Keith Greer to Helm Staged Reading of A COLD DECEMBER

Director Keith Greer has begun working on A COLD DECEMBER. Casting is nearly complete for the premiere staged-reading on Monday, November 14, at The Bernie Wohl Center at 7pm.

A COLD DECEMBER is the story of a family trying to stay together during a fierce snowstorm, in spite of marital infidelity, and with a close encounter of the third kind. The play is a very human comedy with Carols and Aliens.

Greer comes to A COLD DECEMBER from his successful direction of TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE at the Cherry Lane Theater. Known best for his work on ONE LIFE TO LIVE (3 Emmy Awards, 4 DGA Awards) Greer works extensively in theater. His production of Brian Belovitch's BOYS DON'T WEAR LIPSTICK was a GLAAD Award Nominee for Outstanding Broadway/OB Production. He's directed at The Workshop, Circle Rep Company, Circle East, The Ridiculous Theatre, La Mama E.T.C. in New York and Italy and at PS 122. Greer, currently working with Paul Knox on a new episodic series, Bailey House, was a finalist the 2015 and 2016 Sundance Episodic Story Lab.

Written by Michael Wells-Oakes, A COLD DECEMBER takes place at Christmastime. It is freezing outside; inside the Morgan family's home, it's even colder. Their once safe world is falling apart. Even with the help of some very compassionate aliens, the family's survival is far from certain.

The cast will feature physical comedian and variety performer Peter Daniel Straus, who has appeared at the Denver Center, the National Theatre of Norway, the Metropolitan Opera, with Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus and on The Late Show with David Letterman. Peter is joined by Ronnie Norpel (host and producer of TRACT 187 CULTURE CLATCH and upcoming HBO Bernie Madoff biopic with Robert DeNiro); Eileen F. Dougherty (MOTHER ISSUES, KOEPFINGER'S SIDESHOW); Jeanne lauren Smith (New Stage Theatre Company's NIGHT), Max Balton (Lloyd Miller/Roy Nathanson production of TRASHED OUT, guitarist with Salt People), Joseph Clancy, and Anthony Montes.

A COLD DECEMBER is set in 1962 but has striking parallels to today. The US, then exhilarated by a new youthful president, couldn't ignore the troubled rumblings set off by the Cuban Missile Crisis and growing involvement in Viet Nam. As the tragic year of 1963 unfolded, the country (and the Morgan family) began to feel dissatisfied, to yearn for change, hunger for something beyond themselves. Feelings similarly reflected in the US of 2016.

The reading is part of the 29TH STREET PLAYWRIGHTS COLLECTIVE NEW WORKS SERIES 2016, made possible in part with public funds from Creative Engagement, supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council.

A COLD DECEMBER is free and open to the public at The Bernie Wohl Center at Goddard Riverside Center, 647 Columbus Ave at 92nd St at 7pm. Please RSVP at EventBrite. For more information, contact 29thStPlaywrightsCollective@gmail.com.