Jordin Sparks

Jordin Sparks returns to Broadway to star in Waitress

Sparks assumes the role of Jenna in the hit Broadway musical at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre through October 27, 2019.

Tom Millward
Tom Millward

Grammy Award nominee and "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks makes her return to the Great White Way tonight to star in Broadway's hit musical Waitress at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. As previously reported, she is set to play a limited engagement through October 27, 2019. She succeeds Alison Luff, who played her final performance in the role on September 15.

Ms. Sparks shot to fame after winning the sixth season of "American Idol" in 2007. She has released three studio albums to date - Jordin Sparks in 2007, Battlefield in 2009, and Right Here Right Now in 2015 - and even received a Grammy Award nomination in 2009 for her celebrated duet with Chris Brown, "No Air." She made her film debut in 2012 opposite Whitney Houston in "Sparkle" and made her Broadway debut as Nina Rosario in Lin-Manuel Miranda's In the Heights in 2010.

The current principal cast of Waitress also includes Mark Evans (as Dr. Pomatter), Natasha Yvette Williams (as Becky), Ben Thompson (as Earl), Tony Award nominee Larry Marshall (as Old Joe), Benny Elledge (as Cal), and three-time Tony Award nominee Christopher Fitzgerald (as Ogie). Caitlin Houlahan returns to the role of Dawn this Thursday, September 19.

YouTube sensations Colleen Ballinger and Todrick Hall played their final performances as Dawn and Ogie, respectively, in the Broadway production on September 15.

Waitress officially opened on Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on April 24, 2016, following previews from March 25, and is now scheduled to close on January 5, 2020, as previously reported.

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 seven-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 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.

Waitress Tickets are available now for performances through January 5, 2020.

(Photo by Matthew Murphy)

 

Originally published on

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