HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE Takes Road Trip To John DeSotelle Studio Starting 2/12

Nu•ance Theatre and John DeSotelle Studio presents Paula Vogel's Pulitzer prize winning drama How I Learned to Drive at John DeSotelle Studio (300 W. 43rd Street, 3rd floor) from February 12th thru 28th. Renowned Philadelphia Director Drucie McDaniel directs a compelling ensemble cast that features Michelle Bellaver*, Lisa-Marie Newton*, Scott Brieden, Alexa Dogget, and Gene Pope. *(Member of Actors Equity)

This multi-media production of How I Learned to Drive, integrates a haunting set by newcomer Youshin Chen, with projections, vintage driving instructional films, timeless music and a strong and convincing cast, taking audiences on a road trip through a damaged life, steering back and forth through time to "clear away" the wreckage of a life.

How I Learned to Drive is a difficult yet remarkable journey through several broken lives in this award winning play that follows Li'l Bit as she grows up in rural Maryland during the 1960s with a large extended family, including her Uncle Peck. Though he makes her uncomfortable, Peck is the only member of her family who is nice to her and supports her plans to receive a higher education and "rise above her 'cracker' background". Uncle Peck starts to give Li'l Bit driving lessons, cultivating a feeling of control that Li'l Bit does not have in her home life. Since both are "outsiders" in their family, she feels an odd kinship with Peck, which sparks an unhealthy relationship that will follow Li'l Bit the rest of her life.

DRUCIE MCDANIEL has directed for TV (PBS and Nickelodeon), industrial and documentary films (US Dept of Defense, Dept. of Energy, Ski Industries America, AT&T) and music videos. For ten years, as Artistic Director for The Philadelphia Theatre Caravan, Drucie wrote and/or directed over thirty productions for national tour. Other stage direction includes NY productions at the Village Gate and here at Nu?ance's New Play Festival this past summer. Following this show, she goes immediately into production of Rumors at Steel River

Playhouse. Past directing experiences include productions at Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts, Foundation Theatre, InterAct, Annenberg Theatre Festival, The Abbey Theatre and Project Arts Center, both in Dublin, Ireland, and The Rosenbach Museum. Most recent stage acting credits: world premieres (and Barrymore Award nominated) Skin and Bone at Azuka Theatre, and 1812 Production's It's My Party: The Women and Comedy Project. Film: Girl Interrupted, Fallen, Twelve Monkeys, Explicit Ills, The Narrows, Rounding First, Edge City, The Silver Linings Playbook, Billy and the Kid, and the forthcoming Unreachable by Conventional Means. Television: Law and Order and L&O SVU, HBO's You Don't Know Jack, The Onion News Network, The Adversaries, and All My Children, as well as several national commercials. As a teacher of acting, Drucie was a Professor at Arcadia University and for over 25 years at The University of the Arts and at Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia, and has recently opened her own studio where she offers classes and private coaching.

How I Learned to Drive Runs February 12th-28th at John DeSotelle Studio (300 W. 43rd St. in the Times Square Arts Center at the corner of 43rd and 8th Ave., 3rd Floor). Opening night is Thurs. Feb. 12 at 8PM. Performances run Thurs. thru Sat. at 8PM with Sat. matinees on Feb. 14, 21 and 28 at 3PM and Sun. shows on Feb. 15 & 22 at 5PM. Tickets are $18 Online. Group tickets are available at $15 for 10 or more. Go to: www.NuanceTheatre.com or call (212) 581-0188.
For more information on John DeSotelle Studio go to www.DesotelleStudio.com.