Heard noises emanating from the Bud Frank Theater in Gilbreath Hall? Lots of sawing and hammering? Weird vocalizations? Don’t worry. It’s not a haunting, only preparation for the opening of the 2002-03 ETSU theater season.
The play, How I Learned to Drive, opens on Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Written by Paula Vogel, the 1998 Pulitzer Prize winning play was called “a superb comic drama . haunting . a lovely, harrowing guide to the crippling persistence of one woman’s memories,” by The New York Times.
Li’l Bit, who grows up in Maryland in the 1960s, recalls the story in How I Learned to Drive. Her relationship with her uncle, who gives her driving lessons, is both tentative and sexual. Vogel’s character reflects back in a nonjudgmental manner about her coming of age.
The play is for mature audiences and contains adult situations and frank language.
Director Bobby Funk said that the play is meant to educate audiences about pedophilia and sexual abuse as well as entertain and that it’s much like television shows that deal with similar issues.
Following each performance, a panel of experts will discuss issues of abuse and pedophilia with any interested audience members.
The play fits in with today’s headlines and is designed to open issues here at ETSU, to teach about and prevent child abuse. “It’s drama at it’s best,” Funk said, “and we’re real proud that we could work on it.”
Allison Guinn, junior theater major, has the lead as Li’l Bit. After a tough audition, Guinn won her first lead role. Guinn said that she had no idea she would get the role.
“It’s a good thing to bring something like this play out in the open because there is so much shame involved with the issues,” Guinn said, “and I don’t think people need to be afraid of this play. I feel extreme responsibility to do this play justice.”
The theater students have been preparing for five weeks, working five days a week and three hours a day with longer rehearsals as the opening has neared.
Funk said that there is much preparation that goes into the design and building of the sets and costumes and that the students do the work.
Jonathan Taylor, senior theater major, is the scenic designer for the play. Taylor said the idea for the set revolves around a dream. Since it is a dream play, the set is done in black and white to help the audience enter the characters minds.
“In the end, all you are left with are shades of gray,” Taylor said. The set reflects the flow of ideas in the play.
Performances are Oct. 8-12 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 13 at 2 p.m., in the Bud Frank Theater. Admission is $5 for students and $10 for others.
For information or reservations, call 439-7576.

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