Character guide
Dr. Pomatter
from Waitress
Dr. Pomatter is Jenna's nervous, married gynecologist in Waitress, Sara Bareilles's 2016 musical, and the man she falls for despite herself.
- Show
- Waitress
- Broadway premiere
- 2016
- Role
- Lead
- Music by
- Sara Bareilles
Dr. Pomatter: from the film to Broadway
Broadway compared with the 2007 film
Dr. Jim Pomatter, the married obstetrician Jenna falls for, becomes a singing comic romantic lead on stage, with the duets It Only Takes a Taste and You Matter to Me and a share of Bad Idea. In the 2007 film Nathan Fillion played him.
Drew Gehling originated Pomatter at the American Repertory Theater in 2015 and on Broadway in 2016, returning for the 2021 engagement. The role later drew replacements from pop and Broadway, including Jason Mraz, Gavin Creel, and Jeremy Jordan. In the musical, Jenna ends the affair after giving birth.
Dr. Pomatter: role facts
- Originated on Broadway by
- Drew Gehling (2016)
- Notable performers
- Broadway replacements included Jason Mraz, Gavin Creel, and Jeremy Jordan.
- Voice type and range
- Bb2 to Bb4 (licensor range; no voice type listed)
- Songs Dr. Pomatter sings
- It Only Takes a Taste (with Jenna)
- Bad Idea (with Jenna and ensemble)
- Bad Idea (Reprise) (with Jenna, Becky, Cal, Dawn and Ogie)
- You Matter to Me (with Jenna)
Who is Dr. Pomatter?
Dr. Pomatter is a new gynecologist in town, awkward and endearingly out of his depth, who becomes Jenna's doctor during her unplanned pregnancy. Despite being married, he finds himself drawn to Jenna's honesty and humor, and the two begin an affair that neither of them fully knows how to handle.
His fumbling sincerity sets him apart from Jenna's controlling husband Earl, offering her a glimpse of a gentler kind of relationship even as the affair remains morally complicated and ultimately unsustainable. Dr. Pomatter's arc is less about growth than about serving as a catalyst for Jenna's own self discovery.
Dr. Pomatter's role in Waitress
Dr. Pomatter is a lead role opposite Jenna, built around comic, nervy energy as much as vocal strength, with numbers like "It Only Takes a Taste" and the duet "You Matter to Me" defining his sound. The role calls for an actor comfortable balancing physical comedy with genuine romantic tenderness.
Drew Gehling originated the role on Broadway, earning notice for his skittish charm in the part. Audiences remember Dr. Pomatter as a rare example of a musical theatre love interest defined by awkwardness rather than confidence, which gives his romance with Jenna an unusually grounded, human quality.
Dr. Pomatter: frequently asked questions
What is Dr. Pomatter's first name in Waitress?
His first name is Jim. Dr. Jim Pomatter is the young gynecologist, newly arrived in town, who becomes Jenna's doctor during her pregnancy and eventually her lover in Waitress.
Who played Dr. Pomatter in the Waitress movie?
Nathan Fillion played Dr. Pomatter in the 2007 film Waitress. Drew Gehling originated the role on Broadway when the musical opened in 2016.
Do Jenna and Dr. Pomatter end up together in Waitress?
No. After her daughter is born, Jenna ends her affair with Dr. Pomatter and tells her husband, Earl, that she wants a divorce, choosing a fresh start on her own with her baby.
What show is Dr. Pomatter from?
Dr. Pomatter is a lead character in Waitress, which opened on Broadway in 2016.
Is Dr. Pomatter a lead or supporting role?
Dr. Pomatter is a lead role, serving as Jenna's love interest.
Who wrote the music for Waitress?
Sara Bareilles composed the music and lyrics for Waitress.
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