Beloved classic "Harvey" is now playing at the Academy Theatre in Meadville. The play, best known through the screen adaptation starring Jimmy Stewart, tells the story of amiable Elwood P. Dowd and his best friend, a six-foot tall white rabbit only he can see.

When Elwood starts to introduce Harvey to guests at a society party, his sister, Veta, has seen as much of his eccentric behavior as she can tolerate and decides to have him committed to a sanitarium. Problems arise, however, when Veta herself is mistakenly assumed to be on the verge of lunacy when she explains about Harvey and is committed by doctors. Once the mistake is realized the search is on for Elwood and his invisible companion. But when Elwood arrives at the sanitarium, it seems that Harvey may have had a strange influence on more than one of the doctors.

"Harvey" premiered on Broadway on Nov. 1, 1944, and ran for over five years and 1,775 performances. Playwright Mary Chase won the Pulitzer Prize for the work in 1945. Her film adaptation was made in 1950 and along with Stewart, starred Josephine Hull as Elwood's sister, Veta. Hull won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role, and Stewart received a nomination for Best Actor.

The Academy production is directed by Joe Galbo, assisted by Ellie Morfenski, and features Tom Hall as Elwood and Marybeth McCarthy as Veta. Other local actors who take prominent roles are Alicia Greathouse as Veta's daughter Myrtle May, newcomer Alex Gryzbowski as Dr. Sanderson and Courtney Muncy as Nurse Kelly. Michael Shay plays Dr. Chumley, Jeannine Kebort his wife Betty, Geoff Hall the orderly Wilson and Scott Emerson Judge Gaffney. Rounding out the cast are Louis Rich as Lofgren and Lois Allen as Mrs. Chauvenet. And there are special appearances by Ernest P. Hempstead and Daniel P. Allen taking turns as Harvey.

"Harvey"' runs Friday and Saturday (Oct. 31 & Nov. 1) at 8:15 p.m. and Sunday (Nov. 2) at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased through the Academy Theatre Box Office at (814) 337-8000 or online at www.meadvilleacademytheatre.com.