Obie-Award winning actor-playwright Matthew Maguire joins forces with Ridge Theatre helmer Bob McGrath and composer Michael Gordon for Chaos, a comic science-fiction opera, at The Kitchen Oct. 7 - 24.

Described as "a journey through the micro-cogs of the 'Chaos Zone'," Chaos fuses jazz, rock and classical music structure to tell the tongue-in-cheek tale of two scientists battling against political intrigue to revolutionize science as we know it.

Librettist Maguire won a 1997-98 Obie Award for his performance in Mac Wellman's one-person show, I Don't Know Who He Was and I Don't Know What He Said. Other plays by Maguire include The Tower and an adaptation of Racine's Phaedre.

McGrath is also a veteran of Wellman's dramaturgy; his Ridge Theatre produced The Sandlewood Box at La Mama.

The Kitchen, once the mecca of experimental theatre and performance art, has recently turned more toward dance and video installations. Performers Eric Bogosian, Laurie Anderson and Karen Finley were all staples of The Kitchen's repertory in the early eighties. Chaos, in a co-production with Ridge Theatre and Creation Production Company, performs at The Kitchen (512 West 19th Street) October 7 - 24. For reservations or more information, call (212) 255-5793.

-- By Sean McGrath