Waitress (musical)

Waitress

2016 Broadway poster
Music Sara Bareilles
Lyrics Sara Bareilles
Book Jessie Nelson
Setting American South
Basis 2007 film Waitress
Premiere August 19, 2015 (2015-08-19):
American Repertory Theater
Cambridge
Productions 2015 American Repertory Theater
2016 Broadway

Waitress is a musical with music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles, and a book by Jessie Nelson. Based on the 2007 film of the same name, written by Adrienne Shelly, the musical tells the story of Jenna Hunterson, a waitress in an unhappy marriage to her husband Earl. When Jenna unexpectedly becomes pregnant she begins an affair with her gynecologist Dr. Jim Pomatter. Looking for ways out she sees a pie contest and its grand prize as her chance.

Stage rights to the film were purchased in 2007, whilst the musicals creative team was assembled by 2013. The original production of Waitress premiered at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge in August 2015, with direction by Diane Paulus and choreography by Chase Brock, and starring Jessie Mueller, Drew Gehling and Joe Tippett as Jenna, Jim and Earl, respectively. It made its Broadway debut at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on April 24, 2016 following previews that began on March 25, 2016. A US tour is scheduled for 2017.

Background

The musical is based on the 2007 indie film[1] Waitress.[2] The film was produced on a budget of just $1.5 million, earning over $23 million in global box office receipts.[3] The film starred, was written by and directed by Adrienne Shelly,[4] who was murdered three months prior to the premiere of Waitress[5] at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.[6] The film followed Jenna, a waitress and pie chef living in the American South, who unexpectedly becomes pregnant and feels trapped in an unhappy marriage.[7] Looking for ways out she sees a pie contest and its grand prize as her chance.[8]

Following the 2013 Tony Awards, producers Barry and Fran Weissler announced that a musical version of the film was in the works,[9] with Paula Vogel writing the book, music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles and direction by Diane Paulus.[10] The Weissler's purchased the stage rights to the film shortly after its release in 2007.[11] Paula Vogel withdrew from the project in January 2014.[12] On December 11, 2014, the musical was officially confirmed, and it was announced that the show would receive its world premiere at the American Repertory Theater, Cambridge, Massachusetts, as part of their 2015-16 season, with Jessie Nelson now writing the book.[13][14] A workshop was held the same month in New York, with Jessie Mueller, Keala Settle, Christopher Fitzgerald, Bryce Pinkham and Andy Karl, among others, taking part.[15] Nelson with the best wishes of the late Adrienne Shelly's husband used some of Shelly's unfinished scripts to help bring "her voice" to the project.[16]

Productions

Waitress began previews on August 2, 2015, at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts, before holding its official opening night on August 19, 2015, booking for a limited run until September 27, 2015.[17][18] Tickets for the world premiere production sold out.[19] The show has a book by Jessie Nelson, with direction by Diane Paulus,[20] choreography by Chase Brock,[21] set design by Scott Pask, costume design by Suttirat Anne Larlarb, lighting design by Kenneth Posner, musical direction by Nadia DiGiallonardo and sound by Jonathan Deans.[22] Notable casting for the show included Jessie Mueller as Jenna, Drew Gehling as Jim, Joe Tippett as Earl, Jeanna de Waal as Dawn, Keala Settle as Becky, Dakin Matthews as Joe, Jeremy Morse as Ogie and Eric Anderson as Cal.[23]

During previews at the American Repertory Theater, it was announced that the production would transfer to Broadway in March 2016.[24] Previews began at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, on March 25, 2016, with the official opening slated for April 24,[25] just in time for the 2015-2016 Tony Award cut-off date of April 28.[26] Tickets for the transfer went on sale on February 15.[27] Changes to the creative team for the Broadway run, included Lorin Latarro replacing Chase Brock as choreographer[28] and Christopher Akerlind replacing Kenneth Posner as lighting designer.[29] For the Broadway production elements of the book were rewritten, new choreography developed and a new song written by Bareilles.[11] Manhattan baker Stacy Donnelly, was hired to ensure the baking scenes were realistic. Donnelly taught the cast how to work and roll pie dough.[30] The role of Jenna requires Mueller to crack eggs, sift flour and roll out dough on stage.[30] To help immerse audiences real pie's are warming as they enter the theatre, creating the aroma of a pie shop, with slices of pie also on sale.[31] Cast changes included Nick Cordero taking over the role of Earl,[32] Kimiko Glenn as Dawn and Christopher Fitzgerald who took part in the New York workshop as Ogie.[33] During previews the production set the record for a single performance at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, taking $145,532.[34] The production had required an initial investment of $12 million.[11] During a technical halt at a preview performance composer and lyricist Sara Bareilles performed two songs, including a song previously cut from the production called “Down at the Diner.”[35]

With music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles, book by Jessie Nelson, choreography by Lorin Latarro, and direction by Diane Paulus, Waitress made history on Broadway with the four top creative spots in a show being filled by women.[36] In addition the creative posts of costume design and musical direction were held by women.[29] Sara Bareilles said she was proud to be part of an all-female team: "It's really fun to be an example of the way it can look. We're a bunch of women who are deeply committed to finding a way to build a unified vision."[37] The only other musical with a similar history was the 1978 Broadway musical Runaways, which had a book, music, lyrics, choreography and direction solely by one woman, Elizabeth Swados.[29]

A US national tour is scheduled to begin at the Playhouse Square in Cleveland[38] on October 17, 2017.[39]

Synopsis

According to the musical's official site, Jenna Hunterson is "a waitress and expert pie maker stuck in a small town and a loveless marriage. Faced with an unexpected pregnancy, Jenna fears she may have to abandon the dream of opening her own pie shop forever… until a baking contest in a nearby county and the town’s handsome new doctor offer her a tempting recipe for happiness. Supported by her quirky crew of fellow waitresses and loyal customers, Jenna summons the secret ingredient she’s been missing all along – courage."[40]

Music

Waitress features an original score, with music and lyrics by American singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles.[41] The musical uses a six-member orchestra consisting of keyboard, piano, cello, guitar, bass and drums.[42] In addition to the show's musical numbers Bareilles also recorded the Broadway's production's turn off your cellphone message, rewriting part of her original song "Cassiopeia".[43]

Musical numbers

2015 A.R.T., Boston Production

Act I

  • "What's Inside" - Jenna & Company
  • "Opening Up" - Jenna, Becky, Dawn, Cal and Company
  • "The Negative" - Jenna, Becky, Dawn
  • "Door Number Three" - Jenna
  • "Waiting Room" - Patients
  • "When He Sees Me" - Dawn and Company
  • "It Only Takes a Taste" - Dr. Pomatter and Jenna
  • "A Soft Place to Land" - Jenna, Becky, Dawn
  • "You Will Still Be Mine" - Earl and Jenna
  • "Never Ever Getting Rid of Me" - Ogie and Company
  • "Bad Idea" - Jenna, Dr. Pomatter, and Company

Act II

  • "Bad Idea" (Reprise) - Company
  • "I Love You Like a Table" - Ogie & Company
  • "I Didn't Plan It" - Becky
  • "She Used to Be Mine" - Jenna
  • "Take It From an Old Man" - Joe and Company
  • "You Matter to Me" - Dr. Pomatter and Jenna
  • "Everything Changes" - Jenna and Company
  • "Lulu's Pie Song" - Lulu & Jenna
  • "Opening Up" (Reprise) - Company

2016 Broadway Production

Act I[44]

  • "What's Inside" - Jenna & Company
  • "Opening Up" - Jenna, Becky, Dawn, Cal and Company
  • "The Negative" - Jenna, Becky, Dawn
  • "What Baking Can Do" - Jenna
  • "When He Sees Me" - Dawn and Company
  • "It Only Takes a Taste" - Dr. Pomatter and Jenna
  • "You Will Still Be Mine" - Earl and Jenna
  • "A Soft Place to Land" - Jenna, Becky, Dawn
  • "Never Ever Getting Rid of Me" - Ogie and Company
  • "Bad Idea" - Jenna, Dr. Pomatter, and Company

Act II[44]

  • "I Didn't Plan It" - Becky
  • "Bad Idea" (Reprise) - Company
  • "You Matter to Me" - Dr. Pomatter and Jenna
  • "I Love You Like a Table" - Ogie, Dawn, Company
  • "Take It From an Old Man" - Joe and Company
  • "She Used to Be Mine" - Jenna
  • "Everything Changes" - Jenna and Company
  • "Opening Up" (Finale) - Company

Recordings

Sara Bareilles recorded her fifth studio album called What's Inside: Songs from Waitress, featuring songs from the musical. It was released on November 6, 2015, through Epic Records.[45] The album debuted at number ten on the US Billboard 200 chart with 30,000 equivalent album units in its first week of release, giving Barellies her fifth Top ten album.[46] The lead single from the album, "She Used to Be Mine", was released digitally on September 25, 2015.[47] Speaking about the release of the album Bareilles stated that her decision to record an album of the songs came because it "proved impossible for me to imagine handing over the songs to the show before selfishly finding a way to sing them myself."[48]

In April 2016, it was announced that a cast album would be recorded the following month.[49] The original Broadway cast recording is scheduled to be released as a digital download on June 10, with the physical release following on July 1, 2016.[49] The album was produced by Bareilles, alongside Neal Avron and was recorded by DMI Soundtracks.[50]

Characters and original cast

Drew Gehling and Jessie Mueller in 'Waitress' at the American Repertory Theater. (Photo: Jeremy Daniel)

The characters and original cast:

Character American Repertory Theater (2015)[23] Original Broadway Cast (2016)[32]
Jenna Hunterson Jessie Mueller
Dr. Jim Pomatter Drew Gehling
Earl Hunterson Joe Tippett Nick Cordero
Becky Keala Settle
Dawn Jeanna de Waal Kimiko Glenn
Joe Dakin Matthews
Ogie Jeremy Morse Christopher Fitzgerald
Cal Eric Anderson
Lulu Giana Ribeiro, Addison Oken Claire Keane, McKenna Keane

Critical response

Frank Rizzo, reviewing the Boston production for Variety, wrote: "...making Earl so relentlessly horrible makes Jenna’s inability to leave him not just indecisive but something more worrisome... Meanwhile, there’s little evidence for the good doctor being Jenna’s lost soulmate, despite his loving bedside manner,...Mueller’s performance transcends the show’s imperfections. She’s funny, frisky and likable. She sings Bareilles’ songs beautifully... director Diane Paulus fills the production with clever touches — a scalloped pie-crust proscenium, a fluid and easygoing flow and a natural truthfulness in the performances."[51]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Ceremony Category Nominee Result Ref
2016 Tony Award Best Musical Pending [52]
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical Jessie Mueller Pending
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical Christopher Fitzgerald Pending
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre Sara Bareilles Pending
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Musical Pending [53]
Outstanding Actress in a Musical Jessie Mueller Pending
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Christopher Fitzgerald Pending
Outstanding Music Sara Bareilles Pending
Outstanding Lyrics Sara Bareilles Pending
Outstanding Outstanding Book of a Musical Jessie Nelson Pending
Drama League Award Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical Pending [54]
Distinguished Performance Award Jessie Mueller Pending
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding New Broadway Musical Pending [55]
Outstanding New Score (Broadway or off-Broadway) Sara Bareilles Pending
Outstanding Actress in a Musical Jessie Mueller Pending
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Christopher Fitzgerald Pending

References

  1. ↑ "With 'Waitress,' an indie film becomes a Broadway musical, intimately". latimes.com. Los Angeles Times. 3 March 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  2. ↑ "‘Waitress’ Musical Sets the Table for Broadway". artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com. The New York Times. 13 August 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  3. ↑ "Waitress (2007)". the-numbers.com. The Numbers. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  4. ↑ ""Waitress" Premieres At Sundance". cbsnews.com. CBS News. 22 January 2007. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  5. ↑ "Review: ‘Waitress’". variety.com. Variety. 1 May 2007. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  6. ↑ "Sundance Dream Most Notable for an Absence". nytimes.com. The New York Times. 19 January 2007. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  7. ↑ "Waitress". foxsearchlight.com. Fox Searchlight Pictures. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  8. ↑ "The unbelievable truth". theguardian.com. The Guardian. 15 July 2007. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  9. ↑ "'Waitress' becoming a musical with music by Sara Bareilles". ew.com. Entertainment Weekly. 10 June 2013. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  10. ↑ "Sara Bareilles to pen score for 'Waitress' musical". latimes.com. Los Angeles Times. 11 June 2013. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  11. 1 2 3 "Sara Bareilles Takes Her Slice of Broadway With ‘Waitress’". nytimes.com. The New York Times. 17 March 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  12. ↑ "Sara Bareilles on board for ‘Waitress’ at ART". bostonglobe.com. Boston Globe. 7 January 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  13. ↑ "‘Waitress’ Musical, Targeting Broadway, Sets Premiere at A.R.T.". variety.com. Variety. 11 December 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  14. ↑ "A.R.T. Presents the World Premiere of the Musical Waitress". americanrepertorytheater.org. American Repertory Theater. 11 December 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  15. ↑ "Jessie Mueller, Christopher Fitzgerald, Bryce Pinkham, Keala Settle and More Featured in Waitress Workshop". playbill.com. Playbill. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  16. ↑ "'Waitress' Serves Dark, Funny Fare With A Musical Twist (And A Side Of Pie)". npr.org. NPR. 19 August 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  17. ↑ Viagas, Robert and Gans, Andrew. "Sara Bareilles' Waitress Musical, Starring Jessie Mueller, Premieres Tonight" Playbill, August 2, 2015
  18. ↑ "Waitress Listing" AmericanRepertoryTheater.org, accessed January 19, 2016
  19. ↑ "Rehearsals Begin Monday for Broadway's WAITRESS, Starring Jessie Mueller". broadwayworld.com. Broadway World. 4 February 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  20. ↑ "How Jessie Mueller Became Sara Bareilles' "Soul Mate" on Waitress". playbill.com. Playbill. 3 August 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  21. ↑ "The Verdict: Read Reviews of Sara Bareilles' Broadway-Bound Waitress". playbill.com. Playbill. 21 August 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  22. ↑ "Waitress A.R.T. Season Credits". americanrepertorytheater.org. American Repertory Theater. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  23. 1 2 "Sara Bareilles' Waitress Musical, Starring Jessie Mueller, Reveals Complete Cast". playbill.com. Playbill. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  24. ↑ "It's Official! Sara Bareilles' Waitress Sets 2016 Broadway Arrival". playbill.com. Playbill. 13 August 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  25. ↑ Gans, Andrew. "The Pie Is Ready! 'Waitress' Musical Starts Broadway Previews Today" Playbill, March 25, 2016
  26. ↑ "Sara Bareilles' Waitress, Starring Jessie Mueller, Sets Broadway Opening Night". playbill.com. Playbill. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  27. ↑ "Box-Office Opening Date Set for Sara Bareilles' Musical Waitress". playbill.com. Playbill. 11 February 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  28. ↑ "Sara Bareilles' Waitress musical makes history with all-female creative team". ew.com. Entertainment Weekly. 1 December 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  29. 1 2 3 "Broadway-Bound Musical Waitress Is Going to Make Some History". playbill.com. Playbill. 1 December 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  30. 1 2 "Food secrets of 'The Humans,' 'Waitress' and 'Fully Committed' on Broadway". nydailynews.com. New York Daily News. 21 January 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  31. ↑ "A Feast for the Senses! WAITRESS Audiences Welcomed Into Theater with Aroma of Warming Pies". broadwayworld.com. Broadway World. 5 April 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  32. 1 2 "Bullets Over Broadway Star Nick Cordero Joins Broadway-Bound Waitress Musical". playbill.com. Playbill. 12 January 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  33. ↑ "‘Waitress’ Musical Adds Kimiko Glenn of ‘Orange is the New Black’". variety.com. Variety. 5 November 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  34. ↑ "Waitress Musical Sets a Box Office Record in First Weekend". playbill.com. Playbill. 28 March 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  35. ↑ "Sara Bareilles Comes to the Rescue During Waitress Tech Glitch". playbill.com. Playbill. 30 March 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  36. ↑ "Upcoming musical Waitress tipped to make history for women on Broadway". theguardian.com. The Guardian. 2 December 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  37. ↑ "Broadway musical 'Waitress' makes history with its lineup". bigstory.ap.org. Associated Press. 1 December 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  38. ↑ "Broadway musical ‘Waitress’ to launch national tour in 2017". washingtonpost.com. The Washington Post. 25 April 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  39. ↑ "Waitress Announces National Tour". playbill.com. Playbill. 25 April 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  40. ↑ "Waitress: A New Musical | Official Broadway Site". Waitress: A New Musical. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
  41. ↑ "Jessie Mueller stands out in ‘Waitress’ at ART". bostonglobe.com. Boston Globe. 20 August 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  42. ↑ "WAITRESS - MUSIC CREDITS". playbill.com. Playbill Vault. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  43. ↑ "Sara Bareilles Pens Catchy Tune Urging Theatergoers To Turn Off Cell Phones At ‘Waitress’ Musical". newyork.cbslocal.com. WCBS-TV. 20 April 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  44. 1 2 "Waitress Songs". ibdb.com. Internet Broadway Database. 25 March 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  45. ↑ "Sara Bareilles Announces 'What's Inside: Songs From Waitress' Album". billboard.com. Billboard. 24 September 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  46. ↑ "Chris Stapleton Spends Second Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". billboard.com. Billboard. 15 November 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  47. ↑ "Listen to Sara Bareilles Single from "What's Inside: Songs from Waitress"". playbill.com. Playbill. 25 September 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  48. ↑ "Sara Bareilles to Release New Album ‘What’s Inside: Songs From Waitress’". radio.com. Radio.Com. 24 September 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  49. 1 2 "'Waitress' Broadway Musical Cast Album Announced". billboard.com. Billboard. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  50. ↑ "What Baking Can Do: Waitress Announces Cast Album". playbill.com. Playbill. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  51. ↑ Rizzo, Frank (20 August 2015). "Pre-Broadway Review: ‘Waitress’ with Jessie Mueller". variety.com. Variety. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  52. ↑ "2016 Tony Awards Nominations - HAMILTON Breaks Record with 16! And the Nominees Are...". BroadwayWorld.com. 2016-05-03. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
  53. ↑ "She Loves Me, American Psycho, and Bright Star Lead 2016 Drama Desk Award Nominations". TheaterMania.com. 2016-04-28. Retrieved 2016-04-28.
  54. ↑ "SHE LOVES ME, HAMILTON, THE CRUCIBLE & More Earn 2016 Drama League Nominations; Check Out the Full List!". BroadwayWorld.com. 2016-04-20. Retrieved 2016-04-20.
  55. ↑ "American Psycho & She Loves Me Top List of 2016 Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations". Broadway.com. 2016-04-19. Retrieved 2016-04-19.

External links

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