If you’re looking for a great Girls Night Out, look no further than the return of WAITRESS, the beloved play returning to Charlotte for a special run, April 19 – May 22 in the Booth Playhouse. Waitress is a perfect occasion out with your girls, or with your mother for Mother’s Day, with your sisters or teenage daughters; an inspirational celebration of the power of friendship, dreams, the family we choose, and indeed, the beauty of a well baked pie.
If you didn’t see the play during its debut years, you may remember the 2007 movie on which it’s based starring Keri Russell, and you probably remember that Sara Bareilles wrote the music and lyrics for the show. Fave Sara song “She Used to Be Mine” is just one of many that may sound familiar.
Waitress follows Jenna, a waitress and pie chef living in the small town American South, who unexpectedly becomes pregnant and feels trapped in an unhappy marriage with an abusive husband. Looking for a way out, she sees a pie contest and its grand prize as her chance. Through the support of her fellow Waitresses and an unexpected romance, Jenna begins to find the courage to pursue a long-abandoned dream, and to eventually stand on her own with her family of choice. The show is a superbly crafted musical comedy with a deeply inspirational and uplifting message.
“Waitress was a fan favorite during its first run in Charlotte in 2018 and we are thrilled to have Charlotte kick off this second tour with a special return engagement,” said Tom Gabbard, Blumenthal CEO. “Seeing this beloved show in the smaller, more intimate venue of the Booth Playhouse will give Charlotte audiences an unrivaled chance to connect more deeply with the musical’s heartfelt story of resilience, which feels timelier than ever.”
The show runs Tuesdays through Sundays, with weekday evening performances and weekend matinee and evening performances. Tickets start at $34.50. Tickets have been on sale since February and early dates are selling quickly, as is Mother’s Day. So get on it girls. You don’t want to miss this one.
Things to Know About Waitress in Charlotte
The Venue Will Be Awesome
We cannot wait to see and hear this musical in The Booth Playhouse; Grammy nominee Bareilles is a master of powerful emotion in song, and enjoying the score in such an intimate staging venue promises to be transportive.
The Main Character Jenna Will Star a Long Time Waitress Cast Member
Actress Stephanie Torns will star in the lead role as Jenna Hunterson after understudying the role for years on Broadway. Stephanie also played supporting and ensemble roles throughout the original Broadway run and the show’s restaging in 2021.
It’s All About the Women
Waitress is the first Broadway musical in history to have four women in the four top creative team spots, with a book by Jessie Nelson, music and lyrics by Grammy Winner and Tony and Emmy Award-nominated Sara Bareilles, choreography by Lorin Latarro and direction by Tony Award-winner Diane Paulus. You Go Girls.
It Had a Local Casting Call Out
The role of “Lulu” was cast locally in Charlotte at auditions held on Tuesday March 29, 2022. Producers were seeking two young girls to alternate the role in four performances per week throughout the special 5-week engagement. When Waitress made its Charlotte debut at the Belk Theater in 2018, locals Harper Kuehnle and Matilda McCullough, then age 5, shared the role of “Lulu,” a sweet and carefree 4-to-5-year-old who appears in the show’s final scene.
It’s Been a Major Show Success
Debuting in April 2016, Waitress is one of the longest-running shows in recent Broadway history, playing more than 1500 performances at The Brooks Atkinson Theatre. The musical recouped its production investment in less than 10 months—Waitress and Hamilton were the only new musicals from the 2015–2016 Broadway season that went into profit that year. Waitress has also played successful productions on US National Tours, London’s West End and around the world. New international productions include a UK tour currently on the road.
It May Not Be for Young Children
Every parent has their own standards for what constitutes “appropriate for children.” There are adult themes, foul language, an abusive husband, sexual moments (not graphic), extra-marital affairs, etc. in this play. Most reviewers agree it is acceptable for older teens, and most recommend you not take young children.
It’s Only Coming to Charlotte and Cleveland in the US on this Tour
The hit Broadway musical is returning to Charlotte for a special five-week engagement April 19–May 22, 2022, followed by a five-week engagement at Cleveland’s Playhouse Square May 26–June 26, 2022 in the Hanna Theatre. Don’t miss it QC Ladies!
