First Read Through for 'How I Learned to Drive'

Theater people have loads of superstitions. For Tongue in Cheek Theater, we always wait until after a successful first read-through before we send our postcards to print... and I'm thrilled to report, after a fabulous first read of How I Learned to Drive, our postcard proof was just sent to the printers.

Six actors in search of a crazy family in this dark comedy.

Earlier today, in the Bridge Theatre @ Shetler Studios, our cast and crew gathered and read through the entire show in 76 minutes.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Paula Vogel follows a dysfunctional Maryland family in the 1960s.

Happily for the cast, we all got along famously, jokes landed, and the Greek Chorus sang an impromptu arrangement of 'Blue Moon.' Seeing how many of the characters have a tendency to hit the bottle, we felt it fitting to adjourn for a nearby beer at the Tongue in Cheek-designated bar, Valhalla.

We coordinated our tops.  We're off to a mime convention after this.

The cast is comprised of Lynn Berg* (Uncle Peck), Jake Lipman* (Li'l Bit), Michael Edmund (Big Papa/Male Greek Chorus), Joan D. Saunders (Grandma/Female Greek Chorus 1), Shelley Little (Mother/Female Greek Chorus 2) and Holland Hamilton (Aunt Mary/Female Greek Chorus 3).  Rounding out the talented folks making this fall happen is our assistant director Allison Lemel.

If you're superstitious like we are, and if TIC production history is any indication (we're going to sell this one out, mark my words!), you might want to consider buying your tickets now for our fall run.

How I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel
Directed by Jake Lipman, assistant-directed by Allison Lemel.
9 performances: Thursday-Saturday, Thursday October 17 through November 2, 2013 at 8 pm.
The Bridge Theatre @ Shetler Studios, 244 West 54th Street, 12th Floor, NYC.
Tickets: $18 at www.tictheater.com or by calling 212-868-4444.
*appears courtesy of Actors Equity Association.