Cold War Choir Practice Brings Nuclear Fears to Life Through Laughs and Songs

Ro Reddick's farcical play with music explores 1980s Cold War tensions in a quirky Syracuse family

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Set in 1987 Syracuse, New York, "Cold War Choir Practice" follows 10-year-old Meek, who is terrified of nuclear war and a member of a children's choir singing politically-charged songs. When Meek's uncle, a deputy national security advisor, arrives with his wife who has escaped a cult, tensions flare between Meek's father and uncle as a Soviet espionage plot involving Meek's Speak & Spell toy unfolds.

Why it matters

The play explores 1980s Cold War anxieties through a quirky family drama, making serious political points while delivering consistent laughs. As geopolitical tensions rise again, the production offers a humorous yet insightful look back at a similarly fraught era.

The details

"Cold War Choir Practice" centers on 10-year-old Meek, who lives with her father Smooch and grandmother Puddin above a roller rink. Meek is terrified of nuclear war and has a Christmas list filled with items like a Speak & Spell and a nuclear radiation detector. She's also part of a children's "Seedlings of Peace Choir" that sings politically-charged songs. When Meek's uncle Clay, a deputy national security advisor, arrives with his wife Virgie, who has escaped a cult, tensions flare between Smooch, a former Black Panther, and the more successful, Republican-leaning Clay. Meanwhile, Meek's Speak & Spell toy is revealed to be part of a Soviet espionage plot, adding to the farcical hijinks.

  • The play premiered in the summer of 2025 at Clubbed Thumb's Summerworks festival.
  • The Off-Broadway production at the MCC Theater opened on March 10, 2026 and runs through March 29.

The players

Meek

A 10-year-old girl living in 1980s Syracuse, New York who is terrified of nuclear war and a member of a children's choir singing politically-relevant songs.

Smooch

Meek's father, who owns a roller rink and is a former Black Panther struggling financially.

Puddin

Meek's grandmother who lives with her and Smooch.

Clay

Meek's uncle, a deputy national security advisor preparing for a meeting between Reagan and Gorbachev to negotiate a nuclear arms treaty.

Virgie

Clay's wife who has just escaped from a mysterious cult organization.

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What they’re saying

“Maybe we should think twice about any future productions?”

— Frank Scheck, Critic (nystagereview.com)

“It's all a bit much, honestly, with the playwright not fully successful in getting all of her fantastical, Boris & Natasha-style plot elements across.”

— Frank Scheck, Critic (nystagereview.com)

What’s next

The play is scheduled to run at the MCC Theater through March 29, 2026.

The takeaway

In an era of renewed geopolitical tensions, "Cold War Choir Practice" offers a humorous yet insightful look back at the anxieties of the 1980s, proving that even serious political issues can be explored through the lens of family drama and quirky characters.