Alexandria native John Hawkes, whose recent claim to fame was a leading role in the motion picture The Perfect Storm, will appear on stage in Theatre L’Homme Dieu’s production of Harvey.

The comedy, written by Mary Chase in the early 1940s, is the story of Elwood P. Dowd (played by Hawkes) who has a "friend." The friend just happens to be a six-and-a-half-foot invisible rabbit named Harvey.

Elwood’s sister, Veta, is tired of putting up with Elwood’s delusions and tries to have him committed. In the process, Veta is the one who is committed and Elwood is freed.

Performance dates are Wednesday through Sunday, July 11-15 and 18-22. Curtain time is 8 p.m.

The director for Harvey is Jack Reuler.

"Harvey is a true American chestnut; a triumph of nonconformity over social acceptance, of generosity over intelligence, of the power of imagination over the acceptance of ‘reality,’ and of arbitrary perceptions of sanity," Reuler noted.

"From Babe to Stuart Little to Francis to Mr. Ed to the Taco Bell chihuahua, we as American audience members have wanted to believe in and be entertained by the loquacious beast, but never has a title character and leading role been so engaging and omnipresent as Harvey," he added. "His chivalrous, charming, and ever-sincere sidekick Elwood P. Dowd is among the most beloved protagonists with whom the American theatre-going audience has gotten to spend an evening."

Harvey marks Reuler’s 19th production at TLHD. He also worked with Dial M For Murder, On Golden Pond, Barefoot In The Park, The Odd Couple, The Miracle Worker, I Remember Mama, Lend Me A Tenor, Other People's Money, Driving Miss Daisy, The Boys Next Door, I'm Not Rappaport, The Mystery Of Irma Vep, How To Improve Your Golf Game, Educating Rita, The Rainmaker, Ain't Misbehavin’, and Of Mice And Men.

Reuler is the artistic director of the Mixed Blood Theatre Company.

Hawkes had a leading role in the film The Perfect Storm and co-stars in Hardball, due out in September. He currently resides in Los Angeles

He has also appeared at TLHD in The Philadelphia Story, You Can't Take It With You, Our Town, The Man Who Came to Dinner, Fiddler on the Roof and Annie.

Schultz also worked on the Disney Cruise Line Comedy Club, teaches improvisation at the Brave New Workshop, and can be seen this fall on local Minneapolis Channel 45 in the Improv Comedy Show, Comedy Hotel, which she produced and is acting in.

n

Tickets to all Theatre L’Homme Dieu productions are $15 each and are available at the box office, (320) 846-3150. Coupon books are also available as follows — six coupons for $75, 10 for $120 and two six-coupon books for $140.

Coupons are good for any Theatre L’Homme Dieu production and are available at the box office, by mail at P.O. Box 1086, Alexandria, MN 56308 and at Trumm Drug in Alexandria and Parkers Prairie. For group rates, call (320) 763-4840.