t showed signs of slowing down since. He holds a BA in Radio, TV, and Film from UALR and an MA in Theatre from Louisiana Tech. With well over 100 shows to his credit, he has filled roles onstage, backstage, and everywhere in between, ranging from design to directing.
Harvey is a production with special significance to Gary. In 1982, he played Dr. Chumley in the EHS pro
duction, and he is thrilled to be going “full circle” with this charming play. Onstage, Gary’s favorite roles include Franklin in 1776, Thenardier in Les Mis, Fester in The Addams Family and Pulitzer in Newsies. He most recently played the Wizard in Once Upon a Mattress. He has directed extensively at SAAC, including Damn Yankees, Picnic, White Christmas, Sunset Boulevard, and most recently, Deathtrap. He serves as the Director of Entertainment and Media Arts at South Arkansas College and loves using these opportunities to bring his students into the SAAC family. When not working at SAC or SAAC, he is totally devoted to his Boston Terriers, Hugo and Mr. Blue.
Joining the Harvey team as assistant director, Ruth Griffin is a seasoned stage veteran who has become a regular face at SAAC. She started appearing onstage at the age of four, and she has worked in most of the technical roles to be found in theatre as well. Over the years, she has served as director, stage manager, and costumer, with favorites including The Sound of Music, Once Upon a Mattress, Annie, Bad Seed, Mamma Mia, The Phantom Strikes Again, The Diary of Anne Frank, and Little
Women. Ruth currently teaches costume design, musical theatre and technical theatre at EHS.
Auditions for Harvey will be January 11 and 12. Those auditioning will be asked to read a monologue from the show. Audition materials are available online and at SAAC.
The Directors “Meet and Greet” will be hosted December 14 in conjunction with the Artists Reception for SAAC Membership and the Student Showcase. For more information, please call the SAAC office at 870-862-5474 or visit the website at www.saac-arts.org. SAAC is located at 110 East Fifth Street, El Dorado, Arkansas.