June Squibb returns to Broadway and debuts in Waitress

The Oscar nominee makes Waitress history as the role of Joe evolves into Josie in the popular Broadway musical.

As previously announced, Academy Award nominee June Squibb returns to the Great White Way tonight and joins the Broadway company of hit musical Waitress at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. She takes on the role of Josie - formerly known as Joe - marking the first time a woman has played the role in the show's history, and is scheduled to play a limited engagement through to January 6, 2019. NBC's TODAY Show star Al Roker played his final performance as Joe on November 18, 2018.

June Squibb made her Broadway debut as Electra in the original 1959 production of Gypsy and also appeared in 1968's The Happy Time, 1978's Gorey Stories, and 1995's Sacrilege. She earned Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations in 2014 for "Nebraska" and her many screen credits include "About Schmidt," "In and Out," and "Far From Heaven," among others.

The current principal cast of Waitress includes Nicolette Robinson (as Jenna), Drew Gehling (as Dr. Pomatter), NaTasha Yvette Williams (as Becky), Lenne Klingaman (as Dawn), Ben Thompson (as Earl), Academy Award nominee June Squibb (as Josie), Benny Elledge (as Cal), and Alex Wyse (as Ogie).

Waitress officially opened on Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on 24 April 2016, following previews from 25 March.

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 six-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 to September 1, 2019.

^{(Photo courtesy of Boneau/Bryan-Brown)}