The Cake opens our 34th Season this Weekend!
- Feb 9, 2022
- 2 min read
The Cumberland Theatre will open its 34th Season this weekend with the touching and topical dramatic comedy The Cake. The show will run February 10th – 20th with Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 2:00 pm. Following the official opening night on Friday, February 11th will be a complimentary champagne reception to honor Dr. Peter Halmos for his contributions to the theatre. The show is being sponsored by Doug Schwab and Betsey Hurwitz-Schwab.
Written by Bekah Brunstetter (who is also a writer and producer on the famed television show This Is Us), The Cake is currently one of the most produced plays in regional theatres throughout the country. It centers around a vivacious, conservative North Carolina baker named Della who faces a crisis of conscience when Jen - whom she loves like a daughter - asks her to bake a cake for Jen's lesbian wedding to her partner Macy. Della prides herself on making cakes, not judgment calls – those she leaves to her husband, Tim, but for the first time in her life, Della is forced to re-examine her deeply held beliefs, as questions of morals, judgment and family swirl around them all.
Heading the cast as Della is local veteran actor Nicole Halmos. Recent CT appearances include Mrs. Peacock in Clue and several roles in A Christmas Carol. Also returning to CT as Della’s husband Tim is Shawn Cox, who was last seen as Colonel Mustard in Clue.
Making their Cumberland Theatre debuts will be New York based actor Olivia Billings as Jen and DC actor Ariana Caldwell as Macy. Billings has been seen in such productions as The Wolves (#8), Natural Shocks (Angela), and Matilda (Mrs. Wormwood). Caldwell is graduate of the University of Maryland's Theatre program. Her credits include Where Butterflies Go in the Winter (Zora), Noises Off (Belinda), and Citizen: An American Lyric (Citizen 1).
The show is under the direction of CT Artistic Director Kimberli Rowley. The design team includes Artistic Director Rhett Wolford (set design), Jennifer Clark (costume and prop design) and Brendon McCabe (lighting design). Other members of the creative team include Hayden Kline (stage manager), Eric Ringler (assistant stage manager), Caitlin Weems (props assistant), and Elizabeth Mudge (wardrobe assistant).
Tickets are available at cumberlandtheatre.com or by calling 301.759.4990. There will be a wine and cupcake tasting Friday, February 18th at 5:00 pm on the set of the show for a separate ticket price. More information is available on the theatre’s website. The VIP Star Box with food, beverages and balcony seating for eight people is also available to reserve by emailing kim@cumberlandtheatre.com.
Masks are required at all times inside the building.
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