The World Needs More Stories… Insightful, Thought-Provoking, Quality Stories.

Macy (Alexandra Taylor) and Della (Julia Glander) in Williamston Theatre's production of "The Cake" by Bekah Brunstetter. Photo by Chris Purchis.

And that’s exactly what you’ll get when visiting the Williamston Theatre in Downtown Williamston, Mich. What started as a vision in 2004 to create a small professional live theatre company in Mid-Michigan, has grown into something not-so-small — a professional theatre company with an exceptional roster of artists, telling stories that are hugely important for our communities!

For years, the Williamston Theatre has received many awards and accolades for the quality of their productions, quality of the artists they present on their stage, and certainly for the intentional, poignant and thoughtful stories they choose to tell.

I recently attended their latest production, The Cake, written by Bekah Brunstetter and directed at Williamston Theatre by Jasmine Rivera. And when I say the world needs more stories, they need more stories like The Cake. Real, raw and honest interactions of people we see every day.

In The Cake, all is going well for Della, a legendary North Carolina baker who seems to have it all… but when her late-best-friend’s daughter comes home from New York City to ask her to make a cake for her upcoming wedding -- to another woman -- Della has to re-examine her deeply held beliefs as they become much more complicated to justify when it’s someone she loves so dearly. Certainly, a theme that many LGBTQIA+ people have witnessed in their life.

Della (Julia Glander) in Williamston Theatre's production of "The Cake" by Bekah Brunstetter. Photo by Chris Purchis.

But why is this story important? Why does Brunstetter’s juxtaposition of challenging and comedic dialogue add this delicious layer of butter cream that you simply must enjoy?

Because it’s subtle – but also blatantly clear. It’s relevant to the real-life experiences that LGBTQIA+ people face each and every day. Della, played by the incredibly charismatic Julia Glander, is a true southern belle – sweet as pie and seems as though she couldn’t hurt a fly, but proves that words and actions are hurtful, and they have consequences. But it’s the contentious relationship between her and the reluctant fiancé, Macy, played by a bold and fearless Alexandra Taylor, that demonstrates how trying to sympathize with a difference in beliefs is hard – really hard. But as we see in the play, with that extra effort to show empathy, to teach and to inform someone about their hurtful and discriminatory beliefs, some people may just be able to change…

Stories are important, and stories like The Cake are relatable, they are impactful, and they make you leave the theater thinking and asking questions.

The Williamston Theatre operates out of a quaint and unique black-box space, but don’t let its intimate nature make you question the big things coming out of this true artistic gem in the heart of Michigan. They are telling the stories you want, the stories society needs, the stories that make theatre such a special vehicle to open dialogue.

The world needs more stories… insightful, thought-provoking, quality stories. Support professional artists and support professional theatre, and enjoy the feelings that stories at Williamston Theatre give you upon experiencing. You can learn more about the Williamston Theatre and the rest of their season and upcoming seasons by visiting williamstontheatre.org.

This article was written by Josh Holliday, Founder & Editor of Fresh Coast Perspective