Urban Stages to Offer Talk-Backs Following Performances of DEATH OF A DRIVER

Urban Stages will present post-show talkbacks following performances of Will Snider's DEATH OF A DRIVER directed by Kim T. Sharp. This limited engagement at Urban Stages (259 West 30th Street) runs through Sunday, March 24, 2019. Tickets for the show are $40 and may be purchased via OvationTix at www.urbanstages.org or by phone at 1.866.811.4111.

The play follows Sarah an American engineer and Kennedy an East African taxi driver as they strike up a friendship and embark on a journey to change rural Kenya building new roads. But when a disputed local election lands Kennedy in jail and threatens the work, Sarah questions the integrity of their alliance and wonders how well she knows the man she thought was her friend. Death of a Driver is a bracing examination of "doing good" abroad, the limits of understanding another person, and what happens when personal and political obligations collide. Theater Pizzazz called Death of a Driver "Intriguing and entertaining story that will keep you captivated and intrigued from start to finish. It is absolutely real, genuine, and completely believable in its entirety."

Upcoming Talkbacks include:

• Friday March 8th
  Featuring WILL SNIDER, playwright of Death of a Driver, will discuss his background working in Kenya and his influences for the play.
• Saturday, March 9th
  Featuring Mrs.­­ CORA WEISS: Founder of the Institute for Policy Studies. Weiss has had a long career advocating for peace by becoming an early member of Women Strike for Peace as well as the president of the International Peace Bureau in 2000. She will recount her experience in Kenya in the 50s and 60s helping nearly 800 Kenyans receive higher education.
• Monday, March 11th
  Featuring VINCENT SCOTT, Assistant Director of Death of a Driver. Scott was key in assisting the cast and crew in researching Kenya's history and politics. Topic: What you need to know about Kenya's history.
• Wednesday, March 13th
  Featuring Kim T. Sharp, Director of Death of a Driver. Sharp has worked in New York as a director for the Abington Theater, Urban Stages and numerous other theater companies.
• Friday, March 15th
  Features RAMU DAMODARAN Chief of the United Nation Academic Project. He manages the memberships of 1300 colleges and universities worldwide developing programs that foster the goals of the UN.
• Wednesday, March 20th
  Feature JESSE HAWKES: actor, writer, educator will speak on his years in South Africa, Rwanda. Bosnia and elsewhere working with HIV sufferers. In 2007 he received the Theater for Peace Award.
• Wednesday, March 21st
  Featuring Jamie Roach: actor, director, musician and new Urban Stages' Summer Camp Director. Mr. Roach worked in Uganda for Invisible Children, Inc (a NGO) where he helped open a coffee shop in Uganda. Topic: Growing Business in Africa.

DEATH OF A DRIVER stars Sarah Baskins (TV: "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel"; NY: Wolves) and Patrick Ssenjovu (Theatre: Red Hills; Ga-aad at Uganda National Theater. Film: Sydney Pollock's The Interpreter). The creative team includes Frank Oliva (Set Designer), John Salutz (Lighting Designer), Ian Wehrle (Sound Designer), Vincent Scott (Assistant Director), TBA (Technical Director), Miriam Hyfler (Stage Manager), Lindsay Kipnis (Assistant Stage Manager). and Abou Lion Diarra (Original Music). Urban Stages staff includes Antoinette Mullins (Development & Literary Director), Olga Devyatisilnaya (Company Manager/Financial Administrator), Ilanna Saltzman (Outreach Director), Bara Swain (Creative Consultant), Vincent Scott (School Consultant), Myan Disnie Sabastien (Social Media) and Sylvia Haber, Perpetuart (Graphic Designer).

All tickets may be purchased at www.urbanstages.org or by phone at 1.866.811.4111

Photo by Ben Hider