Local AEA & Non-Union Auditions | Waitress
PTC Announces Local AEA and Non-Union Auditions for Waitress
Book by Jessie Nelson
Music & Lyrics by Sara Bareilles
Based upon the motion picture written by Adrienne Shelly
April 7 – May 2, 2025 (Rehearsals)
May 2 – 17, 2025 (Performances)
Directed by Melinda Pfundstein
Choreographed by Natalie Malotke
Musical Direction by Tom Griffin
Based on the 2007 Sundance film, Waitress is the story of Jenna, a pie chef and waitress at a small-town Southern diner who’s stuck in a loveless marriage. When Jenna discovers she is pregnant, a local pie-baking contest with a cash prize becomes Jenna and her baby’s chance for a better life. But, as is often the case, fate has a few extra ingredients that complicate Jenna’s recipe for a new life. Nominated for four Tony Awards, Waitress is a theatrical treat with delicious songs by multiple Grammy Award-winner Sara Bareilles.
“…rises to transporting heights, and sweeps up your heart along with it.” — The New York Times
Rehearsals run:
Monday – Saturday: Up to eight hours daily (with a break) between the hours of 10:00AM and 8:00PM
Additional hours will be added for Technical Rehearsals beginning April 25.
This audition is for local Actors. Out of town actors may submit to Bob Cline Casting for New York auditions held mid-January.
Audition Information
- Actors must audition in-person, Friday, January 10, 2025.
- 12:00 – 2:00 PM (AEA Members ONLY)
- 2:00 – 5:00 PM (Non-Union)
- Call backs are by invitation only and will be held in-person, Saturday, January 11. Time TBA
Audition Location
Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre
300 South 1400 East, Room 245
Salt Lake City, UT 84112
Please prepare 32 bars of a contemporary musical theatre song, preferably in the style of Sara Bareilles, that shows off your vocal range and personality. An accompanist will be provided. Bring your own music as well as a headshot & resume.
To audition for a specific role, please use the sides provided below.
Audition Sign-up
Sign-up opens Thursday January 2nd, 2025 at 9:00 AM.
Cast Breakdown for Waitress
All roles listed in character breakdown below are available.
Pioneer Theatre Company is seeking all races, ethnicities, body types, gender identities, actors with disabilities, and actors of all ages for roles in this production.
In reference to the character descriptions below- most characters we encounter currently are written with man/woman, he/him, or she/her pronouns and you will see that in the following descriptions. However, limiting the descriptions are, our casting seeks to be as inclusive as possible and we invite gender non-conforming, genderqueer, transgender and non-binary actors to submit for the roles they most identify with.
JENNA: (Female Identifying, 25-40) A woman stuck in her life as an unhappily married waitress in a small town. Finds some happiness and expression through her meticulous baking of pies and her friendships with her coworkers, Dawn and Becky. Lives her live paycheck-to-paycheck, day by day, and wants nothing more than to get away and start fresh, unbeknownst to her destructive husband, Earl. Must have a fantastic pop/rock voice with great range. Vocal Range: F#3-F5.
DAWN: (Female Identifying, 24-30) She youngest of the waitresses. Thick glasses, hair parted 14 centimeters to the left — eccentric is the nice way to say she’s slightly unusual, and not so slightly OCD. She sets the tables, painstakingly ensuring each salt and pepper-shaker is equidistant from the napkin holder. Must have an excellent pop/rock/folk voice. Vocal range: G3-E5.
BECKY: (Female Identifying, 35-45) The oldest of the three waitresses. Irreverent, irascible, been there, made it back, and somehow kept her forward and sometimes wicked sense of humor with excellent comedic timing. Must have a soulful pop voice with an excellent pop belt. Vocal range: Eb3-E5.
DR. POMATTER: (Male Identifying, 30-45) Handsome, endearing, and neurotic. Has a warm, if clumsy, matter. Jenna’s gynecologist with whom an unexpected extramarital affair is born. Has a quirky sense of humor and a big heart, despite the fact that he’s contributing to the affair. Must have impeccable comedic timing and must move well. Should have a very strong pop/rock tenor that can navigate the musical style of Sara Bareilles with ease. Vocal Range: Bb2-Bb4.
EARL: (Male Identifying, 25- late 30’s) Jenna’s husband. Peaked in high school, handsome in a gruff way, but that face is clouded with broken dreams, drowned with cheap beer. Just enough narcissism mixed with stupidity, to be a potent Molotov cocktail that can explode into unexpected anger one second and then turn into a sobbing mess the next. Guitar playing a plus. Vocal range: Eb3-G4.
OGIE: (Male Identifying, 30’s) Strange, yet oddly lovable. Becomes slightly obsessed with Dawn (in a hilarious yet endearing way) after she goes on a 5-minute date with him. Quirky, incredibly persistent, and odd, yet kind. Should have excellent comedic timing. Must have an excellent pop/rock tenor/baritenor sound. Vocal range: C3-Bb4.
JOE: (Male Identifying, 60-70) The owner of the diner where Jenna, Dawn, Becky, and Cal work. A seemingly old, curmudgeonly man who has a soft spot for Jenna (and her pie), warm at heart. A sarcastically funny and no-nonsense guy with a keen ability to read people. Very funny. Vocal range: B2-G#4.
CAL: (Male Identifying, 40’s): A chef at the diner. A “Salt of the Earth” guy’s guy surrounded by gals. Brash, impatient, unsentimental, but somehow charming. Should have a strong pop/rock voice with great comedic chops. Vocal range: B2-G4.
ENSEMBLE: Must have excellent pop voices in the style of Sara Bareilles, have great comedic timing, and be able to play a range of characters comprising the community in which the story takes place. Must be strong movers/dancers.
