'Cookin' to end off-Broadway run after 632 performances

The producers of Cookin' - the international stage sensation and first-ever long running Korean production in New York City- announced the show will play its final Off-Broadway performance on the 7 Aug 2005 at the Minetta Lane Theatre, after 632 performances and a 16 month run. The show had been booking to the 4 Sep 2005.

Conceived and directed by Seung Whan Song, Cookin' officially opened on Sunday, March 7, 2004, following previews from the 20 Feb.

In a statement, producer Simone Genatt said, "It has been a great pleasure to have Cookin' in New York where it has given a tremendous amount of joy to audiences, especially the countless families who were in the theatre at each performance. We owe a debt of gratitude to the many wonderful Korean artists who have performed in the show over the past 16 months, as well as our generous Korean sponsors."

Cookin' continues to have a global presence. It recently concluded a highly successful North American Tour and will continue to tour world-wide. Future plans also include a tour of Mainland China, Indonesia and Hong Kong as well as multiple scheduled engagements throughout Europe and Russia.

Cookin' stars Young Hoon Kim, Kang Il Kim, Seung Jun Lee, Chu Ja Seo and Ho Yeoul Sul. At certain performances, the show is will be performed by Ji Wook Yang, Byung Ho Kim, Ji Won Kang, and Sung Min Lee.

Cookin' is presented Off-Broadway by PMC Production Co. Ltd., Seung Whan Song, Kwang Ho Lee, The Broadway Asia Company, Simone Genatt Haft and Marc Routh, in association with Zemiro, Mort Swinsky and Amy Danis/ Mark Johannes. The play was recently presented as part of the 2003-2004 season at New York's New Victory Theatre.

Staged in a restaurant kitchen, Cookin' is a hilarious non-verbal percussion show featuring four crazy Korean chefs who are working against the clock to prepare a complete wedding banquet. With an overheated Maitre D' intent on keeping the foursome on schedule, Cookin' slices, dices, chops and beats a blend of martial arts, drumming and dance.

Originally developed in Seoul by PMC Production Co. Ltd. in 1997, Cookin' applies the traditional rhythms of Samulnori - a form of Korean music - to a fast-paced kitchen percussion show combining comedy, rhythm and non-verbal performance. The typical instruments of Samulnori have all been replaced with utensils commonly found in the kitchen including knives, cutting boards, pots, pans, chopsticks and woks.

In the last five years, Cookin' has entertained over two million people worldwide, having performed in more than 20 countries throughout Europe, Asia and North America. In Korea alone, more than one million people have attended performances of Cookin', making it the longest-running show in the history of Korean Performing Arts.

Cookin' features scenic design by Dong Woo Park, costume design by Hee Joo Kim, lighting design by Hak Young Kim and sound design by Jai Hyun Park.