Theatre is a Piece of Complicated Cake!
- CJ Norris
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Have you ever seen Is It Cake on Netflix?
It’s a competition show where skilled bakers make cakes to look like realistic everyday objects, in an attempt to trick celebrity sleuths.
These bakers are so talented and committed that they are able to navigate the messy, delicate process of baking, and create life-like masterpieces…out of cake!
The celebrity panel has the difficult task of identifying which of a group of like objects is actually a cake.
Rather than just enjoying the art, the celebrity guessers have to try and see through the illusion. They look at the details to find any imperfections or evidence of the mechanics it takes to make such a complex product.
Sometimes they get it right, and sometimes they don’t (which is good for the baker, as that individual wins money for their trickery!)
Is Theatre Cake?
Watching a musical theatre production is a lot like enjoying a beautifully presented cake. You don’t see the intricate and arduous work that goes into making such an impressive sensory feast.
You just see the result—and that’s by design.
The goal is to immerse the audience in a fantasy. We use smoke and mirrors (and countless hours of preparation) to create an other-worldly spectacle.
It would take days to uncover every single part of the theatre creation process, but here is a high-level overview of the production cycle. Hopefully it will help you appreciate the final product of the next play or musical you see just a bit more.
📖 Step 1: A Recipe is Created
Writers, composers, and lyricists create a show and hope to attract producers. • This often takes years.
🔎 Step 2: Baker Selects a Recipe and Kitchen
Producers choose to stage the creators’ finished work
The show is licensed to the production company
A theatre is booked to present the show at
🥚 Step 3: Ingredients Are Gathered
The director, stage manager, and others are hired by the producers
Hopeful performers audition to be in the show
The cast is pieced together like a complex puzzle
🧑🍳 Step 4: Measure, Mix & Refine
Rehearsals: The creative team and cast put together all the moving parts
Work begins on the set, props, costumes, lighting/sound design
Promotion picks up to drive ticket sales
♨️ Step 5: The Cake Gets Baked
'Tech week’ commences—band rehearsal, cue-setting, troubleshooting
All creative elements are meticulously merged (lots of ‘hurry up and wait’)
‘Hell week’ culminates in a dress rehearsal and preview performances
🎂 Step 6: The Big Reveal
Finally the production opens to the public
The entire team works to keep the machine oiled and running
Eventually the final curtain falls and the show closes
🧽 Step 7: Clean Up
The set and any special installations are dissembled
The costumes and props team puts things back where they came from
Producers reconcile the finances and make sure everyone got paid correctly
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