Michael John Gárces — who staged the work last season at Machado's homestage, New York's Intar Theatre — directs the work anew. Previews began Feb. 24 for the run scheduled through March 27.

Cuban-American playwright Machado serves up his story of a woman working in the kitchen in the mansion of a rich Cuban family when Castro comes into power. The regime change causes the lady of the house to flee to New York, leaving the cook to care for the family, home and husband and deal with the eventual return of the lady's daughter who comes back to claim her childhood home.

The cast features Zabryna Guevara reprising title role of Gladys opposite Felix Solis (Our Lady of 121st Street), Che Ayende (King Lear - Yale Repertory Theatre), Joselin Reyes (A Winter Party) and Monica Perez-Brandes.

Machado is currently the artistic director of New York's Intar and the author of more than 43 plays and translations. Among his work are The Modern Ladies of Guanabacoa, Broken Eggs, Fabiola and In the Eye of the Hurricane, Cuba and the Night, Crocodile Eyes and Havana is Waiting. He also serves as head of the playwriting program at Columbia University.

Director Garcés recently staged The Triple Happiness at Second Stage and Light Raise the Roof at New York Theatre Workshop. Other credits include Craig Wright’s Recent Tragic Events (Off-Broadway and the premiere Washington, D.C.'s Wooly Mammoth Theatre), Force Continuum (Atlantic Theatre), Finer Noble Gases (Humana Festival) and Havana is Waiting (Cherry Lane). The design team for The Cook includes Adam Stockhausen (scenic), Ben Stanton (lighting), Elizabeth Hope Clancy (costumes) and David Margolin Lawson (sound). The production features music by recording artist Jose Conde.

Tickets for The Cook at Hartford Stage, 50 Church Street in downtown Hartford, CT will be available by calling (860) 527-5151 . For more information, visit www.hartfordstage.org.