Sara Bareilles to star in Waitress on Broadway

Sara Bareilles, the writer of the hit Broadway musical Waitress has today announced on 'The Today Show' that she will make her Broadway debut in the lead role of 'Jenna' in the production from March 31 through June 11, succeeding the show's original star Jessie Mueller.

As previously announced, original star Jessie Mueller will play her final performance as Jenna on 26 March 2017.

Waitress officially opened on Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on 24 April 2016, following previews from 25 March, and is currently booking through June 11 2017.

Bareilles is an American singer-songwriter who has sold over one million albums and over nine million singles/downloads in the United States. She has earned six Grammy Award nominations, including one Album of the Year and Best Musical Theatre Album, along with a Tony Award nomination for Best Score.

Sara Bareilles said of the news: "Waitress has turned out to be one of the great, true loves of my life, and they simply can't get rid of me. I consider it an incredible honor to follow the masterful work of Jessie Mueller as she so gracefully brought the character of Jenna to life, and I am thrilled to continue to tell this story that has so much heart. This show changed my life in so many ways, and I feel great privilege in joining our beloved cast and crew who make me laugh and cry every time I watch the show. All I want is to keep sharing the love, and dear God please let me remember my lines."

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 five-time Grammy Award-nominated singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles, choreography by Lorin Latarro and direction by Tony Award-winner Diane Paulus.

The principal cast currently includes Tony winner Jessie Mueller (Jenna), Charity Angél Dawson (Becky), Caitlin Houlahan (Dawn), Drew Gehling (Dr. Pomatter), Tony nominee Christopher Fitzgerald (Ogie), William Popp (Earl), Dakin Matthews (Joe), and Joe Cassidy (Cal).

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.