The Welders set for World Premiere of 'Cake Eaters' at National Conservatory

The Welders, Washington DC's artist-led playwrights' collective, opens its latest world premiere production on February 7 with "Cake Eaters," a dystopian drama that playwright Rebecca Dzida has been developing for over a decade. Running through February 22 at the National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts, the production represents the first full-length work from the collective's current leadership cohort and arrives at what Dzida describes as a moment of great contention in the nation's capital.

At the center of "Cake Eaters" is Rex, a man caught between the crushing forces of an oppressive totalitarian government and a struggling revolutionary movement seeking to overthrow the monarchy. His world becomes further complicated when he encounters Yazzy, a mysterious young woman whose true identity threatens to pull him deeper into the deadly political machinations on both sides. As Rex struggles to maintain his autonomy and protect his family, he finds himself unable to distinguish reality from manipulation in a world where those in power control the narrative itself.

The play emerged from Dzida's longstanding fascination with the dynamics of power and revolution, drawing inspiration from historical upheavals like the French Revolution and more recent movements such as the Arab Spring. During her graduate studies in playwriting, she refined the work while engaging with the provocative theatrical traditions of Jean Genet, Sarah Kane, and Martin McDonagh. Though conceived years ago, Dzida notes that the themes resonate powerfully with contemporary political tensions, asking what the world might look like without radicalization and challenging audiences to question how authority shapes their understanding of reality.

Director Seth Rosenke leads a nine-person ensemble cast featuring John Jones, Caleigh Riordan Davis, Alex Aspiazu, Charlotte Kim, Philippos Sourvinos, Tristin Evans, Marley Kabin, Lila Cooper, and Cate Ginsberg through the two-hour-and-fifteen-minute production. The show marks a significant milestone for The Welders' current members—Shaquille Stewart, Taylor Payne, and Dzida—who have spent their tenure rebuilding and reimagining the organizational structures of the collective while staying true to its founding mission of championing new theatrical voices.

Founded in 2013 by six DC-area artists inspired by Cherríe Moraga's poem "The Welder," the collective operates on a unique model where leadership and resources pass to a new cohort at the end of each tenure, creating a sustainable pipeline for emerging playwrights. The organization maintains its commitment to supporting artists directly, with all proceeds from productions going to the performers and crew involved.