Mary Testa To Play Chef Rossi In 'Raging Skillet'

Two-time Tony Award nominee Mary Testa will play the "Jewish lesbian punk-rock caterer" Chef Rossi in the world premiere of "The Raging Skillet" at Hartford's TheaterWorks July 20 to Aug. 27.

The three-actor play is based on the memoir-with-recipes of Chef Rossi. (Rossi goes by a single mocker.) The play is adapted by Jacques Lamarre whose food-centric "I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti" was a hit for the theater several years ago and has since played at theaters across the country.

"The Raging Skillet" is described: "When Rossi’s mother discovers the microwave, home cooked meals become a thing of the past. What starts as Rossi’s rebellion against her Orthodox Jewish mom ends with her becoming New York’s #1 punk-rock caterer."

Testa 's awards also include two Lucille Lortel nominations, five Drama Desk nominations, two Drama League nominations, an Obie Award and a special Drama Desk award celebrating three decades of work in the theater.

Broadway credits include" "Wicked," " Guys and Dolls," "Xanadu, " "Chicago," " 42nd St," "Marie Christine," "On the Town, " "Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,"  "The Rink," "Marilyn," and " Barnum." 

 Off-Broadway credits include "The Government Inspector," "Orange Julius," "First Daughter Suite," "Caucasian Chalk Circle," "Queen of the Mist," " See What I Wanna See, " "First Lady Suite, "A New Brain," "Tartuffe," and " In Trousers."

 Films include: Big Stone Gap, The Mother, Eat Pray Love, The Bounty Hunter, The Out-of-Towners, Sleepers. Much Television including recurring on “Whoopi”, “Difficult People”, “Two Broke Girls”, “White Collar” and “Nurse Jackie.” 

Subscribers can begin booking June 12 and single tickets go on sale to the general public June 21.

theatetworkshartford.org.