Michael Learned to Star in DRIVING MISS DAISY at Victoria Playhouse Petrolia

Victoria Playhouse Petrolia (VPP) is welcoming a four-time Emmy Award winner to its stage for the month of July. Michael Learned, best known as Olivia Walton from The Waltons will be headlining DRIVING MISS DAISY, running July 5-24 and will participate in a special event called MISS MICHAEL - In Conversation with Michael Learned, for three shows only, July 27, 28 and 29.

For the actress, returning to the VPP is something of a homecoming. She got her start in Stratford, Ontario before venturing out to the bright lights of Hollywood. She previously appeared alongside the late, great Ralph Waite (her co-star on The Waltons) in Love Letters at the VPP in 2012. Starring alongside Learned in Driving Miss Daisy are Darren Keay (last seen in the VPP in 2015's Norm Foster hit Outlaw) as Boolie, and, making his VPP debut, Neville Edwards as Hoke. For director David Hogan, this production honours the true humour that writer Alfred Uhry built into the piece because of Learned's skillful honesty on stage. "She delivers the humour so truthfully. This is the way Driving Miss Daisy was meant to be performed."

Following her time as Daisy, Learned is hosting a special three-show event from July 27-29 called Miss Michael - In Conversation with Michael Learned. This event is unique in that it will give audiences a chance to ask her questions, view exclusive behind the scenes footage of her time on television, and hear anecdotes from her days on Broadway. The show has been created specifically for the VPP, however Learned hopes to have the opportunity to perform it across the globe in upcoming years. Hogan explains, "the show will touch on her family life, take the audience into her early days as an actress at the Stratford Festival all the way to the Hollywood life she would eventually settle into during her years on mainstream television. It's a delightful, entertaining and humorous event. You will fall in love with her not just as an iconic character, but to get to know her story is to love Michael Learned herself."

Tickets are on sale now at www.thevpp.ca or by calling the box office at 1-800-717-7694. Performances run Tuesday through Sunday with both matinee and evening options available.