FAMILY MEAL blends live theatre with fine dining to explore what unites both worlds: legacy, chosen family, and the pressure of performance. Created by restaurant and theatre folk, we aim to share a relatable narrative for anyone who’s ever wondered what it feels like inside the heat of the kitchen.
The Story
Audiences of FAMILY MEAL will take on the role of food writers and industry vets who attend a final dinner service of celebrated Chef Landwald, upon announcement of his retirement.
During this exclusive evening, Jozef, Anna, and Firas—Landwald’s three children who have all spent years working in his kitchen—must prepare a signature dish to curry the audience's favor by and inherit The Restaurant’s legacy.
This is a unique immersive format blends entertainment with fine dining. The drama of Succession meets the madcap tone of The Bear, where loyalty simmers, ambition cuts like a knife, and nothing is off the table.
FAMILY MEAL is our way of holding space, breaking bread, and offering a shared experience that reminds us we’re not alone.
So why this project?
FAMILY MEAL speaks to the shared heart of both the theater and culinary worlds. It’s no secret that in our current tumultuous climate, art in all forms have had our stability tested. This is why it’s so important for us to make this work: in a time where people are still gathering less, we’re creating new, innovative ways to have complex conversations.
This experience is a brand new, first time collaboration between Chef Ben Baron's Order/Fire Productions & The Speakeasy Society.
Chef Ben has been passionate about creating memorable culinary experiences since he first started as a Hibachi Chef in 2010, from his humble Midwest beginnings in Green Bay, WI to working at top Los Angeles restaurants like Bestia, Sqirl, Roberta’s, and most recently as CDC at Petit Trois Le Valley. Now based in Southern California, he consults for local restaurant groups and heads Humble Ben's, a full-service catering and events company.
The Speakeasy Society is a mainstay of the Los Angeles immersive scene, with over two decades of combined experience and more than twenty-three productions. Their work ranges from one-on-one covert performances (The Stronger), to large-scale events for thousands (North Pole Journey), to city-spanning narratives (The Kansas Collection). They’ve also partnered with major themed entertainment leaders—including Walt Disney Imagineering, Meow Wolf, and Two Bit Circus — to deliver intimate storytelling at scale.
Like working the dinner rush — we can’t do this alone, and we are honored to lean on our communities for your support.
Our goal for this crowdfund is $5,000. These funds will help us produce 12 shows, your funds will go directly towards:
Dinner. That’s right—every night, Chef Ben is cooking a five-course meal, live.
Venue We've found the perfect space for our service RITA House
Rehearsals to train both performance and kitchen timing
Wardrobe and costume coordination
Scenic design to transform the space into a working restaurant/theater
Equipment rentals (kitchen, plating, service)
Sound & lighting to bring the story—and space—to life
Insurance to keep everyone safe, covered, and legal
And... OUR INCREDIBLE CAST!
These are performers who don’t just act; they move with the rhythm of a kitchen, pour with purpose, and deliver lines with the precision of a knife’s edge. They come from all walks of theater, film, fine dining, and everything in between. They can make you laugh, make you cry, and still get your order out on time!
With your support, FAMILY MEALwill premiere in Los Angeles in October 2025. We are delighted to offer a variety of creative rewards in exchange for your generosity and enthusiasm over this project.
August 2025 - Rehearsals
September 2025 - Workshop Rehearsals + Pre-Production
October 2025 - Previews + Opening weekends
November 2025 - Secondary show weekends + Remount waitlist opens
Help Us Bring People Together.
With your support, we will be at the forefront of innovative creative and culinary community building. This is a project we hope will have legs, and will inspire people from all walks of life to sit together. Contribute today, share our work with your communities, and help us ensure that there's a seat for everyone at the table. We just can’t do this without you.
Thank you!!
Rewards
Chef's Good Karma
Donate $25.00 or more
Amount is fully tax-deductible.
Every contribution counts, and everyone gets a seat at our virtual table for supporting us. We'll celebrate you by dropping your photo into our world of fine dining, to be shared on social media in our daily shout outs.
Behind the Speakeasy
Donate $50.00 or more
Amount over $2.00 is tax-deductible.
Chef's Good Karma included! PLUS, for bumping up to this particularly helpful tier, we'll send you virtual access to all the goods: our exclusive files of behind the scenes photo and video as we put together our project. You're truly a part of it.
Signed Thank You card
Donate $100.00 or more
Amount over $4.00 is tax-deductible.
All previous rewards plus a tangible, personalized keepsake from our hearts (and desks) to you.
Cooking Tutorial with Ben
Donate $250.00 or more
Amount over $10.00 is tax-deductible.
All of our previous rewards, plus: you will receive an exclusive, one-of-kind video tutorial from Ben's kitchen to your screen. You'll have the opportunity to make your selection of which recipe you'd like to receive, and you'll get a virtual taste of our 1:1 experience that you're helping to support.
After Party!
Donate $500.00 or more
Amount over $20.00 is tax-deductible.
Every previous reward! Only at this tier, you've really outdone yourself: you're invited to join a post-rehearsal hangout where you can ask us any questions about the process, and we'll regale you with stories of experience design and kitchen creativity.
You're welcome to come in-person or we'll hop on a zoom with you!
Invited Dress
Donate $750.00 or more
Amount over $100.00 is tax-deductible.
Every reward thus far, but at this tier, you're clearly near and dear. Join us for our Friends & Family Invited Dress Rehearsal. This is a coveted experience where you'll get to get in on the goods before the hype makes it utterly impossible for you to get in -- and you can say, "I was there when...."
Chefs Table- Private Dinner Pop -Up
Donate $1,000.00 or more
Amount over $150.00 is tax-deductible.
Aside from every single tier listed so far, you'll get something truly special: two tickets to a private five course dinner pop up in East LA with Ben on December 6th, 2025.
Can't make this event in-person? Can't make this event in-person? Ben will schedule a one-hour cooking call with you directly!
