Utah's Premier Professional Theatre in Residence at the University of Utah

Utah's Premier Professional Theatre in Residence at the University of Utah

May 2 – 17, 2025
Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre
Musical | Utah Premiere

Book by Jessie Nelson
Music & Lyrics by Sara Bareilles
Based upon the motion picture written by Adrienne Shelly

Runtime: 2 hours 30 minutes (including one 15-minute intermission)

Enjoy what’s inside this delectable Broadway hit!

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

$57-83 ($5 more per ticket if purchased at the door)

WAITRESS is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com

Important Dates

Monday–Thursday 7:00 PM
Friday & Saturday 7:30 PM
Saturday 2:00 PM

ASL-Interpreted Performance: Monday, May 12th @ 7:00 PM

Sponsors

Marriner S. Eccles Foundation

Overview

Cast

Bonnie Black
Amy Bodnar
Gisela Chípe
Edward Juvier
Matthew McGloin
Andrea Morales
Alec Ruiz
Robert Scott Smith
ANNE TOLPEGIAN
John Tufts
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Creative Team

JESSIE NELSON (Book) wrote the musical Waitress with music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles. The show played on Broadway for 4 years and moved to the West End in London. Sara and Jessie went on to create the show Little Voice which they Executive Produced with JJ Abrams for Apple TV. Jessie wrote, directed and produced Corrina Corrina and I Am Sam staring Sean Penn, who received an Academy Award nomination for his performance. Among her other directing credits are Curb Your Enthusiasm and Love, the Coopers with Diane Keaton. Her writing credits include Step Mom and The Story of Us . She produced Fred Claus and Danny Collins . In London, Jessie directed Alice By Heart which she co-wrote with Steven Sater with music by Duncan Sheik at the National Theater Connections Program and again at MCC in NYC. She began her career as an actress at the Public Theater working with the award-winning experimental theater Mabou Mines and at the New York Shakespeare Festival. She wrote the children’s book Labracadabra. She has been the artistic Director of the Sundance Screen Writers Lab.

SARA BAREILLES (Music & Lyrics) can next be seen starring in the upcoming Tina Fey’s series, GIRLS5EVA. Bareilles first achieved mainstream critical praise in 2007 with her widely successful hit “Love Song,” which reached No. 1 in 22 countries around the world from her debut album Little Voice. Since then, Sara has gone on to receive seven Grammy® nominations throughout her career, which include Song of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for “Love Song” and one Album of the Year for her highly acclaimed third studio album, The Blessed Unrest. Her book, Sounds Like Me: My Life (So Far) in Song, was released in the fall of 2015 by Simon & Schuster and is a New York Times best seller. Making her Broadway debut Sara composed the music and lyrics for Waitress, for which she received her first Tony® Award nomination for Best Score and a 2017 Grammy® Award nomination for Best Musical Theater Album. She also made her Broadway acting debut in 2017 by stepping into the lead role in Waitress. 2018 was a big year for Sara, she co-hosted the Tony Awards®, was nominated for an Emmy® and Grammy ® for her role in Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert and was awarded with the Songwriters Hall of Fame’s Hal David Starlight Award. Sara also teamed up with Apple as an executive producer for Little Voice a 10-episode series, for which she created the original music. What’s Inside: Songs from Waitress, her most recent solo studio album, is out on Epic Records. On April 5, 2019 Sara released her fifth full-length and first album of original material since 2013, entitled Amidst the Chaos. For this latest body of work, she joined forces in the studio with legendary Academy® Award-winning producer T Bone Burnett. As a result, the album spotlights her voice as a singer and storyteller like never before, while making an enduring statement.

Media

Publicity

Study Guide

Content Advisory

Please Note:  

The age-based guidance below is intended as a recommendation only. We do encourage you to use your judgment based on your own research of the show, your own sensibilities, and a child’s age and maturity level.

Also, in accordance with theatrical licensing agreements, Pioneer Theatre Company presents each production as originally written and intended by its author(s). If you are concerned with any content beyond what is provided below, a copy of each production script is available for in-person perusal during PTC’s regular Box Office hours.

Waitress: For Which Audiences?

Contains strong adult language, sexual situations/dialogue and adult themes including alcoholism and domestic violence. Recommended for ages 13 and up.

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