The new musical Waitress opened on Broadway last night, and already the production is taking orders for a national tour.
Producers on Monday announced that the show’s first road company will debut Oct. 17, 2017, at Cleveland’s Playhouse Square.
Adapted from the 2007 indie movie of the same name, which was written and directed by the late Adrienne Shelley and starred Keri Russell, the musical features a book by Jessie Nelson and music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles.
In what is being touted as Broadway’s first musical created by an all-female team, the production is directed by Tony winner Diane Paulus and choreographed by Lorin Latarro.
Reviews for the show have been mixed-to-favorable, with strong praise for Bareilles’ score and across-the-board raves for Jessie Mueller in the lead role of Jenna, the unhappily married Deep South diner waitress and pie specialist, dreaming of baking her way to a better life. Mueller won a 2014 lead actress Tony for Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.
Produced by Barry and Fran Weissler and Norton and Elayne Herrick, Waitress has been playing to capacity houses since it began previews March 25 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. It comes to Broadway following a sold-out limited engagement at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Mass.
With Tony Award nominations due May 3, many Broadway productions tend to rush out a national tour announcement as an additional incentive to road voters.
