Drive by Deborah Yarchun

A community of truckers in a small town in Iowa are forced to shift gears when they lose their jobs to self-driving vehicles. When Gloria becomes the only trucker in town still employed, resentments begin to surface. Tensions escalate as they grapple with a mystery: Haygen, a driver with close ties to all of them, has disappeared. Set in a future not far down the road, DRIVE explores our collective fears...
A community of truckers in a small town in Iowa are forced to shift gears when they lose their jobs to self-driving vehicles. When Gloria becomes the only trucker in town still employed, resentments begin to surface. Tensions escalate as they grapple with a mystery: Haygen, a driver with close ties to all of them, has disappeared. Set in a future not far down the road, DRIVE explores our collective fears surrounding the next stage of automation and what happens when individuals in a country where we’re so defined by our work are forced to reevaluate what drives them.

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Drive

Recommended by

  • Dave Osmundsen:
    12 Feb. 2023
    “ Yarchun gives us a world transitioning into automatic trucking—what might life, both on the road and at home, look like if there are no humans behind the wheel? She populates this world with a cast of vibrant, complex characters whose hopes and heartbreaks feel palpable to the audience. Each of these characters wants to move forward, but doesn’t know how. And how can they, if the world they’ve been preparing for can change on a dime? With sharp, engaging, and layered dialogue, “Drive” is a glorious and devastating treat for actors and audiences. Excellent play! ”
  • Karen Saari:
    29 Dec. 2022
    “ Every character in this play is drawn with such clarity and humanity. While each of them likely saw the end of their industry looming ahead, they clung to a hope that it might survive. Their individual responses to having to leave the work and world of trucking are akin to what often happens in small towns when a major employer shuts down. The varied responses to "what's next" range from anger and grief to resilience and even newfound freedom. Beautful work. I recommend highly. ”
  • Nick Malakhow:
    26 Oct. 2022
    “ A subtle, powerful, potent work that captures so many of the fears, anxieties, and questions swirling around in the United States right now. In a society that so often equates self-worth and power with money and employment, each of these characters' dashed dreams or hopes for the future (sometimes coexisting at once) feels so urgent. It's so easy to see how and why these tensions and characters bristle against one another, but Deborah renders all conflicts with such a light, deft hand. With its intersectional focus and relevant themes, this play needs to be produced now, many times! ”
View all 8 recommendations

Character Information

  • Ainsley
    15,
    biracial
    ,
    Female
    Gloria and Arthur’s daughter. Full of boldness, reserve, and curiosity.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Gloria
    38,
    African American / Black
    ,
    Female
    One of the world’s last truck drivers, on the road to realizing her full power.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Arthur
    43, Array,
    Male
    A former truck driver, working to regain his ground.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Jo
    36, Array,
    Female
    The local bartender/manager of the Drive Bar. Kind, driven.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Arlene
    55, Array,
    Female
    A former truck driver.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Cliff
    55,
    White
    ,
    Male
    Arlene’s husband, a former truck driver.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Male

Development History

  • Workshop
    ,
    The Playwrights' Center
    ,
    2022
  • Reading
    ,
    Northern Stage
    ,
    2021
  • Workshop
    ,
    Dartmouth College's VoxFest
    ,
    2020
  • Reading
    ,
    The Civilians'
    ,
    2019
  • Reading
    ,
    Martha's Vineyard Playhouse
    ,
    2019

Awards

Winner
,
Neukom Literary Arts Award for Playwriting
,
Neukom Institute at Dartmouth College
,
2020
Finalist
,
Seven Devils Playwrights Conference
,
2020