These donuts look yummy, right? Don’t take a bite just yet. They’re made out of foam. That’s right, when I’m not making fun real sweets at home, I’m making these delicious food props at work. I work at a theater and make props for the plays and musicals in production there. This particular batch of donuts was crafted for a production of Sunsets and Margaritas by José Cruz González.

A couple of seasons ago we put on a production of The Baker’s Wife, a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and the book by Joseph Stein, in which we had to create an entire bakery of pastries, bread, and other delectable treats. Unfortunately I didn’t get very many great pictures of the food props we made for that show, but here’s a picture of a strawberry and cherry tart that didn’t turn out too terrible.

Not too long ago I made a chocolate chip cookie for a lunch tray that was used in a production of Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead by Bert V. Royal. If I were to make this one again, I’d do something more pronounced for the chunks of chocolate because it looks a little flat, but it worked for its purpose.

Believe it or not, making real treats is soooo much easier than making ones that have to hold up on stage. Sometimes we use real food, but it’s not as practical since it can attract ants, spoil, and be a mess to clean up. It is gratifying to make a prop replica of food and fool the actors with it, though.

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