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How I Learned to Drive
Paula Vogel
Opening Date:
January 14, 2000
Closing Date:
February 5, 2000
Through fragmented memories and driving lessons, Li’l Bit confronts the troubling relationship with her uncle that shaped her adolescence. Paula Vogel’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama examines grooming, family silence, survival and the difficult journey toward reclaiming one’s story.
Cast & Crew
CAST:
Linda Coldwell — Li’l Bit
Steve Vann — Peck (Uncle Peck)
Greg Burns — Greek Chorus
Julianna Kershen — Greek Chorus
Katy Christie — Greek Chorus
CREW:
Rhonda Clark — Director; sound co-design
Tom Harrington — Set design; technical direction; set construction
Steven Gillmore — Lighting design; set construction
Melody Harrington, Kyle Watson — Set construction
Mary Freeh — Costume design and construction
Joe Daleo — Sound co-design
Bob Bates — Stage manager; light operator
Bob Cross — Assistant director
Kimberly Moore — Sound operator
Tom Gibson, Genger Gibson, Stacia Roybal — Running crew
Kyle Watson — Lighting assistant
Marcellus Hankins — Doo-wop music consultant
Scott Meek — Voice of Driver Education
Production Notes
Rhonda Clark directed Paula Vogel’s 1998 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama January 14–February 5, 2000. The nonlinear memory play traces Li’l Bit’s childhood and adulthood and her exploitative relationship with Uncle Peck. Linda Coldwell, Greg Burns, Julianna Kershen and Katy Christie were identified as CST newcomers; Steve Vann had appeared in Season 13’s Conversations With My Father. The original narrative spells Julianna as Juliann, while the formal cast list uses Julianna. The Greek Chorus played multiple characters, without an individual role breakdown. Franci Hart’s favorable January 20 Oklahoman review was titled “Drive Troupe Tackles Tough Topic.” Supplemental newspaper research also identifies a sign-language-interpreted performance on January 30, 2000, not mentioned on the original CST page. The original materials discuss Vogel’s interest in taboo subjects and clarify that the story is not autobiographical. Five original photographs survive. Acknowledgments: Tuxedo Specialists, OKC Traffic Management Division, Jon Womastek, Lysandra and Scott Meek, Renee Preftakes, Doobie Potter, Nacy West and Robert Perry (Nacy is the source spelling). Licensed through Dramatists Play Service, Inc.
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