Theater News

Sara Bareilles' Waitress Makes Broadway Musical History With All-Female Creative Team

Choreographer Lorin Latarro joins composer Bareilles, book writer Jessie Nelson, and director Diane Paulus.

Lorin Latarro has been named choreographer of the new Broadway musical Waitress.
Lorin Latarro has been named choreographer of the new Broadway musical Waitress.
(© David Gordon)

The upcoming Broadway production of Waitress is making theater history as the first musical whose traditional four-person creative team is made up entirely of women.

Lorin Latarro has joined the creative team as choreographer, working along with director Diane Paulus, composer and lyricist Sara Bareilles, and book writer Jessie Nelson. (Latarro replaces Chase Brock, who choreographed the show when it played at the American Repertory Theater in Boston this past summer. Waitress is based on the 2007 motion picture written by Adrienne Shelly.

An earlier precedent was set by the 1978 Broadway musical Runaways, which had book, score, choreography, and direction solely by Elizabeth Swados.

As previously announced, Tony winner Jessie Mueller (Beautiful — The Carole King Musical) heads the cast as Jenna, a waitress and expert pie maker who is stuck in a small town and a loveless marriage. When a baking contest in a nearby county offers her a chance at escape, Jenna must weigh her commitments against a rare shot at freedom and recognition.

The Broadway company will also include Eric Anderson (The Last Ship) as Cal, Christopher Fitzgerald (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum) as Ogie, Drew Gehling (Jersey Boys) as Dr. Pomatter, Kimiko Glenn (Orange Is the New Black) as Dawn, Dakin Matthews (Rocky) as Joe, and Keala Settle (Les Misérables) as Becky. Charity Angél Dawson, Jeremy Morse, and Stephanie Torns will be featured in the ensemble.

For tickets and more information, click here.

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Waitress

Closed: January 5, 2020