Rick Bayless and Windy City Playhouse to Present A Recipe for Disaster
James Beard Award-winning Chef Rick Bayless and Windy City Playhouse Artistic Director Amy Rubenstein announced that they will present "A Recipe for Disaster," an outrageous farcical experience set in the frenetic world of restaurants beginning Oct. 6; the press performances will be October 14 and 15.
Bayless, Rubenstein and Associate Artistic Director Carl Menninger are teaming up to create a fully scripted immersive event, with audiences enjoying tastes of cocktails, wine and food created by Bayless as the hilarity unfolds. Based on Bayless's real-life experiences, the story revolves around a special event at a well-known restaurant where everything that could possibly go wrong occurs, sending the restaurant staff into a tailspin. A drunk chef, a couple in crisis, a dishonest health inspector and a spy from a competing restaurant all contribute to the chaos with side-splitting results.
The location for the production is a downtown restaurant to be announced.
"A Recipe for Disaster" will be directed by David H. Bell, who won a Jeff Award for his direction of Windy City Playhouse's smash hit "Southern Gothic," which ran for more than a year. The design team includes set designer William Boles, who won a Jeff Award for his design of Windy City Playhouse's "Boys in the Band," and costume designer Uriel Gomez, who was nominated for a Jeff Award for his work on the same production. Additional designers and casting will be announced at a future date.
Windy City Playhouse's flagship location on Irving Park Road is currently being utilized by event production company Fever to present The Little Mermaid Cocktail Experience. "While we are not involved artistically with Fever's 'submersive' cocktail experience, we are happy to be partnering with such an innovative company," said Windy City Playhouse Artistic Director Amy Rubenstein. "The more immersive, experience-driven entertainment, the better! We truly believe this is the future of live theater."
Tickets to "A Recipe for Disaster," which include six bite-size tastings and three cocktail and wine samplings will go on sale on July 15, with regular and VIP options (including an expanded food and beverage menu) available.