CUPCAKE: THE MUSICAL

“A new musical based on illegal cupcakes on Cape Cod. Yes, really.”

That’s from Cupcake: The Musical’s press release, and one look at the phrase “illegal cupcakes” had me chomping at the bit to figure out what the hell this whole sugar-high song and dance was all about. When he heard the real-life ridiculous tale of Scott Cunningham, who received a citation for selling cupcakes on the street in Provincetown, Bradley Seeman mentioned it in passing to composer friend Mark Wartofsky, saying that they should use the headline as the prompt for a musical—and he meant it as a joke.

“He was kidding, but we took it seriously!” says David Reiffel, Cupcake’s lyricist.

“We were just inspired by the idea of somebody selling on the street and getting harassed by the cops.”

The similarities between Cunningham’s culinary plight and Cupcake’s plot stop with the bare bones, though, and Reiffel and company fleshed out a goofy jaunt off of that one prompt. “The character in the musical is nothing like Scott, except that he’s very charming and makes cupcakes. Scott’s very charming and makes cupcakes. So, it wasn’t really based on him.”

In Cupcake, a group of locals in a summer town (much like Provincetown) band together to keep Tom, baker and street food law-breaker, from getting arrested by overachieving Officer Stone. Hijinx ensue (as they often do in any situation involving vibratos and time steps) and we’re presented with a show so short and sweet it’ll give you a toothache—so sweet, in fact, that it was included as part of Pride’s opening weekend celebrations with a brief preview performance at Faneuil Hall. As thrilled as Reiffel is to be included in Pride, he’s just as elated for Cupcake’s full run at Club Café.

“I’ve sponsored the parade and marched in it various times, but this is the first time that I’ve had a part of something actually being featured. Boston Pride is a lot of fun and I love it, and I hope people will come out to see it.

It’s a rambunctious, raucous, but at the same time very sweet, fun evening of theater.”

CUPCAKE: THE MUSICAL

NOW PLAYING THROUGH SUN 6.24.12
CLUB CAFÉ
209 COLUMBUS AVE.
BOSTON
617.536.0966
TIMES VARY/21+/$25-35
@CLUBCAFEBOSTON
CLUBCAFE.COM