Waitress sets Broadway closing date

The hit Broadway musical Waitress will play its final performance at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on January 5, 2020.

Opening Up... until the New Year! Producers of the hit musical Waitress have now announced a closing date of January 5, 2020 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. Upon closing, the production's record-breaking run will have played a total of 33 previews and 1544 regular performances.

The show's Tony-nominated composer and lyricist Sara Bareilles commented: "It is such a bittersweet moment to say goodbye to our home on Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson Theater, but I am reflecting upon this enormously magical time with a tremendous amount of gratitude...and smiling through tears. I am in awe of the tireless energy and devotion of our company, our crew, our band, and most especially our fans. The warmth and love they have showered upon our show in all its iterations is truly a miracle, and the impact this experience has had on my life has been profound and unforgettable. Thank you to my dear collaborators and producers, the entirety of our wildly passionate Waitress company, band and crew members (past and present), our beloved staff at the Brooks, and a very special thank you to our Waitress fans and believers who have made this chapter as sweet as it ever could have been. The run of Waitress on Broadway has far surpassed my expectations and I am so very proud of what we were able to create here in New York City, but I am still so moved and delighted by the knowledge that our show will continue to have a big, beautiful life in other cities around the world, and on tour. Alas... everything changes. Sugar, Butter, Thank you."

Waitress officially opened on Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on April 24, 2016, following previews from March 25.

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, a score by seven-time Grammy Award-nominated singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles, choreography by Lorin Latarro and direction by Tony Award winner Diane Paulus.

Synopsis: "Based on the 2007 motion picture written by Adrienne Shelly, the musical follows Jenna - a waitress and expert pie maker stuck in a small town and a loveless marriage. Faced with an unexpected pregnancy, Jenna fears she may have to abandon the dream of opening her own pie shop forever... until a baking contest in a nearby county and the town's handsome new doctor offer her a tempting recipe for happiness. Supported by her quirky crew of fellow waitresses and loyal customers, Jenna summons the secret ingredient she's been missing all along - courage."

The current principal cast of Waitress includes Shoshana Bean (as Jenna), Erich Bergen (as Dr. Pomatter), Charity Angél Dawson​ (as Becky), Caitlin Houlahan (as Dawn), Ben Thompson (as Earl), Tony Award nominee Larry Marshall (as Old Joe), Benny Elledge (as Cal), and Noah Galvin (as Ogie).

Alison Luff and Mark Evans are scheduled to begin performances as Jenna and Dr. Pomatter, respectively, on July 23, whilst "Miranda Sings" star Colleen Ballinger and "Ru Paul's Drag Race" favorite Todrick Hall are set to play limited engagements as Dawn and Ogie, respectively, from August 20 through September 15.

The creative team behind Waitress features scenic design by Scott Pask, costume design by Suttirat Larlarb, lighting design by Christopher Akerlind and sound design by Jonathan Deans.

Waitress is produced on Broadway by Barry & Fran Weissler and Norton & Elayne Herrick.

Waitress Tickets are available now for performances through January 5, 2020.

^{(Photo by Jeremy Daniel)}