Theater News

American Repertory Theater Serves Up Waitress

The musical’s world premiere begins tonight.

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles wrote the music and lyrics for the musical adaptation of Waitress, which begins tonight.
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles wrote the music and lyrics for the musical adaptation of Waitress.

American Repertory Theater's production of Waitress starts performances tonight. Based on the motion picture written by Adrienne Shelly, the musical centers on Jenna, a waitress and expert pie maker. Stuck in a small town and loveless marriage, there seems no way for Jenna to escape — that is until a nearby county holds a baking contest. Jenna is forced to choose between her commitments and her dreams as everyone in town, customers, coworkers, and a handsome new doctor, offer her conflicting advice. Ultimately, Jenna must choose for herself, in this journey about friendship, motherhood, and the courage to pursue a long abandoned dream.

Diane Paulus directs the musical, with music and lyrics by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles, and book by Jessie Nelson. The cast comprises Tony Award winner Jessie Mueller as Jenna, Eric Anderson as Cal, Keala Settle as Becky, Jeanna de Waal as Dawn, Dakin Matthews as Joe, Joe Tippett as Earl, Drew Gehling as Dr. Pomatter, Jeremy Morse as Ogie, and Giana Ribeiro and Addison Oken as Lulu.

The creative team includes Chase Brock (choreography), Scott Pask (set design), Suttirat Larlarb (costume design), Kenneth Posner (lighting design), Jonathan Deans (sound design), Rachel Padula Shufelt and Jason Allen (wig and makeup design), Nadia DiGiallonardo (music supervisor), and Thomas J. Gates (stage manager).

Performances will run through September 27.

For tickets and more information, click here.

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Waitress

Closed: September 27, 2015