| Waitress | |
|---|---|
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Waitress_musical_Broadway_poster.jpg) 2016 Broadway poster | |
| Music | Sara Bareilles |
| Lyrics | Sara Bareilles |
| Book | Jessie Nelson |
| Basis | Waitress by Adrienne Shelly |
| Premiere | August 19, 2015: American Repertory Theater, Cambridge |
| Productions | 2015 Cambridge 2016 Broadway 2017 U.S. tour 2019 West End 2019 U.S. tour 2021 Broadway 2021 U.K. tour 2022 U.S tour |
Waitress is a musical with music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles and a book by Jessie Nelson. It is based on the 2007 film of the same name, written and directed by Adrienne Shelly. It tells the story of Jenna Hunterson, a baker and waitress in an abusive relationship with her husband, Earl. After Jenna unexpectedly becomes pregnant, she begins an affair with her obstetrician, Dr. James "Jim" Pomatter. Looking for ways out of her troubles, she sees a pie baking contest and its grand prize as her chance.
After a tryout at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in August 2015, Waitress premiered at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on Broadway in April 2016 with direction by Diane Paulus and starring Jessie Mueller as Jenna. A U.S. national tour ran from 2017 to 2019. From 2019 to 2020, the musical played at the Adelphi Theatre in London's West End. In September 2021, it returned to Broadway for a limited engagement at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre starring Sara Bareilles as Jenna, mainly to produce a live stage recording of the show for a 2023 release.