Nationally Touring Show & Film

MAKIN' CAKE

"Slice into a Community Conversation on Culture, Class, Race & Cake"

Kelly cuts into a cake, revealing what its history and ingredients can teach us about race, class and equity in America. Experience the live performance by Dasha and her baker, plus a delicious conversation and cake.

View Tour Dates Inquire / Book Show

The Performance Experience

A Sweet Metaphor for Complex Conversations

Makin' Cake cuts through race, class, culture, and history through the lens of America's favorite dessert. Using vignette storytelling, poetry, and live baking dynamics, Dasha Kelly leads audiences through a multi-layered examination of privilege, labor, and connection.

Praise & Reactions

"Brilliant and compelling storytelling of a very serious topic. WOW!"

— Patricia CarrollUniversity of Wisconsin Extension

"Makin' Cake is brilliantly performed! Dasha creatively uses layers of cake and the evolution of its ingredients to teach the history of race, class and inequity and how 'isms' got built into our culture. Remarkable!"

— Karen NelsonDirector of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for Rogers Memorial Health

"Dasha crafted an event that filled the theatre with learning, discussion, laughter, and applause! Props to Dasha for creating and delivering a meaningful message that applies to all of us."

— Christy SchwanPresident of Ozaukee County League of Women Voters

"Dasha's way of telling a slice of America's history is captivating and makes the bad ingredients a little easier to swallow because they, too, are a part of the cake."

— Bregetta WilsonCommunity Advocate

"And best of all, there was something baking during the production that was better than cake. The sense of community. I left feeling closer to the person next to me. And I think we could all use a second helping of that these days. Bravo."

— Scottie Lee MyersJournalist, PBS

"She takes us through history as she deals with race, culture, women's roles, class structure, inequity and more. It's a lot to bite off—no matter how you slice it."

— Shepherd ExpressArts & Culture Review

"So deliciously presented!"

— Sharon LezbergUniversity of Wisconsin Extension