Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Stage food?

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Just a nut
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Topic: Stage food?
Posted: 10/04/07 at 11:59pm

We are looking to create stage cakes for ballerinas to dance with in the Nutcracker. Does anyone have suggestions about durable, believable materials to use?
The set we have used in the past were pink foam core covered in real buttercream that was left to harden and then shellacked. Sadly they molded...I figure there has to be something better. I'd really appreciate some advice.
Thanks!

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Posted: 10/05/07 at 1:40am

Don't use buttercream, next time use drywall joint-topping compound. It has similar consistency to cake frosting and can even be applied in a similar fashion. It will dry rock-hard and can be painted or shellacked.

The finished product might be a wee bit heavier than actual cakes, but that's the trade-off for durability.

"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone

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Linda S
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Posted: 10/05/07 at 7:57am

I used a styrofoam core and covered it with a thin sheet of craft foam. It comes in a variety of colors and sizes. It looks a lot like fondant (rolled cake icing), and it pins in place very easily. I then decorated the cake with royal icing. It is a lot like drywall compound, but it didn't gum up pastry bags. The last one I made 4 years ago is still in good shape in the prop room.

Linda

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mlittle329
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Posted: 10/11/07 at 9:06am

Please be more specific on your use of craft foam for icing. didyou have to splice the foam to cover curves? Great idea, we were thinking about paper mache.

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Linda S
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Posted: 10/11/07 at 12:27pm

It is in most craft stores with the paper. It is very pliable and cuts easily with scissors. It is about and 1/8 of an inch thick. It is smooth and actually looks like fondant. That is what gave me the idea. Bigger craft stores have bigger sheets, but Walmart has 8x10 inch sizes & I think 11x17. It is really cheap too. If I remember it is around a dollar for for a big sheet. I hope that helps.

Linda

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mlittle329
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Posted: 10/11/07 at 1:39pm

Thanks, Linda. I meant how did you apply it to the styrofoam form's curves? Were there seams showing?

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mlittle329
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Posted: 10/11/07 at 1:41pm

As long as we are on the subject of food. We need a big roasted turkey for a Christmas party scene. Any suggestions?

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Linda S
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Posted: 10/11/07 at 2:01pm

Okay, The foam is so flexible I attached it to the foam core with straight pins. Almost too easy. There was a seam, but I after I got done piping on the icing you couldn't see it. I was thinking for the fulture I might try doing the whole cake out of sewing notions: silk flowers, beads, lace, ribbon etc. It could be fun.

Now for the turkey. I found a 25lb frozen turkey that had the shrink wrap molded right to it. I carefully took the turkey out of shrink wrap and washed it really well. I then stuffed the shrink wrap package with fiber fill. I had a perfect mold of the turkey. I then faux painted the whole thing. It was really light, but they character carried it in a basket. That lasted the run of the show. I did the same thing with chickens. We ate a lot poultry for that show!

I hope this helps.

Linda

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gracie
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Posted: 10/16/07 at 10:14pm

Turkey: We had a local artist who frequently does things for us make one from paper mache.

www.vermillionplayers.com

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Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup

Author	Message
Just a nut Walk-On Joined: 10/04/07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: Stage food? Posted: 10/04/07 at 11:59pm
	We are looking to create stage cakes for ballerinas to dance with in the Nutcracker. Does anyone have suggestions about durable, believable materials to use? The set we have used in the past were pink foam core covered in real buttercream that was left to harden and then shellacked. Sadly they molded...I figure there has to be something better. I'd really appreciate some advice. Thanks!

	IP Logged

Topper Celebrity Joined: 1/27/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 543	Posted: 10/05/07 at 1:40am
	Don't use buttercream, next time use drywall joint-topping compound. It has similar consistency to cake frosting and can even be applied in a similar fashion. It will dry rock-hard and can be painted or shellacked. The finished product might be a wee bit heavier than actual cakes, but that's the trade-off for durability.
	"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone
	IP Logged

Linda S Celebrity Joined: 4/16/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 312	Posted: 10/05/07 at 7:57am
	I used a styrofoam core and covered it with a thin sheet of craft foam. It comes in a variety of colors and sizes. It looks a lot like fondant (rolled cake icing), and it pins in place very easily. I then decorated the cake with royal icing. It is a lot like drywall compound, but it didn't gum up pastry bags. The last one I made 4 years ago is still in good shape in the prop room. Linda
	IP Logged

mlittle329 Walk-On Joined: 2/01/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 10/11/07 at 9:06am
	Please be more specific on your use of craft foam for icing. didyou have to splice the foam to cover curves? Great idea, we were thinking about paper mache.
	IP Logged

Linda S Celebrity Joined: 4/16/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 312	Posted: 10/11/07 at 12:27pm
	It is in most craft stores with the paper. It is very pliable and cuts easily with scissors. It is about and 1/8 of an inch thick. It is smooth and actually looks like fondant. That is what gave me the idea. Bigger craft stores have bigger sheets, but Walmart has 8x10 inch sizes & I think 11x17. It is really cheap too. If I remember it is around a dollar for for a big sheet. I hope that helps. Linda
	IP Logged

mlittle329 Walk-On Joined: 2/01/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 10/11/07 at 1:39pm
	Thanks, Linda. I meant how did you apply it to the styrofoam form's curves? Were there seams showing?
	IP Logged

mlittle329 Walk-On Joined: 2/01/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 10/11/07 at 1:41pm
	As long as we are on the subject of food. We need a big roasted turkey for a Christmas party scene. Any suggestions?
	IP Logged

Linda S Celebrity Joined: 4/16/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 312	Posted: 10/11/07 at 2:01pm
	Okay, The foam is so flexible I attached it to the foam core with straight pins. Almost too easy. There was a seam, but I after I got done piping on the icing you couldn't see it. I was thinking for the fulture I might try doing the whole cake out of sewing notions: silk flowers, beads, lace, ribbon etc. It could be fun. Now for the turkey. I found a 25lb frozen turkey that had the shrink wrap molded right to it. I carefully took the turkey out of shrink wrap and washed it really well. I then stuffed the shrink wrap package with fiber fill. I had a perfect mold of the turkey. I then faux painted the whole thing. It was really light, but they character carried it in a basket. That lasted the run of the show. I did the same thing with chickens. We ate a lot poultry for that show! I hope this helps. Linda
	IP Logged

gracie Walk-On Joined: 4/04/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 10/16/07 at 10:14pm
	Turkey: We had a local artist who frequently does things for us make one from paper mache.
	www.vermillionplayers.com
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Topic: Stage food?( Topic Closed)