The original Broadway production of Waitress. Picture Joan Marcus
Hit Broadway show Waitress will make its eagerly-anticipated UK debut at London’s Adelphi Theatre next February.
Now in its third year on Broadway, the musical tale of love friendship and perfect pies, based on the cult classic 2007 film of the same name, was expected to arrive on this side of the Atlantic last year, but the search for a suitable London theatre took longer than expected.
Tickets for the London run will go on sale in the autumn for the show which will become the first major West End musical to boast an all-female creative team.
With a book by Jessie Nelson and music and lyrics by pop singer songwriter Sara Bareilles, the musical which takes its inspiration from screenwriter and actress Adrienne Shelly’s much-loved independent film, will once again be directed by Tony Award-winning director Diana Paulus with choreography by Lorin Laterro.
Commenting on her hit show’s imminent arrival in London, Bareilles said: “I cannot contain my excitement that we will be bringing Waitress to the West End! This is a dream come true. And I must say, to be hosted in a theatre co-owned by Andrew Lloyd Webber and the Nederlander Group makes this very sweet moment even sweeter. We are so proud of this beautiful show, and can’t wait to share the story of Jenna with a whole new audience and welcome them into the world of Waitress with open arms and plenty of pie.”
Director Paulus added: “I am absolutely thrilled that Waitress is coming to the beautiful Adelphi Theatre! It is a dream come true to share this musical with London audiences.”
The Adelphi’s co-owner Lloyd Webber said: “I am a massive fan of Sara Bareilles both as a writer and a performer. I’m thrilled that she has earned an Emmy nomination for her performance as Mary Magdalene in NBC’s Jesus Christ Superstar Live earlier this year and absolutely delighted that Waitress is to be seen in the West End.”
Although overshadowed by the unstoppable Hamilton during award season, the feel-good show was nominated for a number of major awards, with the show’s Christopher Fitzgerald picking up a Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical.
A critical and commercial hit, the show’s success has added poignancy due to the tragic loss of the film’s creator who was murdered just before the movie premiered at the famous Sundance Film Festival. Promotional material for the show in the US pays tribute to Shelly and her legacy, and refers to the charitable Adrienne Shelly Foundation set up in her memory by her husband.
Waitress began previews in August 2015 at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts and transferred to Broadway’s Brooks Atkinson Theatre in March 2016. The show is currently in the middle of a successful US tour and plans were recently announced for an Australian premiere production at the Sydney Lyric Theatre in 2020.
Waitress is produced by Barry and Fran Weissler and Norton and Elayne Herrick.
Angela Thomas
SHARE THIS POST:
Comments are closed.