Will Swenson to star as Earl in Waitress on Broadway

Tony nominee Will Swenson will join the cast of the hit Broadway musical Waitress at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, assuming the role of Earl from March 31, 2017. Current cast member William Popp will play his final performance in the role on March 30.

Will Swenson earned a Tony nomination for 'Hair' in 2009. He was last seen on Broadway as Tony Delvecchio in the musical comedy 'Disaster!' His other Broadway credits include 'Les Misérables,' 'Priscilla Queen of the Desert,' '110 in the Shade,' 'Lestat,' and 'Brooklyn.' His off-Broadway credits include 'Murder Ballad' and 'Little Miss Sunshine.' among others. He is also the husband of six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald.

As previously announced, Tony and Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Sara Bareilles, who provided the music and lyrics for Waitress, will make her Broadway debut in the lead role of Jenna in the production for a 10-week limited engagement, succeeding the show's original star Jessie Mueller, who plays her final performance on March 26, 2017. In addition, Emmy nominee Chris Diamantopoulos also assumes the role of Dr. Pomatter from current cast member Drew Gehling. Bareilles, Swenson and Diamontopoulos all begin performances on March 31.

The principal cast of Waitress currently includes Tony winner Jessie Mueller (Jenna), Charity Angél Dawson (Becky), Caitlin Houlahan (Dawn), Drew Gehling (Dr. Pomatter), Tony nominee Christopher Fitzgerald (Ogie), William Popp (Earl), and Dakin Matthews (Joe).

Waitress officially opened on Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on April 24, 2016, following previews from March 25, and is currently booking through September 3, 2017.

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 five-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 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.