Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup: Stage food?

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Stage food?

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup
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URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2714
Printed Date: 7/27/25 at 6:17am
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Topic: Stage food?

Posted By: Just a nut
Subject: Stage food?
Date 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!

Replies:

Posted By: Topper
Date 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.

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Posted By: Linda S
Date 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

Posted By: mlittle329
Date 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.

Posted By: Linda S
Date 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

Posted By: mlittle329
Date 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?

Posted By: mlittle329
Date 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?

Posted By: Linda S
Date 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

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

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

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