Seared
by Austin Playhouse
Jun. 05 - Jun. 28
Fridays-Sundays
A feast for the senses, Seared is a fiery, fast-paced play that dives into the mayhem of a small restaurant, with its sharp dialogue and dynamic characters. When a genius chef battles with his business partner over the future of their restaurant, the arrival of a seasoned restaurant consultant adds fuel to the fire, igniting a conflict that promises to leave everyone craving more. Exploring the tension between art and commerce, the pressure to succeed and the passion that drives people to create, Seared will leave audiences hungry for more.
Austin Playhouse will transform into a working restaurant kitchen where the action unfolds up close, bringing the audience into the heat of the moment.
Casting for Seared includes Austin Playhouse Artistic Company members Sarah Zeringue (The Importance of Being Earnest, Baskerville, The Norwegians) as Emily and Ben Wolfe (Peril in the Alps, Baskerville, The Norwegians) as Mike with Devin Finn (The Importance of Being Earnest, Describe the Night) as Harry, and Addrian Shontai (Fat Ham) as Rodney.
“As someone who's as passionate about food as I am about theatre, I can't wait to tackle this amazing play. We're building a full restaurant kitchen on our stage, and our incredible team will be cooking live every night,” said Toner Haddock. “Theresa Rebeck's fantastic comedy about the restaurant world is also a perfect fit for Austin, which has such a dynamic and innovative food culture. I really think audiences are going to enjoy this one-of-a-kind immersive experience as we peek behind the curtain at what it takes to pull-off culinary perfection.”
Directed by Producing Artistic Director Lara Toner Haddock. The additional creative team includes Mark Novick aslighting designer; Mike Toner as scenic designer; Robert S. Fisher as sound designer; Megan Clarke as assistant stage manager, and Barry Miller as stage manager.
Austin Playhouse is supported in part by the Texas Commission on the Arts and The Shubert Foundation.
This project is supported in part by an Elevate Grant of Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment.
About Austin Playhouse:
Austin Playhouse is a professional theatre in its 26th season. Currently under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Lara Toner Haddock, and Associate Artistic Directors Ben Wolfe and Sarah Fleming Walker, Austin Playhouse has grown from a three-play season on the campus of Concordia University, to a year-round operation producing a subscription season, theatre for youth productions, and a new play festival. Austin Playhouse plans to build a permanent home for the veteran theatre troupe and all of Austin’s artistic community. For more information visitaustinplayhouse.com.
Seared
by Theresa Rebeck
Austin Playhouse
June 05 - June 28, 2026
June 5–28, 2026
Fri – Sat at 7:30 p.m. | Sun at 2:00 p.m.
Austin Playhouse (West Campus location) | 405 West 22nd St. | Austin TX 78705
Tickets start at $39 with Pick-Your-Price Thursdays at $25 and Half-Price Student Tickets for $19. Group discounts are available for parties of 10+. Group inquiries can be made at boxoffice@austinplayhouse.com. Single tickets on sale now at austinplayhouse.com/seared.
Parking: Performances will take place at Austin Playhouse, located in the heart of West Campus at 405 West 22nd St. Free street parking is available with paid parking conveniently located one block away at the UT Co-Op Parking Garage at 2214 San Antonio St. Reserved parking is available through SpotHero. More information on parking options can be found at austinplayhouse.com/directions.
Content Advisory: Live cooking happens on stage—including salmon. If you have any food allergy concerns, we encourage you to reach out to the Box Office before buying tickets. Seared takes place in a fast-paced professional kitchen and includes strong language and a brief sexual reference. Children under 5 are not permitted.
