Theater News

Sara Bareilles and Jessie Nelson's Musical Waitress Is a Broadway Hit

The production has recouped its $12 million investment.

Jessie Mueller stars in Sara Bareilles' Waitress.
Jessie Mueller stars in Sara Bareilles and Jessie Nelson's Broadway musical Waitress.
(© Joan Marcus)

After fewer than ten months, the Broadway production of Sara Bareilles and Jessie Nelson's musical Waitress has officially become a hit, recouping its $12 million investment. The musical opened in April 2016 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre.

Inspired by Adrienne Shelley's 2007 motion picture, Waitress features a score by Bareilles and Nelson. It premiered in 2015 at American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The musical is directed by Diane Paulus, choreographed by Lorin Latarro, and designed by Scott Pask (sets), Suttirat Larlarb (costumes), Christopher Akerlind (lighting), and Jonathan Deans (sound). Nadia DiGiallonardo serves as musical director.

The current Broadway company is headed by Tony winner Jessie Mueller as Jenna and also features Charity Angél Dawson (Becky), Drama Desk Award winner Christopher Fitzgerald (Ogie), Drew Gehling (Dr. Pomatter), Caitlin Houlahan (Dawn), Dakin Matthews (Joe), and William Popp (Earl), with Cate Elefante, Thay Floyd, Henry Gottfried, Molly Hager, Aisha Jackson, Molly Jobe, Max Kumangai, Ella Dane Morgan, Jeremy Morse, Olivia Phillip, Stephanie Torns, and Ryan Vasquez.

Waitress received four 2016 Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical and Best Leading Actress in a Musical, as well as Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations for Bareilles' score.

For tickets and more information, click here.

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Waitress

Closed: January 5, 2020