Submitted

Salisbury’s Lee Street Theatre is presenting “The Cake,” written by Bekah Brunstetter, a regular writer on TV’s “This Is Us.” “The Cake,” this “Brilliant…Powerful and meaningful” (New York Times) production is based on the Masterpiece Cakeshop court case in Colorado. It will run Feb. 21-23 and Feb. 28-March 2 at Lee Street theatre.
The cast features Alice Rich as Della, Jess Johnson as Macy, Emma Rose at Jen, Chuck Riordan as Tim and Len Clark as Voice.
Director Kindra Steenerson notes that the characters come to the table with a complex set of values. “Real people bring their baggage, their insecurities, their fears, their hopes. Their love. Real people can acknowledge, and respect, their differences AND see they are more like one another than those obvious differences allow. There is plenty to like or dislike about any of these characters, but Brunstetter keeps a disciplined distance from the demonization or exaltation of any one of them. Of course, it never hurts to examine biases and prejudice with a healing dose of humor as this play does. We are way more apt to listen to others when we don’t feel the weight of the soapbox.”
Steenerson goes on to note that what emerges from the story is the need for us all to “listen rather than litigate.” It is only by respecting others’ values and relationships that we can truly engage in productive discourse on issues like free speech, religious freedom, and civil rights.

Jen lives in New York but has always dreamed of getting married in her small North Carolina hometown, so she heads down south with her partner to ask Della, her late mother’s best friend, to do the honors of making the wedding cake at her bakery. Della’s cakes are legendary – even earning her a spot as a contestant on the Great American Baking Show. She is overjoyed at Jen’s request – until she realizes there’s not just one bride, but two, forcing her to re-examine some of her deeply-held beliefs, as well as her own marriage. Faith, family and frosting collide in this touching and timely new play.

Tickets are available at www.LeeStreet.org or 704-310-5507.