David L. Ray's Before I Wake will receive a staged reading at the Lee Strasberg Creative Center on Dec. 15 and 16 at 8 PM in the newly renovated Marilyn Monroe Theatre. Part of the Center's on-going year-long Strasberg centennial celebration, the reading will be directed by Lee's daughter, Anna Strasberg. Admission is free of charge but reservations are a must and can be made by calling (323) 650-7777.

Ray's play is a modern folk tale set in the rural south where a family returns to its homestead to resurrect its confused and troubled history. Ray was born in Georgia and was a member of the Actor's Theatre of Louisville Acting Apprentice Company, where he first workshopped Before I Wake in 1996. He studied acting under Anna Strasberg and introduced her to the play in class.

"I was impressed with the freshness of David's talent," said Strasberg. "I found his play interesting, truthful and engaging."

Remaining workshop productions at the Center include Canada Lee by M.Z. Smith (Feb. 23 and 24, 2001) and Sarah Schulman's Correct Usage and Common Errors (April 27 and 28). Fully staged productions to come are Kate Robin's Stigmata and Other Symptoms (March 16-April 22) and John Mighton's Possible Worlds (May 25-July 1).

Lee Strasberg Creative Center is located at 7936 Santa Monica Blvd. For tickets and information call (323) 650-7777 or visit www.strasberg.com — By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent