Lenne Klingaman News

Sugar. Butter. Flour. We all know the ingredients it takes to make a delicious pie, but what else is tucked away inside? Onstage in the hit musical WAITRESS, it's a dash bit of creativity, a pinch of passion, and a tasty new title wrap around each crust! As presented at Bass Performance Hall (sponsored by Performing Arts For Worth), the female-forward tale filled both heart and stomachs with delight.

Sugar, butter, flour! Sara Bareilles' musical WAITRESS opens at the Saenger Theatre tonight! It's about a young woman named Jenna who works at a bakery and is trying to figure out her life. She's in an abusive marriage, finds out she's pregnant, and it forces her to take a look at what she really wants. With the help of her best friends, an unexpected romance with a doctor, and a pie-baking contest her future starts to look a whole lot brighter.

The Colorado Theatre Guild's 13th Annual Henry Awards will take place Monday, July 23, 2018 at the Lone Tree Arts Center, located at 10075 Commons St. Lone Tree, CO 80124. The evening begins at 6 p.m. with cocktails and the awards ceremony will begin at 7 p.m., followed by a reception at the Lone Tree Arts Center. Tickets are $35 for CTG members, $40 non-members or $45 at the door. Tickets go on sale June 12, 2018 through the Lone Tree Arts Center website at www.LoneTreeArtsCenter.org or by calling the box office at 720-509-1000.

There comes a moment late in act two of Waitress, the Jessie Nelson-Sara Bareilles musical now onstage at Tennessee Performing Arts Center's Andrew Jackson Hall, when Desi Oakley - the actress portraying Jenna Hunterson, the show's very pregnant heroine - finds herself bathed in the bright glow of a spotlight and she delivers the show's stirring and emotionally driven climax: a performance of Bareilles' plaintive pop ballad "She Used to Be Mine," arguably the score's best-known and most beloved song.

The musical adaptation of Adrienne Shelly's screenplay WAITRESS made history on Broadway when it came in with the first all-female creative team led by Director Diane Paulus. However, it's noteworthy for another reason - Sara Bareilles' varied, character-driven music and lyrics that would, in any other year, probably have won the Tony Award. These are not the only selling points for the current national tour though. Some strong casting, a fierce band fully integrated into the diner setting (led by DC's own tremendously talented Jenny Cartney), and female characters you want to root for in Jessie Nelson's book make this one to see.

'It is a lovely, heartfelt, beautiful, emotion-filled, laugh-til-you-cry and cry-til-you laugh show'

BroadwayWorld presents a comprehensive weekly roundup of regional stories around our Broadway World, which include videos, editor spotlights, regional reviews and more. This week, we feature JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, RAGTIME, and More!

Based on Adrienne Shelly's 2007 independent film of the same name, Waitress tells the story of Jenna Hunterson, a Waitress at a small town diner who is trapped in an abusive marriage to her husband Earl. When Jenna unexpectedly becomes pregnant, she begins an affair with her gynecologist, Dr. Jim Pomatter. Looking for ways out, she sees a pie contest and its grand prize as her chance.

The current touring production of 'Waitress' is a musical best served to a full house and welcoming audience prepared to ride one rollercoaster of a show-exactly as it was Tuesday night at the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts in downtown Orlando. The show itself dished out some serious laughs on its opening night, but also managed to bring in heavier undertones and themes masked by the upbeat musical numbers created by pop star Sara Bareilles.

With her country-rich voice, Desi Oakley keeps the Southern heart of WAITRESS beating despite the silly lagniappe of the script and the tour's overmiked production.

Dr. Phillips Center celebrates Pi Day by revealing the two little girls chosen for their big break in the critically acclaimed Broadway musical WAITRESS at Dr. Phillips Center.  Delainey Silvestro, age 5, and Ella Helton, also age 5, will make their professional debut on the Walt Disney Theater stage next week. The girls visited the arts center for a tour of the theater and dressing rooms. Singer-songwriter Jason Mraz, recent star of the Broadway production of WAITRESS, was in town to perform his Solo Acoustic tour at Dr. Phillips Center and took a moment from his sound check to meet the pint-sized pixies.  Mraz played Dr. Pomatter in a limited engagement in the musical at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre through February 11, 2018.

BroadwayWorld presents a comprehensive weekly roundup of regional stories around our Broadway World, which include videos, editor spotlights, regional reviews and more. This week, we feature The Lion King, Finding Neverland, The Crucible, and more!

Even without big-name stars, 'Waitress' proves itself to be the right show at the right time.

Casting has been announced for the upcoming Washington, D.C. premiere of the irresistible Broadway musical hit WAITRESS, which comes to the National Theatre for a 3-week limited engagement from May 15 thru June 3, 2018.

Sugar. Butter. Flour. Welcome to the kitchen where Jenna (Desi Oakle) is baking up a fresh pie. She works tirelessly every day baking new pies and serving at Joe's Diner, only to have her abusive husband Earl (Nick Bailey) take her sweet earnings at the end of every shift. This all changes when Jenna discovers she is pregnant with Earl's baby.

Nearly three years after it premiered at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, and while still enjoying a successful run on Broadway, the national tour of WAITRESS is serving customers at the Boston Opera House as part of the Lexus Broadway In Boston 2017-2018 season. The Diane Paulus-driven and directed production is adapted from the 2007 motion picture of the same name written by Adrienne Shelly, with book by Jessie Nelson, and music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles. The Broadway designers are on board to bring the same creative elements to the tour, and a handful of the cast has also performed with the show on the Great White Way.

A successful Broadway musical has always been anchored by an engaging story augmented by a great score. Over the years the formula hasn't changed much but the sound of the music certainly has, as popular music changes and evolves The 30's had Cole Porter, Burt Bacharach and his synthesizers appeared in the 60's, and Elton John's pop score succeeded for THE LION KING , so no one should be surprised that Sara Bareilles and her unique style of song writing could be next on the list. Her 2016 score to WAITRESS, now playing for a one week engagement at Shea's, earned her a TONY nomination and the show has a been a hit ever since.

BroadwayWorld presents a comprehensive weekly roundup of regional stories around our Broadway World, which include videos, editor spotlights, regional reviews and more. This week, we feature LES MIS, WAITRESS, PRSCILLA, and More!

The National Tour of WAITRESS - playing at the Hippodrome until February 4, 2018 - is the best version of this particular show I've seen. I originally saw the show on Broadway last summer, but I just didn't get it. It seemed a little disjointed to me. The first act is all fun, while the second act gets dark. However, after seeing last evening's performance of this story played out by this fantastic cast, I'm fully on board with what the writers had in mind. These cast members are supremely talented and perfectly suited for their particular roles - able to bring the comedy, as well as the heart and every emotion in between.

New Orleans is thrilled to announce WAITRESS will play the Saenger Theatre for a limited one-week engagement June 12 - 17, 2018. Presented by the New Orleans Theatre Association, WAITRESS will close out the East Jefferson General Hospital Broadway in New Orleans 2017-2018 season.