Hands up for, another Australian COVID casualty, Waitress the Musical to come back?

Waitress is a Broadway musical based on the 2007 film of the same name. It tells the story of Jenna Hunterson, a waitress and expert pie-maker who dreams of a better life than the one she currently leads in a small town. Jenna is in an unhappy marriage and unexpectedly becomes pregnant, which further complicates her plans.

As Jenna struggles to navigate her personal life, she finds solace in creating new and inventive pie recipes. She also develops a relationship with her gynecologist, Dr. Pomatter, which further complicates her life.

The 2007 film ‘Waitress’ was directed by Adrienne Shelly, who also wrote the screenplay and played one of the supporting roles. The film starred Keri Russell as Jenna Hunterson, the titular waitress and pie-maker, who is unhappy in her marriage and finds solace in her pies.

The film also featured supporting performances from Nathan Fillion as Dr. Pomatter, the gynecologist with whom Jenna has an affair, and Jeremy Sisto as Jenna’s abusive husband, Earl. Other notable cast members included Cheryl Hines as Jenna’s friend and fellow waitress, and Andy Griffith as the curmudgeonly owner of the diner where Jenna works. The film was released shortly after Adrienne Shelly’s untimely death, and it has since been celebrated as a touching and authentic portrayal of a woman striving to find happiness and fulfillment amidst difficult circumstances.

The musical explores themes of love, friendship, and self-discovery as Jenna works to find her own path and make the best of her situation. It features music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles and a book by Jessie Nelson. Waitress premiered on Broadway in 2016 and ran for four years, receiving multiple Tony Award nominations.

The musical premiered at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre in April 2016 and ran for four years, closing in January 2020 after 33 previews and 1544 regular performances. During its run, Waitress grossed over $150 million at the box office, making it one of the most successful musicals of its time.

The show was also well-received by critics and received four Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical, Best Original Score, and Best Lead Actress in a Musical for its star, Jessie Mueller. The show’s success on Broadway also led to productions in London’s West End, as well as national and international tours.

An Australian production was set to come to Sydney, but was paused due to the COVID pandemic.

Would you be excited to see this come back?

 

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