Upstream Presents tje U.S. Premiere Of CHEF This Fall

Upstream Theater is excited to host renowned director Marianne de Pury who will stage the US premiere of the award-winning CHEF by UK/Egyptian playwright and poet Sabrina Mahfouz-the gripping story of how one woman went from being a haute-cuisine head chef to a convicted inmate running a prison kitchen. Leading us through her world of mouth-watering dishes and heart-breaking memories, Chef questions our attitudes to food,

prisoners, violence, love and hope.

The one woman show will be played by St. Louis' own Linda Kennedy and directed by the internationally acclaimed director and composer Marianne de Pury.

Originally from the French part of Switzerland, Mme. de Pury studied piano and composition at the Geneva music conservatory. In 1961 she moved to New York, where she joined the newly established Open Theatre-first taking care of the box office, and eventually composing music for such iconic shows as AMERICA HURRAH and VIET ROCK. In 1965 founding director Joseph Chaikin asked her to take over as administrative director. While in New York she met French author Jean Genet, who spoke no English, when he came to the US to speak publicly in favor of the Black Panthers, who spoke no French, so she wound up becoming his translator and landlady for several months. In 1971 she married actor-photographer Tim Thompson and moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she raised two children, ran one theater and started another-and launched a directing career that has since taken her all over the world: from St. Louis she will fly to her next gig in Costa Rica.

CHEF won a Fringe First at the Edinburgh Festival and was produced at London's Soho Theatre.

Sep 28-30, Oct 4-7, Oct 11-14

Thur-Sat 8 PM

1st two Sundays at 7pm / Last Sunday at 2pm

*Talkback scheduled after the September 30th performance*

Kranzberg Arts Center

(501 N. Grand at Olive, 63103)

Tickets

$35 general admission

$30 seniors 65+

$25 for full-time students with valid ID