SSU Production Offers Touring Production of How I Learned to Drive

Sonoma State University Department of Theatre Arts and Dance kicks off its 2011 to 2012 season with Paula Vogel's "How I Learned to Drive" - and its director, cast and crew are taking on the road.

After its Sonoma State University campus presentation from Oct. 20 to Oct. 28, 2011, the production of "How I Learned to Drive" will available for touring presentations at high schools and colleges in Sonoma County.

"How I Learned to Drive" has been directed by Danielle Cain with simple and imaginative staging, making it easy for touring in Sonoma County for on campus presentations. The subject matter makes "How I Learned to Drive" a valuable and powerful theater experience for students and young adults.

The SSU Dept. of Theatre Arts & Dance tour performances of "How I Learned to Drive" includes complete study guides with support materials, including suggestions for discussion and writing assignments. Every effort will be made to provide a discussion facilitator, if requested in advance.

All touring performances will include post-show conversations where students have the opportunity to talk with the cast and crew about their experiences working on the production and about their theater training at Sonoma State.

"How I Learned to Drive" is a wildly funny, harrowing and beautiful play which traces a woman's path through time as she recalls learning the rules of the road (and life) from behind the wheel of her uncle's '62 Buick Riviera. "How I Learned to Drive" tells the story of Li'l Bit and her Uncle Peck while exploring issues of abuse, adolescent sexuality, family alienation and manipulation.

"How I Learned to Drive" premiered Off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre in 1997 with Mary Louise Parker playing Li'l Bit. In the 1999 production at the Mark Taper Forum, Molly Ringwald was cast in the lead role. In 1998 "How I Learned to Drive" received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. In addition, the play won the Off-Broadway Lucille Lortel Awards (1997); the Drama Desk Awards (1997); the Obie Award (1996-1997); the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway play; and the New York Drama Critics Award for Best Play.

To book a performance at a high school or college campus in Sonoma County or for more information contact SSU Dept. of Theatre Arts and Dance Production Manager Juliet Pokorny at juliet.pokorny@sonoma.edu or call 707-664-3160.