Broadway NewsWaitress to End Broadway RunThe Sara Bareilles musical opened in 2016.
By
Ryan McPhee
July 16, 2019
Waitress is ready to hang up the apron and close shop. The Broadway musical, which opened at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, will end its run at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre January 5, 2020. At the time of closing, the musical will have played 33 previews and 1,544 regular performances.
The show, featuring a score by Sara Bareilles and a book by Jessie Nelson, opened April 24, 2016, going on to earn four Tony nominations. Based on the 2007 film by the late Adrienne Shelly, the musical is the first on Broadway to have four women in the four top creative team spots; joining Bareilles and Nelson are director Diane Paulus and choreographer Lorin Latarro.
In a statement, Bareilles said, “It is such a bittersweet moment to say goodbye to our home on Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, but I am reflecting upon this enormously magical time with a tremendous amount of gratitude...and smiling through tears. I am in awe of the tireless energy and devotion of our company, our crew, our band, and most especially our fans. The warmth and love they have showered upon our show in all its iterations is truly a miracle, and the impact this experience has had on my life has been profound and unforgettable. Thank you to my dear collaborators and producers, the entirety of our wildly passionate Waitress company, band and crew members (past and present), our beloved staff at the Brooks, and a very special thank you to our Waitress fans and believers who have made this chapter as sweet as it ever could have been. The run of Waitress on Broadway has far surpassed my expectations and I am so very proud of what we were able to create here in New York City, but I am still so moved and delighted by the knowledge that our show will continue to have a big, beautiful life in other cities around the world, and on tour. Alas... everything changes. Sugar, Butter, Thank you.”
Producer Barry Weissler, speaking for his co-producer and wife Fran and himself, said in a statement, “When Fran and I saw Adrienne Shelly’s beautiful movie in 2007, we knew immediately that it could be a great stage musical. It had everything: wit, romance, drama, and comedy. The musical would require the same perfect touch—with Diane Paulus at the helm we gathered a brilliant team—Sara Bareilles, Jessie Nelson, and Lorin Latarro—who worked together seamlessly to create the musical gem that Waitress is."
Jessie Mueller originated the central role of Jenna, a diner employee who, through her creatively titled pies and a fling with her OBGYN, dreams up an escape from her an abusive marriage. Bareilles herself made her Broadway performing debut stepping into the show for multiple limited engagements; other notable stars in various roles have included Katharine McPhee (who later reprised her performance in London), Nicolette Robinson, Shoshana Bean, Noah Galvin, Al Roker, and Jason Mraz.
The musical currently stars Bean as Jenna, Erich Bergen as Dr. Pomatter, Charity Angel Dawson as Becky, Caitlin Houlahan as Dawn, Ben Thompson as Earl, Larry Marshall as Joe, Benny Elledge as Cal, and Noah Galvin as Ogie.
Alison Luff and Mark Evans will step into the roles of Jenna and Dr. Pomatter, respectively, beginning July 23, and YouTube stars Colleen Ballinger (a.k.a. Miranda Sings) and Todrick Hall (an alum of Kinky Boots and Chicago) are also slated to join the musical this summer, playing Dawn and Ogie August 20 through September 15.
The production, which premiered at the American Repertory Theater in Massachusetts, features sets by Scott Pask, costumes by Suttirat Anne Larlarb, lighting design by Christopher Akerlind, and sound design by Jonathan Deans.
Waitress also plays London’s West End at the Adelphi Theatre and a North American tour.
