Paula Vogel

American writer

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July 16, 2026

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Paula Vogel is an American playwright known for her works that explore complex moral issues with compassion and humor. She has tackled themes such as prostitution, AIDS, pornography, and the sexual abuse of minors in her plays.1

Vogel's play How I Learned to Drive earned her a Pulitzer Prize in 1998. Her writing often focuses on the experiences of women and marginalized communities, reflecting a broader trend in American drama that moved towards Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway venues, allowing for more radical and innovative storytelling. Vogel's work is recognized for its ability to engage with difficult subjects while maintaining a unique voice and perspective within contemporary American theater.21

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American literature
The Off-Broadway ascendancy
Paula Vogel repeatedly focused on hot-button moral issues with humor and compassion, dealing with prostitution in The Oldest Profession (1981), AIDS in The Baltimore Waltz (1992), pornography in Hot ’n’ Throbbing (1994), and the sexual abuse of minors in How I Learned to Drive (1997).…
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Paula Vogel repeatedly focused on hot-button moral issues with humor and compassion, dealing with prostitution in The Oldest Profession (1981), AIDS in The Baltimore Waltz (1992), pornography in Hot ’n’ Throbbing (1994), and the sexual abuse of minors in How I Learned to Drive (1997).…
Read More