DINING

Eat like a Broadway star: The Orpheum has a new cookbook full of cast party recipes

Memphis Commercial Appeal

The Orpheum is renowned by Broadway not just for its historic theater, but also for the lavish cast parties hosted for each touring show's cast and crew.

Now you can enjoy some of the Southern specialties that Broadway’s touring acts rave about in your own home.

The Friends of The Orpheum volunteer usher organization recently released “The Cast Party” cookbook.

Ellen Edge, clockwise from back left, Whit W. Grace, Kim Strong, Rhonda Collins, Vickie Snider, Carol Burdison, Cindi Maglothim, Elena Ross authors of The Cast Party, a
collection of southern recipes the crew at the Orpheum uses to feed the cast of traveling theatre groups.

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The book is a collection of recipes served at cast parties throughout the years.

“These are the Southern recipes we are known for at our cast parties,” said Elena Ross, cookbook chair and Friends of The Orpheum (known as FOTO for short) past-president. “When a cast sees our spread for the first time, their eyes get big like silver dollars. They have never seen anything like it.”

In between the Sunday matinee and evening performance of each touring Broadway show, FOTO treats the cast and crew to a homecooked meal. The spread is always over-the-top and filled with Southern dishes.

The volunteer organization even received national recognition for its hospitality in 2017. The Broadway League gave them the “Star of Touring” Award in honor of their cast parties.

The new cookbook is filled with quotes from Broadway stars who have performed at The Orpheum.

“After an actor tour through the town, one knows the #1 reason to love a stop in Memphis is for the phenomenal usher’s meal between shows on a Sunday,” said Edward Staudenmayer of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat". “Your costume won’t fit for the evening show, but it is completely worth it!”

This is the third edition of the cookbook. The exact publication date of the first edition is not known by the current members of FOTO, but the second edition was published in 2005.

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Authors Ellen Edge, Whit W. Grace, Kim Strong, Rhonda Collins, Vickie Snider, Carol Burdison, Cindi Maglothim, Elena Ross combined their efforts for the book The Cast Party, a collection of southern recipes the crew at the Orpheum uses to feed the cast of traveling theatre groups.

The idea for an updated version of the cookbook had been simmering in Ross’ mind for a while. In the spring, she and a group of seven other volunteers decided to get to work.

Ross’ co-chairs on the book were Ellen Edge and Vickie Snider. Carol Burdison, Rhonda Collins, Whit Grace, Cindi Maglothin and Kim Strong were on the committee as well.

“We started in May and met every week,” Ross said. “We would each bring recipes to try.”

The book is a compilation of favorite recipes from the first two editions, as well as recipes from the current FOTO members.

“We asked everyone to send in their recipes,” Ross said. “The ones we kept from the older books were ones we considered treasures.”

Proceeds from the book sales will go to fund The Orpheum’s education department as well as its Mending Hearts program for children who have lost a parent.

The book retails for $20 and can be purchased at orpheumgiftshop.com.

Jennifer Chandler is the Food & Dining reporter at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at jennifer.chandler@commercialappeal.com and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @cookwjennifer.