Show guide
Waitress
Waitress follows Jenna, a small town pie baker trapped in an unhappy marriage, as an unexpected pregnancy and an unlikely romance push her toward a life of her own choosing.
- Broadway premiere
- 2016
- Music by
- Sara Bareilles
- Genre
- Rock/Pop
- Setting
- 2010s
Waitress: quick answers
What is Waitress about?
- Jenna, a gifted pie baker working at a small-town Southern diner, is trapped in an abusive marriage when she discovers she is pregnant. An affair with her doctor and a pie-baking contest give her hope of a new life.
When did Waitress open on Broadway?
- Waitress opened on Broadway on April 24, 2016, at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre and closed on January 5, 2020, after 1,544 performances. Sara Bareilles starred as Jenna in a 2021 return engagement at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre.
What kind of musical is Waitress?
- Waitress is a comedy-drama book musical with an original pop score by singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles and a book by Jessie Nelson, adapted from Adrienne Shelly's 2007 film. It made Broadway history with women in its four top creative roles.
Where and when is Waitress set?
- Waitress is set at Joe's Pie Diner in a small town in the American South.
Has Waitress played in London's West End?
- Waitress opened in the West End at the Adelphi Theatre on March 7, 2019, and was nominated for the Olivier Award for Best New Musical.
Is there a Waitress movie?
- The musical is based on the 2007 film written and directed by Adrienne Shelly, starring Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion, and Cheryl Hines. A filmed version of the Broadway production starring Sara Bareilles was released in cinemas in December 2023.
The story of Waitress
Set in a modest American diner, Waitress centers on Jenna Hunterson, a gifted pie maker who channels her feelings into inventive recipes with names like "I Hate My Husband Pie." Married to the controlling and often cruel Earl, Jenna dreams of entering a pie making contest that could fund her escape, then discovers she is pregnant, a development that complicates every plan she has made for herself.
Her world widens through her friendships with fellow waitresses Becky and Dawn, and through her nervous, funny attraction to her new gynecologist, Dr. Pomatter. The show is ultimately about self worth and motherhood, following Jenna as she learns to stop defining herself through the men around her and to trust her own voice and talent instead.
The music and the makers
Waitress features music and lyrics by singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles, in her debut as a Broadway composer, with a book by Jessie Nelson adapted from Adrienne Shelly's 2007 film of the same name. Bareilles brought her pop and rock songwriting sensibility to the stage, giving the show a contemporary, radio friendly sound rather than a traditional show tune score.
Signature numbers like "She Used to Be Mine," "Bad Idea," and "Sugar, Butter, Flour" showcase Bareilles's knack for conversational, emotionally direct lyrics. The intimate, confessional quality of her songwriting gives Waitress a score that feels closer to a singer-songwriter album than a conventional book musical, which became a defining part of its identity.
Waitress on Broadway
Waitress opened on Broadway in April 2016 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, directed by Diane Paulus, with Jessie Mueller originating the role of Jenna. The production received strong reviews and multiple Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical, though it did not win in a season dominated by Hamilton. Sara Bareilles later stepped into the role of Jenna herself for an extended run, drawing significant attention from her fans.
The show became known for its warmth, its female led creative team, and its baking scented staging that had cast members actually preparing pie onstage. The original run closed in January 2020, and the show returned for a limited engagement in the fall of 2021, with Sara Bareilles again playing Jenna before the run ended early in December 2021 due to COVID-19 cases in the company. It left a legacy as one of the more personal, character driven original musicals of its era.
Waitress: frequently asked questions
When did Waitress open on Broadway?
Waitress opened on Broadway in April 2016 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre.
Who composed Waitress?
Singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles wrote the music and lyrics for Waitress.
What is Waitress about?
Waitress follows Jenna, a pie baker in an unhappy marriage who finds unexpected hope through an affair with her doctor and an upcoming baking contest, all while facing an unplanned pregnancy.
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