NAPPANEE — One of the most successful and popular plays ever written, the Pulitzer Prize winning “Harvey” by Mary Chase will open at The Round Barn Theatre beginning Wednesday, Oct. 21, on the Joseph Stein Stage and continues through Sunday, Nov. 8.

“Harvey” tells the tale of Elwood P. Dowd, an eccentric man with an unusual best friend, a 6 1/2-foot rabbit named Harvey. Harvey is invisible to everyone except Elwood, much to the frustration of his sister, Veta, who has seen as much of his eccentric behavior as she can tolerate. When Veta takes Elwood to the local sanitarium to save their family’s reputation, doctors mistakenly commit anxiety-ridden Veta instead. As Harvey and Elwood slip out of the hospital unbothered, the town erupts into a hilarious whirlwind of confusion and chaos as they try to catch Elwood and his invisible rabbit.

Originally produced on Broadway in 1944, this Pulitzer Prize winner ran for 1,775 performances and was adapted into the beloved, classic film which starred Jimmy Stewart and Josephine Hull, who earned the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Veta Louise Simmons, the role she originated on Broadway. Harvey also had a successful limited run revival on Broadway in the summer of 2012 with Big Bang Theory star Jim Parsons as Elwood.

This hilarious comedy will be directed by Round Barn Theatre Artistic Director Jeremy Littlejohn, and stars RBT Music Director Travis Smith as Elwood P. Dowd. Aside from his work as a music director, Smith will be memorable to RBT audiences as the Tin Man in “The Wizard of Oz,” Lord Farquaad in “Shrek,” Lord Evelyn Oakleigh in “Anything Goes” and Jesus in “Godspell.” The production also features a slew of returning alumni, including Travis Bird, Douglas Campbell, Pam Gunterman, Rita Kurtz, Ryan A. Schisler and Tibbits Summer Theatre Artistic Director Charles Burr as Dr. Chumley.

Harvey features 2 p.m. matinees and 8 p.m. evening performances. A complete show schedule and ticket information is available by calling The Round Barn Theatre Box Office at (800) 800-4942 extension 2 or online at www.amishacres.com. Theatre tickets can be combined at a savings with Amish Acres famous family style Threshers Dinner served daily or a Theme Dinner buffet served on Friday, Oct. 23. Theme dinner seating is limited and reservations should be made in advance.