Photo by Richard Frant
(ORADELL, NJ) -- Enjoy a touching and topical dramedy as love clashes with conscience in Bergen County Players' (BCP) production of The Cake. The play, written by Bekah Brunstetter, producer/writer for the hit TV series This Is Us, is directed by Carol Fisher of Teaneck. It opens March 14 and runs through April 11, 2026 at the Little Firehouse Theatre in Oradell.
The Cake, which is inspired by real-life headlines and a case that made its way to the Supreme Court, centers around a warm devout Christian baker in North Carolina who faces a conflict of faith when the daughter of her late best friend asks her to create a wedding cake for her and her lesbian partner.
“The hot-button topic sounds like a recipe for theatrical controversy – especially when it presents a largely sympathetic portrait of its central character. So the biggest surprise about The Cake is how sweetly inoffensive it is.” (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER)
Photo by Richard Frant
The play grapples with many issues – including the complexity of changing long-held beliefs, as well as the need to humanize both sides of the political and religious divide. “For me, The Cake is a story of love, understanding and redemption. It portrays real people trying hard to find a path back to each other,” says director Fisher. “In a time when we seem to be going backwards in many ways, a play about love and understanding can be very moving and help remind us to have more acceptance of people not like us.”
Showtimes are Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00pm and Sundays at 2:00pm. Tickets are $30 on Fridays and Saturdays, and $28 on Sundays. Tickets are available for purchase online, by calling 201-261-4200, or by visiting the box office at 298 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell during regular box office hours. PLEASE NOTE: This play contains adult themes, language and content, as well as partial nudity.
A BCP Life Member, Teaneck resident Fisher has directed several productions for BCP, including Pride and Prejudice, Church and State, The Lion in Winter, The Last Night of Ballyhoo, A Shayna Maidel, Is There Life After High School? and Sordid Lives. Audiences have also enjoyed her performances at the Little Firehouse Theatre in various shows, including Steel Magnolias, Pippin and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
The talented cast of The Cake includes Holly Cerelli of Hasbrouck Heights, in her debut performance at BCP as Della, the heartwarming baker. Her husband, Tim, a “good ole boy,” is played by BCP newcomer John Klemek of Ringwood, NJ. Playing the role of Jen, who is practically Della’s daughter, is a familiar BCP name, Angelina Aragona of Township of Washington. Her Lesbian partner is Macy, played by yet another BCP newcomer, Kylah Wilson of Paterson. Rounding out the cast is BCP veteran Larry Brustofski of Oakland, as the voice of George, host of The Great American Bake-Off and the brutal conscience of Della.
Photo by Richard Frant
The production team of The Cake is comprised of Christine Francois (Producer and Assistant to the Director), Michelle Roth (Stage Manager), Jody Laufer (Set Design and Construction), Lauren Zenreich and Marci Weinstein (Set Décor), Richard Ciero (Prop Master), Scout Schiro (Costumes), Joellen Tierney (Dresser/Crew), Allan Seward (Lighting Design), Sandra Conklin (Lighting Operation), Tim Larsen (Sound Design), Aura Caicedo and Joe Ercole (Sound Operation), Richard Frant (Photography), Darlene Slezak, Ken Slezak, and Olga Garey (Crew), and Felicia Benson-Kraft (Member-At-Large).
Bergen County Players will donate a portion of the 2025-2026 season’s proceeds to Joan’s Joy Foundation of Hillsdale, New Jersey, which honors the memory of 7-year-old Girl Scout Joan Angela D’Alessandro. The Foundation promotes child safety via programs and provides fun experiences for at-risk children.
BCP’s popular Questions & Artists talkback session with cast and crew will be held following the performance on Friday, March 20. Joining the cast and crew will be Dan Daily, who played the role of Tim in the Broadway production of The Cake.
BCP offers seating to accommodate patrons who are mobility impaired and can transfer from a wheelchair. These seats can be purchased by calling the box office at 201-261-4200 and will be released for public sale two weeks prior to performance.
Advance discount tickets for students aged 25 and under with proper ID are available for $19 by phone or walk-up at every performance, pending seat availability and are not available online. There is a limit of one discount ticket per student ID.
Photo by Richard Frant
Rush discount tickets for students aged 25 and under with proper ID are available for $10 at the box office window, starting 30 minutes prior to curtain. There is a limit of one Rush ticket per student ID and cash is the only payment method accepted.
Parking is free for their patrons at the Park Avenue municipal lot, across the street, one-half block north of the theater, as well as street parking on Kinderkamack Road and various side streets, including municipal lots behind Town Hall and the Library on Church Street. All locations are within easy walking distance.
Bergen County Players, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to presenting quality theatrical productions to the community. Founded in 1932, BCP is one of America’s longest-running little theater companies.
Photo by Richard Frant
