Waitress (musical)

Waitress began previews at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on August 2, 2015, before the official opening on August 19, 2015, for a limited run to September 27, 2015.[15][16] Tickets for the production sold out.[17] The show was directed by Diane Paulus,[18] with choreography by Chase Brock,[19] set design by Scott Pask, costume design by Suttirat Anne Larlarb, lighting design by Kenneth Posner, musical direction by Nadia DiGiallonardo, and sound by Jonathan Deans.[20] The cast featured Jessie Mueller as Jenna, Drew Gehling as Jim, Joe Tippett as Earl, Jeanna de Waal as Dawn, Keala Settle as Becky, Dakin Matthews as Joe, Jeremy Morse as Ogie, and Eric Anderson as Cal.[21]

Broadway previews began on March 25, 2016 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, with the official opening on April 24,[22] just in time for the April 28 Tony Award cut-off date.[23] Lorin Latarro replaced Brock as choreographer[24] and Christopher Akerlind replaced Posner as lighting designer.[25] For the Broadway production, elements of the book were rewritten, new choreography developed, and a new song written by Bareilles.[8] Manhattan baker Stacy Donnelly and small business owner Dawn Mayo of Everythingdawn Bakery Candles & Treats were hired to ensure that the baking scenes were realistic. Donnelly taught the cast how to work and roll pie dough, as the role of Jenna required Mueller to crack eggs, sift flour and roll out dough on stage. Mayo created all of the prop pies used in the show.[26] Al Roker played the role of "Joe" twice since 2018.[27]

To help immerse audiences, real pies are warming as they enter the theater, creating the aroma of a pie shop; slices of pie are for sale.[28] Cast changes included Nick Cordero taking over the role of Earl,[29] Kimiko Glenn as Dawn, and Christopher Fitzgerald, who took part in the New York workshop, as Ogie.[30] During previews, the production set a new box office record for a single performance at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, taking in $145,532.[31] The production had required an initial investment of $12 million.[8] During a technical halt at a preview performance, composer and lyricist Sara Bareilles performed two songs, including "Down at the Diner", previously cut from the production.[32]

Waitress made history on Broadway with the four top creative spots in a show being filled by women (Bareilles, Nelson, Latarro, and Paulus).[33] In addition, the costume designer and musical director were women.[25] Bareilles said she was proud to be part of an all-female team: "It's really fun to be an example of the way it can look. We're a bunch of women who are deeply committed to finding a way to build a unified vision."[34] Only the 1978 Broadway musical Runaways had a similar history, with book, music, lyrics, choreography and direction all by Elizabeth Swados.[25]

The production closed on January 5, 2020, after 33 previews and 1,544 regular performances.[22]

A U.S. national tour began at Playhouse Square in Cleveland on October 20, 2017 starring Desi Oakley as Jenna, Lenne Klingaman as Dawn, and Charity Angel Dawson as Becky.[35] This production closed on August 18, 2019 and a Non-Equity tour is scheduled to open on November 12, 2019 and continue through June 28, 2020.[36]

The production opened in London's West End on February 8, 2019 (previews) at the Adelphi Theatre and featured Katharine McPhee as Jenna, who had previously played the role on Broadway, and Jack McBrayer as Ogie.[37][38][39] Lucie Jones took over the role of Jenna on June 17, 2019.[40] Desi Oakley made a return to the show in London as Jenna after playing the role on the US tour for a 2 week period beginning January 13. This was when Jones as well as her understudies, Sarah O’Connor and Olivia Moore, were ill and therefore unable to perform. Bareilles and Gavin Creel reunited in London on January 28, 2020.[41] Though set to have an eight week engagement, they left London after their performance on 14 March due to travel restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.[42]

The production was scheduled to end on July 4, 2020, but it closed on March 14, when West End theatres shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic; the producers later announced the show will not re-open. Jones was due to return following Bareilles's run.[43]

The production is scheduled to tour the UK beginning in November.[44]

The first international production, produced by Atlantis Theatrical, debuted in November 2018 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium in Manila, Philippines, featuring Joanna Ampil as Jenna.[45]

A Spanish language production (locally translated Camarera) debuted in Buenos Aires, Argentina, at the Metropolitan Sura Theatre on April 17, 2019 and featured Josefina Scaglione, Tony award nominee for the 2009 West Side Story Broadway revival, as Jenna (locally translated to Gina).[46] The production closed on August 4, 2019.[47]

The Gordon Frost Organisation is planning a production to open in 2020 at the Lyric Theatre in Sydney. Casting and dates are to be announced.[48] Another production is planned to play in The Netherlands featuring Willemijn Verkaik as Jenna and Jonathan Demoor as Dr. Pomatter.[49] The production is then planned to tour across the country.[50][51]

A Danish language production is set to open at the Det Ny Teater in Copenhagen in March 2021, starring Maria Lucia Rosenberg as Jenna and Lars Mølsted as Dr. Pomatter.[52]

Jenna is a waitress and expert pie baker at Joe's Diner in the American South who imagines tough situations as pie ingredients ("What's Inside"). She begins another day at the diner with her boss Cal and waitresses Becky and Dawn ("Opening Up"). After she almost throws up, Becky and Dawn convince her to take a pregnancy test which, to Jenna's dismay, comes back positive due to a drunken night with her abusive husband, Earl ("The Negative"). Earl comes to the diner and suggests he may make Jenna quit and give up her passion for baking. He takes the tips she's earned from working so far that day. She decides not to tell him about the pregnancy and recalls her late mother, who also found solace from an unhappy marriage in baking ("What Baking Can Do").

At her OB/GYN's office, Jenna is taunted by other pregnant women ("Club Knocked Up") and meets Dr. Jim Pomatter, a new doctor from Connecticut. Jenna explains she does not want her baby but is going to keep it, and leaves Dr. Pomatter with a Mermaid Marshmallow pie, which, despite the fact that he is off sugar, he eats and loves it ("Pomatter Pie").

Word of Jenna's pregnancy reaches Joe, the diner's curmudgeonly owner, who suggests she enter a local pie-baking contest with a large reward which would allow her to leave her husband. Dawn has turned to online dating but is terrified of what could happen ("When He Sees Me").

Jenna runs into Dr. Pomatter at the bus stop. He compliments her pie, saying it could "win contests and ribbons and things". ("It Only Takes a Taste"). Jenna arrives home to learn Earl has been fired. He berates her, and his anger almost turns physical until she confesses she is pregnant. He makes her promise not to love the baby more than him ("You Will Still Be Mine"). Jenna tells Dawn and Becky her plan to enter the pie contest and use the winnings to leave Earl for a new life with the baby. The three waitresses see their dreams of a better life within reach ("A Soft Place to Land"). Jenna begins to give Earl only half her earnings, hiding the other half around the house in order to save up for entering the pie contest.

Dawn's date Ogie visits the diner and insists he get to know Dawn better ("Never Ever Getting Rid of Me"). Dawn and Ogie realize they both enjoy American Revolution reenactments and how much they have in common. Jenna makes an appointment with Dr. Pomatter, where she impulsively kisses him. Though both are married, they decide to escape their frustrating lives, and have sex in his office ("Bad Idea").

After her tryst, Jenna discovers Becky and Cal making out at the diner. The married Becky is unashamed of giving in to passion ("I Didn't Plan It"). Jenna and Dr. Pomatter continue their affair, as do Becky and Cal, and Dawn and Ogie ("Bad Idea (Reprise)"). Jenna wonders if their affair is a mistake, but Dr. Pomatter reassures her. She begins writing a mental note to her baby ("You Matter To Me").

Several months pass and Dawn and Ogie marry ("I Love You Like a Table"). At the reception, Jenna asks if Cal, despite his affair, is truly happy; he responds that he is "happy enough." Joe tells Jenna his sincere hopes for her ("Take it From an Old Man"). Earl drags Jenna home and uncovers the money she has been hiding. She meekly tells him she has been saving for the baby, but Earl leaves with the money ("Dear Baby"). Jenna breaks down, lamenting her long-lost control over her life ("She Used To Be Mine").

Jenna goes into labor ("Contraction Ballet"). She sees Joe at the hospital on his way to surgery; knowing he is dying, he gives her an envelope to open later. Earl, Becky and Dawn, and even Dr. Pomatter's wife, who is a resident at the hospital, crowd the delivery room, and Jenna cries out in distress, giving birth in darkness. She names her daughter Lulu. Earl reminds her of her promise not to love Lulu more than him, and Jenna finally tells him she wants a divorce. He reacts poorly, and she vows to run him over if she ever sees him again. Dr. Pomatter visits Jenna alone in her room, but Jenna refuses his kiss. Saying she doesn't want to remain "happy enough", she ends the affair. As thanks for his positive impact on her life, she gives him a moon pie. Jenna remarks on her change in outlook with Lulu in her life ("Everything Changes").

Jenna opens Joe's note to discover he has left her the diner, asking her to name a pie after him. A few years later, the diner has been rechristened "Lulu's Pies" and Jenna, the owner and head chef, is content that her life has finally turned around ("Opening Up (Finale)").

2016 Broadway Production

† Not included on Original Broadway Playbill.

*Not included on Original Broadway Cast Recording.

‡ When June Squibb entered the cast of Waitress on Broadway in 2018, she was announced to be playing "Josie" (the gender-modified character name of "Joe"). In return, the song title and all frequent uses of the word "Man" was changed to "Ma'am" for her performance run.

Bareilles recorded her fifth studio album, What's Inside: Songs from Waitress, featuring songs from the musical. It was released through Epic Records on November 6, 2015.[57] The album debuted at number ten on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart with 30,000 equivalent album units in its first week of release, giving Barellies her fifth top-ten album.[58] The lead single from the album, "She Used to Be Mine", was released digitally on September 25, 2015.[59] Speaking about the release of the album, Bareilles stated that her decision to record an album of the songs came because it "proved impossible for me to imagine handing over the songs to the show before selfishly finding a way to sing them myself."[60]

The original Broadway cast recording was released as a digital download on June 3, and the physical release followed on July 1, 2016.[61] The album was produced by Bareilles with Neal Avron, and recorded by DMI Soundtracks.[62]

• Jenna Hunterson: Sara Bareilles, Betsy Wolfe, Katharine McPhee, Nicolette Robinson, Shoshana Bean, Jordin Sparks
• Dr. Jim Pomatter: Chris Diamantopoulos, Jason Mraz,[63] Erich Bergen, Gavin Creel,[64] Joey McIntyre,[65] Jeremy Jordan,[66] Mark Evans [67]
• Earl Hunterson: Will Swenson, Joe Tippett
• Dawn: Jenna Ushkowitz, Katie Lowes, Colleen Ballinger[68]
• Joe/Josie: John Cullum, Bill Nolte, Lee Wilkof, Al Roker,[69] June Squibb,[70] Larry Marshall
• Ogie: Alex Wyse, Eddie Jemison (reprising his role from the film), Noah Galvin, Todrick Hall

*Notable that June Squibb is the only woman to have portrayed Joe/Josie in a professional production of the show.

• Jenna Hunterson: Lucie Jones, Sara Bareilles
• Dr. Jim Pomatter: Gavin Creel
• Dawn: Ashley Roberts, Hannah Tointon, Evelyn Hoskins
• Ogie: Blake Harrison, Joe Sugg