Confection
“shows us that the art of eating has always been an act”
– The Washington Post
“[Confection] is the type of silver covered dish you’d find at a formal banquet. Sometimes, when performers lift the top off, there’s something wonderful underneath. And sometimes, there’s something that will rattle you" - Maura Judkis, The Washington Post
About Confection
The Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, DC (2019)
Commissioned by Folger Theatre in association with Before ‘Farm to Table’: Early Modern Foodways and Cultures, Third Rail Projects’ Confection was a rollicking rumination on opulence, inequity, and teeny-tiny desserts. Using accounts of the extravagant banquets and sumptuous feasts held by the aristocracy of the late 17th-century as a springboard, Confection was a multi-sensory dance/theater performance that contemplated cultures of consumption and poses the questions: How much does sweetness cost, and what are we willing to devour to satisfy our appetites?
In this 50-minute experience, audiences were granted exclusive access to the Folger’s magnificent Paster and Sedgwick-Bond Reading Rooms, with a performance that winded its way through these massive and ornate spaces, and were invited to savor a bite-sized delight designed by local pâtissier, The Lupin Baking Company.
“The thrill of Confection is being so close to the images, getting to feel the fabric of the costumes brush against your skin or sitting at a banquet table as the performers prance by at eye level.” — Allie Goldstein, The DCist
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Joshua Dutton-Reaver, Marissa Nielsen-Pincus
Photo by Brittany Diliberto
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Marissa Nielsen-Pincus
Photo by Brittany Diliberto
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Justin Lynch
Photo by Brittany Diliberto
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Alberto Denis
Photo by Brittany Diliberto
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Elizabeth Carena
Photo by Brittany Diliberto
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The Cast of Confection
Photo by Brittany Diliberto
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Elizabeth Carena
Photo by Brittany Diliberto
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Confection
Photo by Brittany Diliberto
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Marissa Nielsen-Pincus
Photo by Brittany Diliberto
Credits
The Folger Theatre presents Confection by Third Rail Projects
World Premiere
Creative Team
Conceived and Written by Zach Morris
Directed and Choreographed by Zach Morris with Tom Pearson and Jennine Willett
Created in Collaboration with the Company
Performers
Elizabeth Carena, Alberto Denis, Joshua Dutton-Reaver, Justin Lynch, and Marissa Nielsen-Pincus
Additional Text: Tom Pearson
Assistant Director: Marissa Nielsen-Pincus
Original Music and Sound Design: Sean Hagerty
Co-Composer and Guitar: Isaiah Singer
Costume Design and Coordination: Karen Young
Assistant Scenic Design: Dan Daly
Props Design: Xandra Weaver
Lighting Design: Brittany Shemuga
Production Team
Production Manager: Brittany Crowell
Stage Manager: Kristina Vnook
Master Electrician: Alex Keen
Assistant Stage Manager: Kelli Jones
Wardrobe: Jenn Pinkos
Board Operator: Neil Satterlund
Patisserie: Lupin Baking Company, Lila Miller
Ephemera Coordinator: Joshua Dutton-Reaver
Special Thanks: The Collections Division, Security and Facilities for Folger Shakespeare Library, Caroline Bedinger, June Cesarano, Kiersten Dittrich, David Goldstein, Amanda Herbert, Ange Lopilato, Kathleen Lynch, Edward Rice, M.E. Guadalupe Rubi, Michaela Whiting, Heather Wolfe, Connor Zaft, The Junior League of Washington D.C.
Folger Theatre Staff
Artistic Producer: Janet Alexander Griffin
Associate Artistic Producer: Beth Emelson
General Manager: David Polk
Production Manager: Charles Flye
Assistant Technical Director: Rebekah Sheffer
Humanities Program Coordinator: Grace Ann Roberts
Public Programs Administrative Assistant: Emma Poltrack
Events Publicity and Marketing Manager: Peter Eramo, Jr.
Patron Services Manager: Heather Newhouse
House Managers: Lizzy Andrew, DJ Batchelor, Renée Beaver, Ryan Driscoll, Kate Gifford, Kaiya Lyons, Allison Marino, John Royals, Esther Young
Box Office Manager: Marianne Wald
Box Office Lead Associate: Grace Murtha
Box Office Associates: Bailey Blumenstock, Francesca Chilcote, Sierra Fritz, Annie Immediata, Patrick Kilbride, Rachel Messbauer, Ian Patrick, Gabby Wolfe
Project Support
Confection was commissioned by Folger Theatre in association with Before ‘Farm to Table’: Early Modern Foodways and Cultures, an inaugural project in the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation initiative in collaborative research, convened by the Folger Institute, led by Kathleen Lynch. The Before ‘Farm to Table’ interdisciplinary project, which continued through spring 2021, was directed by David Goldstein, Amanda Herbert, and Heather Wolfe, with postdoctoral fellows Jack Bouchard, Elisa Tersigni, Michael Walkden, and project coordinator Jonathan MacDonald.
In planning public offerings like Nell Gwynn, the exhibition on First Chefs, and Confection, scholars and artists came together for discussion and research, supported by the Folger’s rich collections. We have considered oranges in the Restoration theater, sugar production in the Caribbean, lavish entertainments in aristocratic settings, meager meals which most ate to survive, and the named and unnamed heroes of the early modern food world: professional cooks, marketers, laborers, and farmers, all of whom worked to feed themselves and many others.
Press Coverage
“Confection’ is worth seeing while you can. Like a good meal, you will never experience anything exactly like it again.” - Peter Orvetti, MD Theatre Guide
All Press Coverage
The Washington Post | Review | March 11, 2019
At this show, you get to eat cake. But you might feel a little guilty about it.
"[Confection] is the type of silver covered dish you’d find at a formal banquet. Sometimes, when performers lift the top off, there’s something wonderful underneath. And sometimes, there’s something that will rattle you" - Maura Judkis, The Washington Post
The Making of Confection | Youtube Documentary & Discussion | 2019
Exploring Third Rail Projects' Confection at the Folger Shakespeare Library
The DCist | Feature | March 6, 2019
Wander Forbidden Rooms, Sneak Some Dessert, And Learn Some History At Folger’s Immersive Show ‘Confection’
“The thrill of Confection is being so close to the images, getting to feel the fabric of the costumes brush against your skin or sitting at a banquet table as the performers prance by at eye level." — Allie Goldstein, The DCists
MD Theatre Guide | Review | March 11, 2019
Theatre Review: ‘Confection’ at Folger Theatre
"Confection’ is worth seeing while you can. Like a good meal, you will never experience anything exactly like it again." - Peter Orvetti, MD Theatre Guide
The Washington Post | Feature | March 7, 2019
‘Confection’ is about the (mostly) sweet side of life
Lila Miller, owner of D.C.-based Lupin Baking Company, talks to The Washington Post about the inspiration for the desserts served in Confection.