Katharine McPhee adds second limited engagement in Waitress

Katharine McPhee returns to hit musical Waitress from July 5, 2018.

"It Only Takes a Taste" and she's hooked! "American Idol" and "Smash" star Katharine McPhee, currently making her Broadway debut in the leading role of Jenna in hit musical Waitress at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, has now added a second shift at the diner. She began performances on April 10 and is scheduled to remain with the production for her first limited engagement through to June 17. She will then return to the musical from July 5 through to August 19, 2018.

Ms. McPhee rose to fame as runner-up on the fifth season of "American Idol" in 2006 and subsequently released five studio albums. On television, she is known for her leading role as Karen Cartwright in NBC's Broadway-centric musical series "Smash" and she can also currently be seen as Paige Dineen in the CBS TV series "Scorpion". Read our Katharine McPhee interview.

The principal cast of Waitress currently includes Katharine McPhee (as Jenna), Drew Gehling (as Dr. Pomatter), NaTasha Yvette Williams (as Becky), Caitlin Houlahan (as Dawn), Ben Thompson (as Earl), Lee Wilkof (as Joe), Benny Elledge (as Cal), and Tony Award nominee Christopher Fitzgerald (as Ogie).

As previously announced, "Madam Secretary" star Erich Bergen will make his Broadway debut as Dr. Pomatter from June 5 through to August 12, 2018.

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 behind ​Waitress 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 March 31, 2019.

^{(Photo by Matthew Murphy)}