Malibu Stage Co Presents HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE 4/30-5/23

Malibu Stage Company presents its final offering in the 2009-2010 season with the Paula Vogel's Pulitzer Prize-winning play HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE, directed by Emmy Award winner Veronica Brady. HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE opens Friday, April 30 and continues through Sunday, May 23 at the Malibu Repertory Theatre, 29243 Pacific Coast Hwy, in Malibu. Emmy Award-winner and Malibu local, director Veronica Brady returns to her roots with this incredible tale of survival. HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE "is the story of a woman who learns the rules of the road and life from behind the wheel," says Brady. "It is the sweetest and most forgiving play ever written about a taboo subject matter. Paula Vogel is one of the great American Playwrights of our time." Ms. Brady is delighted to have the opportunity to work on this play because of her history with the playwright, who currently heads the prestigious department at Yale. "The very first play I ever directed back in college was Paula's first play," commented Brady. "I feel an attachment to her work. HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE is a director's dream. It's flawless, it moves at a breakneck pace and a whole life is revealed in less than 60 pages. It's extraordinary!"

The five cast members include Tara Buck, who is a re-occurring character on HBO's "True Blood," Nick Stabile, a veteran of theatre, film and many TV shows including his recurring role this year on "Days of our Lives," Tricia Small who recently starred in High Fidelity, Clayton B. Hodges, a NY transplant with extensive theatre, film and TV credits, and Coco Walker, seen on the hit show "The Mentalist."

Janne Larsen is designing the set, Melissa Merwin, another Malibu resident, is designing the costumes and Shark is designing the music. HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE is a play based on memory so the design team has created a world from the 1960's through the late 1970's, including period costumes, music and an abstract set. Rick Johnson and Diane Peterson are producing.

ABOUT THE SCHEDULE AND PRICING

HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE will open on Friday, April 30 and continue through Sunday,
May 23. Performances are Friday and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 5pm at the Malibu Repertory Theatre, 29243 Pacific Coast Hwy, in Malibu. There is one preview performance on April 29th. Several post performance discussions have been planned during the run. Tickets are $25.00 and can be purchased by calling 310-589-1998 or at www.brownpapertickets.com. Special group rates and student/senior discounts are available. More information can also be found at www.malibustagecompany.org.