HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE Closes 6/13 at CCP

Carmel Community Players will present Paula Vogel's How I Learned to Drive during a two-week run beginning June 3rd, 2010 at the Carmel Community Playhouse at Clay Terrace. Vogels's play won the Pulitzer Prize in 1998 and is the fourth show in CCP's 2009-10 Pulitzer Prize-winning Season.

How I Learned to Drive, directed by Brian G. Hartz and produced by Michael T. Long and Lori Raffel, follows the strained and evocative relationship between a young woman and the man who teaches her how to drive, from her adolescence through her teenage years and beyond. Using the metaphor of driving, the play explores the ideas of control, manipulation, and temptation.

Despite the serious nature of the play's subject, How I Learned to Drive shows a sympathetic and even humorous portrait of its characters. "It's no movie-of-the-week melodrama," says Hartz. "Paula Vogel has a wonderfully light touch, and a highly theatrical style - in fact, it's often surprisingly funny."

CCP's marketing director, Brian Koning, says that this show is intended for mature audiences. "This production has received excellent reviews as it has played across the country. Recognized for its clever writing, the script takes the audience on a roller coaster of emotion. BrIan Hartz is an excellent director and has selected a talented and experienced cast and crew to bring this timely dramatic masterpiece to Carmel."

CCP's president Michael T. Long talks about the theater company facing a sensitive social topic head on. "Considering published statistics that someone in Indiana is sexually abused every 45 seconds, we're hoping to shed some light on a difficult subject. That's why we are partnering with the Indiana Coalition Against Sexual Abuse."

Following the uninterrupted 90-minute performance, the Indiana Coalition Against Sexual Abuse will talk with the audience about sexual abuse prevention. The cast will also field questions from the audience about their characters and bringing a story of sexual abuse to the stage.

The production opens Thursday, June 3, 2010 at the Carmel Community Playhouse at Clay Terrace (www.carmelplayhouse.com) and runs through Sunday, June 13th. Performances are at 8:00 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students/seniors. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.carmelplayers.org or by calling 317.815.9387. The show does contain adult subject matter and is not recommended for audience members under the age of 17.

The talented cast includes Angela Steele (Li'l Bit), Daniel Scharbrough (Peck), Rachel Sickmeier (Female Greek Chorus), Harry Watermeier (Male Greek Chorus), and Casey Votaw (Teenage Greek Chorus).

For more information about Carmel Community Players call (317) 815-9387 or visit www.carmelplayers.org.