"All Is Calm" at Kean Stage

This year commemorates the 100th anniversary of the United States’ entry into World War I. Though often referred to as The Forgotten War, most of us know that it was one of the largest and most brutal wars in history. But there is one short chapter that is still unknown to many—during the Christmas of 1914, peace broke out. Allied and German soldiers on the front lines reached out to each other from their trenches, initially through Christmas caroling, and met in the No Man’s Land between them to exchange holiday greetings, trade food, play soccer, swap prisoners and hold burial ceremonies for their dead. Then, the truce ended, and the war continued. One of the most unlikely moments in modern history, and left out of most textbooks, the Christmas Truce of 1914 really did happen. This Sunday at Kean University, the story will come to life on stage in “All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914.” Christopher Benincasa recently spoke with writer and director Peter Rothstein and Kean Stage Manager Steve Cochran about “All Is Calm,” and the amazing history behind it.

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