Connie Bishop as Jimmie, Donna P. Colburn as Gaynelle, and Sidney Covington as Peaches, the Verdeen cousins, taste Gaynelles' recipe for her red velvet cake during rehearsals for Meridian Little Theatre's presentation MLT Red Velvet Cake Competition.

    In conjunction with the upcoming production of The Red Velvet Cake War, Meridian Little Theatre is hosting a red velvet cake contest. Stir up your best red velvet cake recipe with your own secret ingredients and our panel of judges will decide which is the absolute best.

    The winner of the competition will receive two patrons tickets (valued at $230) for the upcoming 2015-16 season; second and third place winners will also be recognized. Winners will be recognized after intermission of the show’s opening on Feb. 26.

    Participation is open to amateur bakers 16 years of age and older. To participate, bakers must go online to www.meridianlittletheatre.com and complete an online registration form by  Feb. 20. Cakes are to be delivered to the Meridian Little Theatre Lobby on Feb. 26 by noon. The competition will be judged by our celebrity panel: Allyson Hooper, Marshall Gilmore and John Compton.

    Following are the contest rules:

Competition Details

    1. This contest is open to cake decorators ages 16 and older.

    2. Entrants must be amateurs, defined as:

    • Must not be employed in or accept money for working in the baking or catering industry.

    • May not have their cake decorating work on display in a commercial bakery or cake shop.

    3. Prizes will be awarded for first place and the two runners up.

    • First place – Two patron tickets for the 2015-16 season

         • Runners up – Second place and third place.

    4. To enter this competition, bakers must submit an online registration form by 5 p.m. on

Feb. 20 at www.meridianlittletheatre.com.

    5. Cakes must be delivered to the lobby of Meridian Little Theatre by noon on Feb. 26. The cakes will be judged by MLT’s Celebrity Panel prior to the opening of the show.

    6. The entry cake must be original and be the sole work of the entrant.

    7. Cakes must be Red Velvet batter cakes with frosting. They may be layer cakes or sheet cakes; cupcakes will not be accepted.

    8. Tasting: Each judge will taste a small slice of each cake. Taste will be factored into the

 overall score.

    9 Cakes will be judged on: Technical Skill, Overall Visual Appeal and Taste.

    10. All cakes submitted for the competition become the property of Meridian Little Theatre and will be served during intermission to MLT theatre goers.

    For more information, call MLT at (601) 482-6371 or go online www.meridianlittletheatre.com  of “The Red Velvet Cake War.”