Wedding Cake For Theater Prop
Decorating By practiceandpatience Updated 27 Mar 2012 , 1:29am by KoryAK
I have been asked to make a dummy cake for our local theater. Due to the hot lights during shows, I was originally going to ice the dummies with RI., but I would prefer the modern look of fondant.
Do you think fondant would hold up under the heat of the stage lights?
If it holds up to high and humid temps at beach weddings wouldn't it also hold up for your occasion?
My other suggestion is why not make a real cake so the cast & crew can enjoy it after the show is done?
The show probably has to run for numerous dates. I did a party cake for a theater prop once. The show ran for two weeks, so a real cake wouldn't have been an option. I used PermaIce on the prop I did, but fondant should be fine.
Thank you both! you are correct Leah_s, the show will run for 8 shows over 2 1/2 weeks. I am glad you both think should be ok, I really would rather work with the fondant vs RI!!
I would use cake dummies and spackle tinted the colors I wanted! Why not? It has the consistency of frosting, and dries hard!
*** Plus a "spackle cake" (yes, I'm talking about the stuff for walls) would last a long time! Think of the possibilities! Once it was done (completely dry...might take a few days), you could even spray it with a matt, glossy or even a pearl finish! If the spackle out of the tub is too "wet" you could even thicken it with a bit of white non-sanded grout.
*** Plus a "spackle cake" (yes, I'm talking about the stuff for walls) would last a long time! Think of the possibilities! Once it was done (completely dry...might take a few days), you could even spray it with a matt, glossy or even a pearl finish! If the spackle out of the tub is too "wet" you could even thicken it with a bit of white non-sanded grout.
And for future "weddings/partys" at the theatre you could add or take away from the same cake to make a new look one without having to redo the lot!
Fondant will last a good long time too. I have dummies from 5 years ago in my office and aside from the dust they are perfect, and it gets HOT in there in the summertime.
I haven't tried it yet, but have heard that foam insulation works well for dummy cakes.
* Won't fondant fade in time though?
* Some foam insulation (from the can) expands when sprayed....might be harder to control??
I have used spackle. Everything used w/it (bags, tips etc) will have to be thrown out after use. It cannot be cleaned
And I have never had any too wet - just the opposit.
One must use acrylic(sp?) paints to color it. And it leaves a wierd smell
In this case I think her best bet is using fondant. Probably Wilton's since no one will be eating it
The one's I have haven't faded much at all. The one that had teal on it faded a wee bit, but not much, and that's been in there for 3+ years. I had a pink one too that didn't fade either. You have to keep them out of direct sunlight, but mine were in the open on a wire shelf in my office that has 2 big windows.
Thank you all for your help! the spackle idea is a great one, (and I would never have thought of that!) except that they will not be keeping the prop as their area for storage is limited, sooo since I will be getting it back, I would like to be able to reuse the dummies. I was worried about fading also, so I think I will go with white fondant and decorations (swags more than likely as smaller decoration will not be visible on stage) and have the color coming from the gumpaste flowers, which I had planned on dusting or airbrushing with color to prevent fading.
Again all of your feedback gives me alot more confidence in this project!!!
Spackle would be ok for piping decorations I think (but so would royal) but I covered a whole cake in it once and it was awful! Firmer than icing so it was hard to put on the light dummy and it wanted to dry out really fast (I am in a very dry area).
Just do the fondant.
As far as fading goes, I have found that cakes with the color mixed into the fondant fade far worse than those with the color airbrushed on.
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