Harvey: Meet the Cast and Crew!
Val Sheppard - Director
When I was a child riding home from school on the bus I used to stare out the window, and in my mind's eye I would picture an imaginary acrobat running alongside the bus and jumping over the various obstacles in their way, never faltering or failing to keep pace. Years later I discovered I was not alone in this activity and that many other people had similar experiences, to the point that these imaginary friends had been given the collective name of “Runalongs.” I was always impressed by the tenacity of my Runalong as they pursued their singular mission to keep up with the bus, much the same way I’m impressed with the tenacity of my cast and their ability to keep up with the stream of consciousness word vomit that can constitute my directing style. I still don’t know how they do it, but I’m exceptionally grateful for them regardless.
Jessica Golden - Myrtle Mae Simmons
Jessica has appeared in Disney’s Beauty & the Beast (2022), Calendar Girls, and Spamalot (2018). She directed The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) (2021) and Maud of the Island (2023), which she wrote for the Alaska Writer's Workshop (2021). She also penned for radio Shakespeare in Quarantine (2020) and the upcoming Good Vibes (2024 or 2025). Her first play, an Alaskan version of King Lear, appeared at the Valdez Theatre Conference (2021). Her imaginary friends number in the hundreds. She routinely kills them off in droves.
Deb Rowzee - Veta Louise Simmons
Deb didn’t have an invisible friend as a child nor did she arrive by ox team. However, she did try to conjure unicorns from the forest while she roller skated to the applause of leaves. She is honored to be a part of such a talented cast. A special thanks to Val for letting her inhabit Veta, Homer Senior Citizens, Inc. for the rehearsal space, Richie for his help with lines, Gene for being so supportive, and God for just being there.
Tyler Munns - Elwood P. Dowd
Tyler wants to thank Val Sheppard, Pier One Theatre and Lance and Barb Petersen for the "golden moments" their hard work has provided the community for decades; hard work that provides Homer residents and cookie-chomping visitors alike with the opportunity to share in the beauty and magic of theater.
Cathy Stingley - Miss Johnson/E.J.Lofgren
Wouldn't it be great to have an imaginary friend since I'm a senior citizen? He or she could remind me about appointments, help me when I can't remember someone's name, kick me when I use the wrong word, warn me if my pants are on backwards and tell me that it's my daughter's birthday. It would be nice if it were a 'he' and if he were tall, dark and handsome. Ah, well, I'll settle for a good friend or a rabbit or a dog or maybe a stuffed bear.
Maggie Quarton - Mrs. Ethel Chauvenet
Maggie is pleased to be performing in Harvey in the role of Mrs. Chauvenet. They say there are no small parts and I will do my best to prove that theory. It’s my pleasure to be performing in my fourteenth year with Pier One. I have had big parts and small parts and they are all fun. Being a part of the Pier One family might bring my greatest joy, although welcoming two great-grandchildren into the family this Spring could possibly match it.
I had a friend that nobody else could see until I was 5. She lived in the light of the bathroom and I would talk to her while I was in there. I think she showed up a few times in other parts of the house, which was always a surprise to me, but for the most part she stayed in the bathroom. She never told me why she liked hanging out in the bathroom, or if she did tell me I don’t remember.
Crane Jackinsky - Ruth Kelly R.N.
Crane has been called by many names and thrown a cardboard box or two at the name-callers in her early days. Her acting career began at 2 in front of the family sofa impersonating Michael Jackson. Crane enjoys improvisation in all forms as well as releasing the tension and knots in society. She likes bicycles and has a little nature addiction. Single momming off-grid is how she likes it. All of her imaginary friends are real.
Dayus Anthony - Duane Wilson
This will be Dayus’ 10th year with Pier One, and he couldn’t be more excited! He started his Theatre Career in 2014 as Michael Darling in Peter Pan at the wee age of 6. In those ten years, he has played many roles in many shows, most notably; Jack Kelly (Disney’s Newsies), The King Rat (Homer Nutcracker 23’), Humphrey (Trey Parker’s Cannibal! The Musical), and Nicely-Nicely Johnson (Guys & Dolls).
Mike Tupper - Lyman Sanderson M.D.
“In this world, Elwood, you either have to be oh, so smart or oh, so pleasant.” I’ve spent a lot of my life trying to be smart. Pleasant is definitely the better play.
Dick Dunn - William R. Chumley M.D.
Shortly after graduating High School I escaped the wind blown prairie of North Dakota to Ketchikan where I fell in love with the ocean and the people of Alaska. I then wasted 4 years at the University of North Dakota staying out of Vietnam. I came to Homer in 1971 and moved into a cabin in Tutka Bay from 1971 to 1981 and to Little Tutka Bay where we still have a cabin. My wife and I then moved out to Aniak during the school year in 1998 until moving back to Homer full time in 2015 where our 2 kids attended WHE, Homer Middle School, and HHS graduating in 2021 and 2023. I got my first taste of being on stage in Aniak playing Lord McDuff in a production village style, of Macbeth. I have since been in 3 plays of Sally O and Mike McKinney. My last part was Oliver in Cosmic Hostel written and directed by Sally O. I feel honored to be a part of this amazing cast and look forward to more opportunities in Homer to play "Let's Pretend"
Linda Ellsworth - Betty Chumley
Joined Pier One in 1989, my first part in a play was in “Little Miss Firecracker” and I was hooked. I am now the concession manager, board member, actress, worked on sound, prop mistress, stage manager, and I have directed around 6 plays. “Harvey” is such a wonderful play, and I am so happy to be part of this production as Mrs. Chumley, Dr. Chumley’s wife. The director Val Sheppard asked the cast did we as a child (or an adult) ever have an imaginary friend? No, I did not but from the time I was 5 years old till around 17 I practiced astral projection or out of body experience. I was able to roam around the house, the neighborhood and even to my friend’s house (she lived right behind my house). I remember being relaxed, and floating above everything, it was a good experience. ENJOY THE PLAY!
Ken Landfield - Judge Omar Gaffney
In the winter of 1983, I auditioned for a play, “The Butterfingers Angel, Mary & Joseph, Herod the Nut, and the Slaughter of Twelve Hit Carols in a Pear Tree”, more or less on a dare. Scores of shows later, I still haven’t recovered and keep showing up for auditions. Among others, I got to be in “Harvey” the last time it hit the Pier One stage, in the summer of 1998; it’s been a long time, but I think maybe I was the rabbit? I also serve on the Pier One Board of Directors. I hope you enjoy the show. I think it’s pretty good; I may be old, but I don’t miss much!
