Waitress to Celebrate National Women’s History Month
(© Jeremy Daniel)
The producers of Broadway’s Waitress, now running at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, have announced a monthlong campaign in March to celebrate National Women’s History Month. As the first Broadway musical with an all-female creative team, the production will celebrate women through a variety of efforts including post-show talkbacks centered around women-centric themes, educational social campaigns, and fundraising efforts benefiting the National Women’s History Museum in Washington, DC.
"The National Women’s History Museum is proud to support the trailblazing women of Waitress," said board chair Susan D. Whiting. "We are grateful for their support to help us create a world where everyone learns the full value of women through women's history inspiring them to see there are no obstacles to becoming whatever they want to be."
Each week in March, Waitress will host a notable woman (or group of women) to participate in a post-show talkback from the stage. The discussion will explore topics connecting the notable achievements of the guest panelists and the themes of this ground-breaking production. Additionally, the show’s in-house pie concession will feature a Lemon Empowerment Pie for the month and a portion of those proceeds will benefit the museum as well. A Prizeo campaign to benefit the museum will launch in March and bids will be accepted through the end of the month.
Inspired by Adrienne Shelly's 2007 motion picture, Waitress features songs by Sara Bareilles, a book by Jessie Nelson, and direction by Diane Paulus. The story follows Jenna, an expert pie maker in a small town, who dreams of a way out of her loveless marriage. A baking contest in a nearby county and the town’s new doctor may offer her a chance at a new life, while her fellow waitresses offer their own recipes to happiness. But Jenna must find the courage and strength within herself to rebuild her life. This American musical celebrates friendship, motherhood, and the magic of a well-made pie.
The cast currently stars Bareilles as Jenna, Christopher Fitzgerald as Ogie, Drew Gehling as Dr. Pomatter, Benny Elledge as Cal, Caitlin Houlahan as Dawn, Joe Tippett as Earl, Lee Wilkof as Joe, and NaTasha Yvette Williams as Becky.
