Pulitzer Prize-Winning Drama ‘How I Learned to Drive’ Runs in Atlanta Oct. 12-15
One of my favorite plays, “How I Learned to Drive,” a Pulitzer Prize winner, will run at 7 Stages Backstage Theatre in Atlanta Oct. 12-15.
The play explores important ideas of power and identity in this warped and impactful coming of age tale. Using the metaphor of driving lessons as a lens to dissect issues of sexual abuse, manipulation, and infidelity, “How I Learned to Drive” is an emotional journey about the troubling, conflicted relationship between Li’l Bit and her Uncle Peck. The play moves a-chronologically, following Li’l Bit from her pre-adolescence stage into adulthood, while a Greek Chorus of three brings to life the other personalities surrounding the pair from school peers, to family members, to onlookers.
“How I Learned to Drive” at Authenticity Theater is directed by Brooke-Erin Smith. The cast features Mala Bhattacharya as L’il Bit and Taurean Cavins-Flores as Uncle Peck. Rounding out the cast are Autumn McNutt, Corey J. Finley, and Elizabeth Coats as the ever-present Greek Chorus.
The show runs Thursday, Oct. 12 through Saturday, Oct. 14 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 15 at 2 p.m.
Tickets for upcoming shows are available through Authenticity Theater’s website: authenticitytheater.org.
Authenticity Theater is a non-profit (501c3) semi-professional theater company founded by Sasha and Scott Keefer in 2021. How I Learned to Drive is part of their 2023 season, which also included staged readings of two new works by local writers in the AUTHENTIC ATL series,
featuring Panic in Rugby: The Fall of ‘55 by John Babcock III and Lot Lizzies by Mary Edmonson. The season also featured a staged reading of The Diary of Anne Frank, as well as the AUTHENTIC :10 Showcase, a performance of eight 10-minute plays chosen from nationwide
submissions.
Authenticity Theater chose its name as a representation of their tag line “Real Life, On Stage.”
The company seeks to present works that spotlight some of life’s biggest challenges: topics like mental illness, sexual abuse, addiction, and overcoming trauma.
For more information about the theater company, its mission, and operations, as well as details on how organizations and individuals can participate as show sponsors and advertisers to help further the theater’s mission, please visit authenticitytheater.org.
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