Photograph by Nick Schnelle
Michael Brightman should be nicknamed “Sugar”: His company, With Love Catering and Confections, is making life a little sweeter for local theater companies. Three years ago, Brightman noticed that theater intermission snacks were considered “an afterthought,” he says, by most area troupes. It was mostly uninspired chips, candy bars and soda. His offer of a few cookies here and a few brownies there has become a cottage industry, and he now supplies goodies to about a dozen local theater groups. Theatergoers can forgo the forgettable pouch of Cheetos at the close of Act I, and instead sample Brightman’s cranberry-almond caramel tart … his raspberry shortbread … his pumpkin streusel muffins …
We asked the actor/baker what he would prepare as the perfect intermission dessert to complement these classic plays and musicals.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
“That’s an intricate show with a lot of characters, and my pear and frangipane tart is pretty complicated, too.”
Sweeney Todd
“Definitely my apple pockets, because people always compare them to Mrs. Lovett’s meat pies.”
The Glass Menagerie
“Tennessee Williams specializes in Southern plays … and I make a Southern corn muffin and also a pecan pie.”
Hair
“Double fudge brownies. But we can call them ‘Mary Jane’ brownies.”
The Fantasticks
“This is a good show for lovers. My strawberry tart is sexy and romantic.”
Death of a Salesman
“The jumbo chocolate chip cookies—they’re so good, they sell themselves.”
The Elephant Man
“I don’t do elephant ears.”
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
“My mascarpone cheesecake, which is also Italian.”
Zorba
“Baklava, of course!”
Dreamgirls
“Sweet potato pie, with pecan streusel topping.”
The Heidi Chronicles
“Heidi is from the Swiss Alps, land of chocolate. How about a chocolate buttermilk cake with milk chocolate icing?” [Writer’s note: Jewish Heidis love chocolate, too!]
Mame
“Something Christmassy—like my gingerbread loaf with orange cream cheese icing.”
Oliver
“Jumbo oatmeal-raisin cookies. Oatmeal is a little like gruel, I guess …”
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
“They did Joseph at STAGES, and I did an ‘Amazing Technicolor Dreamcake.’ It was a giant chocolate cupcake split in two, with a ribbon of white royal icing between the halves and sprinkles on top.”
For more information, go to withlovecatering.com.
