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A Night at Knife Pleat Paired With South Coast Repertory’s Eat Me

04.12.26

South Coast Repertory and Knife Pleat are teaming up for a limited culinary and theatre experience that pairs a Michelin-starred meal with select performances of Eat Me, the world premiere comedy by Talene Monahon.

The collaboration brings together one of the country’s leading regional theatres and one of Southern California’s most celebrated dining destinations for an experience that blends cuisine and live performance.

“Pairing dinner and a show is about as classic as a great night out can get. Pairing fine dining at Knife Pleat and a world-premiere comedy about obsessing over food is an invitation to participate in a meta-theatrical experience of art imitating life,” said Suzanne Appel. “Artistic Director David Ivers and I found in Knife Pleat’s Chef Tony Esnault and Restaurateur Yassmin Sarmadi co-conspirators in the expansion of theatre’s artistic possibilities. Our aim with this pairing is to create a unique experience that, from table to stage, captures our deeply human need to nourish our bodies and our souls.”

The $275 per person package begins with a 5 p.m. prix fixe menu at Knife Pleat, followed by premium tickets to a 7:30 p.m. performance. Upcoming dates include April 14, April 16, April 18, April 23, April 24, April 25, April 29, May 1 and May 2. Each evening is limited to 16 guests, with a maximum of six per party.

Eat Me centers on a group of food-obsessed characters navigating appetite, identity and connection. The play was inspired in part by Gourmand Syndrome, a rare condition linked to an intense fixation on fine food.

Knife Pleat, led by Tony Esnault and Yassmin Sarmadi, has held a Michelin star since 2021. The restaurant brings contemporary French, ingredient-driven cuisine to the penthouse level of South Coast Plaza.

Reservations are available through South Coast Repertory at scr.org or by phone. Subscribers may add the dining experience to existing tickets for $195, plus any applicable upgrade fees.

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A Film Festival Putting Neurodivergent Talent Front and Center

04.12.26

Blu Star Productions is launching the inaugural Blu Star Film Festival on Saturday, May 2 at The Frida Cinema, with in-person screenings scheduled from 3 to 11 p.m. The festival will also stream online, extending its reach well beyond the theater.

The event features the work of eight Southern California production studios made up entirely of neurodivergent adults, many on the autism spectrum. These filmmakers are paid and credited for their work, but their films are often only seen within their own studio communities. This festival changes that, bringing their work to a broader audience in a shared, public setting.

Founded by Alex Astrella, Blu Star Productions was created by an artist with a disability for artists with disabilities, with a focus on providing resources and opportunities to showcase their work on a larger stage. Astrella, who is autistic, set out to highlight creators who have often been underestimated and to create a space where their work is taken seriously.

“I see myself in so many of the artists who are participating in our festival; like myself, they were told at a young age they wouldn’t ever live independently. However they have defied the odds and are now making films for audiences around the world to see,” Astrella said.

The 2026 festival includes notable guests such as Dani Bowman, along with voices in the neurodivergent community like Kerry Magro and Eileen Lamb, and participating studios including Exceptional Minds and Spectrum Laboratory.

For those attending in person, the festival is structured in screening blocks, with several pass options depending on how much of the day to experience. A single-block pass is available, along with multi-block and all-access options that include early entry and reserved seating. There is also a virtual pass that provides access to the full film catalog, livestreams, and Q&As from home.

The festival continues online after the in-person event, with additional livestreams, Q&As, and at-home viewing options available through the platform.

Tickets and more information, here thefridacinema.org/movies/blustar-film-festival/ 

The Frida Cinema is at 305 E 4th St #100, Santa Ana.

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