How I Learned To Drive
by Paula Vogel

Name: How I Learned To Drive
Brand: Paula Vogel
SKU: 9780822216230
Rating: 3.93 (8974 reviews)

Broadway Off-Broadway

How I Learned To Drive Book Cover — How I Learned To Drive Cover

Highlights

Small Cast

Female

Male

105 mins 1970s Ensemble Cast Bare Stage/Simple Set Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes American Comedy

Awards & Recognition

Lucille Lortel Award Pulitzer Prize

Winner! 1998 Pulitzer Prize for Drama Winner! 1998 Susan Smith Blackburn Playwriting Award Winner! 1998 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play

Synopsis

A comedy/drama for a cast of 2 men and 3 women (flexible casting).

A wildly funny, surprising and devastating tale of survival as seen through the lens of a troubling relationship between a young girl and an older man.

How I Learned To Drive is the story of a woman who learns the rules of the road and life from behind the wheel.

Themes PS3572.O296 H88 1998 Sexually abused teenagers--Drama Sexually abused teenagers Uncles Uncles--Drama

Press Reviews

"How I Learned to Drive turns out to be a most compelling ride."
— Backstage

"A richly poetic and picturesque landscape… the play is a potent and convincing comment on a taboo subject, and its impact sneaks up on its audience."
— Variety

"A tremendous achievement, genuine and genuinely disturbing… this is, quite simply, the sweetest and most forgiving play ever written about child abuse… Vogel’s delicate tactic makes sense not only as a way to redouble the dramatic effect, but as a representation of reality, a perfect case of the form fitting the subject."
— Village Voice

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Peck Attractive man in his 40s. Despite a few problems, he should be played by an actor one might cast in the role of Atticus in To Kill A Mockingbird. The Greek Chorus (If possible, these three members should be able to sing three-part harmony):	male	40s	Attractive man in his 40s. Despite a few problems, he should be played by an actor one might cast in the role of Atticus in To Kill A Mockingbird. The Greek Chorus (If possible, these three members should be able to sing three-part harmony):
Male Greek Chorus Plays Grandfather, Waiter, High School Boys. 30s-40s.	—	30s	Plays Grandfather, Waiter, High School Boys. 30s-40s.
Female Greek Chorus Plays Mother, Aunt Mary, High School Girls. 30-50.	female	30-50	Plays Mother, Aunt Mary, High School Girls. 30-50.
Teenage Greek Chorus Plays Grandmother, High School Girls, and the voice of 11-year-old Li’l Bit. Note on the casting of this actor: I would strongly recommend casting a young woman who is “of legal age,” that is, 21 to 25 years old who can look as close to 11 as possible. The contrast with the other cast members will help. If the actor is too young, the audience may feel uncomfortable Author’s Note: The role of Li’l Bit was originally written as a character who is 40-something. There is a great deal of flexibility in age. Directors should change the age in the last monologue for Li’l Bit (“And before you know it, I’ll be 35”) to reflect the age of the actor who is playing Li’l Bit.	female	21-25	Plays Grandmother, High School Girls, and the voice of 11-year-old Li’l Bit. Note on the casting of this actor: I would strongly recommend casting a young woman who is “of legal age,” that is, 21 to 25 years old who can look as close to 11 as possible. The contrast with the other cast members will help. If the actor is too young, the audience may feel uncomfortable Author’s Note: The role of Li’l Bit was originally written as a character who is 40-something. There is a great deal of flexibility in age. Directors should change the age in the last monologue for Li’l Bit (“And before you know it, I’ll be 35”) to reflect the age of the actor who is playing Li’l Bit.
Li’L Bit A woman who ages from 40-something to 11 years old.	female	—	A woman who ages from 40-something to 11 years old.