Matt Damon, Alec Baldwin, and All-Star Cast Perform Kenneth Lonergan Play to Help Save NYC Landmark

The Sounds of Film’s Tom Needham recently attended a powerful staged reading of Kenneth Lonergan’s Hold On to Me Darling featuring an incredible cast that included Matt Damon, Alec Baldwin, J. Smith-Cameron, Gretchen Mol, Lucas Hedges, and Peter Friedman. Directed by Neil Pepe, the performance took place inside a historic Upper West Side church and raised funds to help save the landmarked West Park Presbyterian Church from demolition.

The play follows a country music star returning home to Tennessee after his mother’s death, struggling to find meaning beyond fame and success. Damon gave a standout performance, capturing the humor and heartbreak of the character with ease.

Following the reading, Lonergan joined the cast for an engaging Q&A about the play and the ongoing effort to support The Center at WEST PARK and preserve the church, which has long served as a creative hub for artists and the community.

It was an inspiring evening where world-class talent came together for a great cause—protecting one of New York’s most beloved landmarks.