About Harvey
J. Harvey Stone is a public-school theatre teacher, director, and playwright living in Williamsburg, Virginia. Harvey has taught learners from ages 2 through 72 in everything from Shakespeare to swimming, and from Plutarch to pedagogy. Harvey is in his 25th year of teaching.
Harvey is pursuing an MFA in Playwriting at The Playwright’s Lab at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia. He is a four time winner of the Best Original Play Award from the
Virginia Theatre Association.
A simple foodie, Harvey is always looking for the world’s best pimento cheese and will gladly talk cooking shows with anyone.
Harvey's Plays
Immersed
Anthropology Lesson
Anthropology Lesson
2017 Best Original Play
Virginia Theatre Association
Inspired by the culture of Appalachia, Immersed takes us through an important decision in Anna's life. Anna has recently moved to rural Jackson County because of the Depression. She finds herself torn between missing her family and pleasing her new community. Her new friendship with Ben is complicated by the seemingly limitless influence of Ben's father, Preacher Jackson. "Harvey's storytelling shows an appreciation for Appalachian language and stories, while being approachable to anyone with or without the knowledge of Appalachia." "I can't wait to have a published copy of Immersed. This is the kind of play that screams to be performed again and again.""Preacher Jackson is a hauntingly real character."
Anthropology Lesson
Anthropology Lesson
Anthropology Lesson
Winner of the SETC Ready To Publish Award
While the streets outside the Stonewall Inn are set ablaze, a small Appalachian mining town goes through its own quieter turmoil. Anthropology Lesson explores the lives of “roommates” Thomas and Douglas during the summer of 1969. The men have spent the last 13 years building a life together, until an unexpected late-night visitor interrupts Douglas’ first night home after a weekend away. As the play unfolds, the two men's lives are turned upside down while a principal, a mother, and a student all come to terms with their own sets of truths.
(Cast: 1F, 4M, 5 Ensemble, Flexible)
Full Length Play
The Happening
Anthropology Lesson
The Healing Machine
2018 Best Original Play
Virginia Theatre Association
"The Happening" is an original one act play set in a fictional Amish community. Daniel has come back to his childhood home 7 years after what his family calls "The Happening." The play is part flashback and part homecoming. The play explores issues of forgiveness, family, and community trauma. Author J. Harvey Stone uses a school shooting to explore issues that everyone can relate to. The play was an official selection to the 2019 South Eastern Theatre Conference Convention. It has won numerous awards for individual actors and ensembles.
The Healing Machine
The 7 Loves Of Audrey Munson
The Healing Machine
From the early 1950s, until his death in 1986, Emery Blagdon used discarded and unusual materials to create a healing machine in the shed of his Nebraska farm. He believed the machine had the power to heal those who worked on it. Upon his death, Emery’s Healing Machine came to the American Folk Art exhibits at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. Although inspired by a very real person, author "J. Harvey Stone has created a new story with unique characters. The play explores themes of healing, the human spirit, family, abuse, and the culture of bullying." "Ultimately, Harvey wanted to explore the notion that art can heal." It begs the question, "Can the simple and brave act of creation become an example of healing?"
The 7 Loves Of Audrey Munson
The 7 Loves Of Audrey Munson
The 7 Loves Of Audrey Munson
2022 Best Original Play
Virginia Theatre Association
The Seven Loves of Audrey Munson is a fictionalized one-act imagining the career of America's first supermodel Audrey Munson. At an early age Audrey was given a fortune that seemed to follow her throughout her life. In the play, the fortune, or maybe curse, is told and then appears to come to life. Audrey meets photographers, lovers, Hollywood film makers, and more. Her mother follows, always reminding Audrey of the curse. Audrey's career was short, but her legacy lives on.
The Donut Dollies
The 7 Loves Of Audrey Munson
The 7 Loves Of Audrey Munson
2024 Virginia Thespians Best New Play
2023 Virginia Theatre Association Best Original
During the height of World War II, four Red Cross volunteers are deployed as Donut Dollies. They serve donuts and hot coffee to the Army's enlisted men, but they also provide a listening ear, companionship, and a reminder of what the men are fighting for. As the women participate on the front lines, they are fighting their own unique battles.
Available as a 75 minute full-length
or
35-40 minute one-act
The Greenhouse
Emma Lazarus Project "Mother of Exiles"
Emma Lazarus Project "Mother of Exiles"
2024 John Cauble Short Play Award
KCACTF Region 4
It's 1972, and a group of five undergraduate men meet every Tuesday and Thursday night at a greenhouse on the campus of the College of William & Mary. They gather together in this safe space that seems to have been a haven for many years. The threat of a new club on campus has the men worried as they come to terms with what they mean to each other and how much they need the greenhouse.
Emma Lazarus Project "Mother of Exiles"
Emma Lazarus Project "Mother of Exiles"
Emma Lazarus Project "Mother of Exiles"
LOOKING FOR A PRODUCER!
Emma Lazarus wrote The New Colossus and her words found their way to the Statue of Liberty and changed the meaning of the statue forever.
I've written a play about her journey. It is female forward and has some other characters from history that you will know.
Let's produce this one act play together!
Let's Work Together
Emma Lazarus Project "Mother of Exiles"
Let's Work Together
I'd love to write something for you and your group! I'd love to write something with you and your group! Let's work together on your next awesome project!
William & MAry Theatre Presents...The Greenhouse
Under the leadership of W&M Theatre Professors Laurie J. Wolf and David Garrett, The Greenhouse is being fully staged! The show will be performed during Homecoming Weekend at W&M and then the next week at the Virginia Theatre Association Conference! The W&M Greenhouse team is then headed to KCACTF Region 4.
Current Projects...What's Harvey Up To Now?
A New Play-- The Bird of The Sea!
A New Play-- The Bird of The Sea!
A New Play-- The Bird of The Sea!
Harvey's Jamestown Students are working on an original production about
ANN GLANVILLE
The first Championship Female Rower.
Project started at The Playwright's Lab over the Summer!
VTA President-Elect
A New Play-- The Bird of The Sea!
A New Play-- The Bird of The Sea!
Harvey is the President-elect of the Virginia Theatre Association. We are in the planning stages for our 2024 VTA Conference in Richmond, VA!
Registration for Conference(Opening Soon)
The Greenhouse!!
A New Play-- The Bird of The Sea!
The Greenhouse!!
The Greenhouse had an awesome reading at The Playwright's Lab this summer, led by Chloe and Adrian!
The Greenhouse is being fully staged at William & Mary in October!
