Guild Hall’s John Drew Theater in association with Baltimore’s Creative Alliance will present a virtual reading of “SQUEAKY,” a new play by Jeff Cohen.
The production, which will premiere on Guild Hall’s YouTube channel on Sunday, March 28 at 7:30 PM, is directed by Bob Balaban and features a multi-award-winning cast including Jessica Hecht, Marc Kudisch, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Ben Shenkman, and Harris Yulin.
Drama Desk Award winner Jeff Cohen has penned an audacious autobiographical comedy about his eccentric father, Stan “Squeaky” Cohen. Squeaky, portrayed by Yulin in the reading, is the man who was banned from every Old Country Buffet in the metro Baltimore area – for stealing cake. He can’t remember where he lost his car. He lives in Baltimore’s most crime-ridden neighborhood in a ramshackle house that is a city inspection away from being condemned — and refuses to move.
His son Jeff (read by Kudisch) is a writer living in New York who finds himself battling his older brother Rob (read by Shenkman), a charmer with a felonious past for drug trafficking, over what is best for their father. He is being forced to reckon with childhood events he’s spent a lifetime trying to forget. At its core, “SQUEAKY” is about wrestling with end-of-life issues while maintaining a sense of humor.
Jackson will play the role of Connie Pryor, Squeaky’s long time roommate and caretaker. Jeff and Rob’s estranged mother Sandy Fendell will be played by Hecht.
“When I was writing the play I was flooded with memories,” said Cohen. “Capturing my father on the page felt like he was there with me, over my shoulder, speaking to me, making me laugh. I felt a combination of sadness that he was gone and happiness that, just by thinking of him, I could conjure him and keep him alive. Writing the play gave me something very precious — the gift of spending more time with him.”
The play, originally titled “Squeaky Cohen,” was developed at E.A.T. (Emerging Artists Theatre) as part of its New Work Series.
This program is free of charge with the option to make an additional donation to Guild Hall. Registration is required. A link to access the program will be emailed 24 hours prior to those who register.