26-27 Proposal: The Cake

The Cake by Bekah Brunstetter

Directed by  Leigh Matthews Bock

Show Synopsis

About The Cake: All is going well for Della. Her North Carolina bakery is legendary and she’s just been cast on her favorite television baking competition. But then, her late-best-friend’s daughter comes home from New York City to ask her to make a cake for her upcoming wedding. When Della learns that Jen’s about to marry a woman, she is forced to re-examine her deeply held beliefs, as questions of morals, judgment, and family swirl around them all.

Vision Statement

For me, The Cake highlights the differences in our belief systems regarding a controversial topic, but instead of seeking to resolve the issue, The Cake puts faces and hearts to those opposing sides and asks us to empathize.

At the end of the play, profound issues around religion and sexuality remain, which is how it should be because, in reality, many of life’s small moments have the ability to push us from our comfort zone and lead to real change and growth if we allow it.

"Empathy begins with understanding life from another person's perspective." (- Sterling K. Brown) and that seems to be something many are sorely lacking. 

Playwright Bekah Brunstetter tackles this tricky topic with humor and heart and leaves plenty of room for self-reflection.

I would stage this play with Della’s bakery center stage and the short but important bedroom scenes behind and above the bakery in the dark until needed. What feels most important to me is character believability and likeability. Both must be solid for audiences to be open to empathy for each character and the situation they find themselves in. 

Baking show lovers who have yet to discover the Majestic just may find The Cake that pulls them in. The Cake is a smartly written and funny show that is packed full of meaning.