Waitress to serve up Broadway charm in the CBD this May

A fresh slice of Broadway is heading to the CBD next month, with Waitress set to begin its Australian premiere season at Her Majesty’s Theatre from May 1.

The hit musical, which first found acclaim on Broadway and later in the West End, arrives in Melbourne with a high-profile Australian cast led by Natalie Bassingthwaighte as Jenna, a pie-making waitress trying to carve out a better life in a small American town.

Inspired by Adrienne Shelly’s much-loved 2007 film, Waitress tells the story of Jenna, an unhappily married diner worker whose gift for baking becomes tied to the possibility of escape, change and self-determination. With the support of her fellow waitresses Becky and Dawn, and the surprise arrival of a new romance, Jenna begins to imagine a different future.

The production has become well known not only for its warm-hearted story, but also for the creative team behind it. Waitress made history on Broadway by having women in the four top creative roles, with a book by Jessie Nelson, music and lyrics by Grammy winner Sara Bareilles, choreography by Lorin Latarro and direction by Diane Paulus.

For Melbourne, the arrival of the musical adds another major title to the city’s theatre calendar and gives the CBD a strong early winter drawcard in one of its most iconic venues.

Bassingthwaighte headlines the cast following recent stage acclaim in Shirley Valentine and previous musical theatre roles in Chicago, Jagged Little Pill, Grease and Chess. She is joined by Gabriyel Thomas as Becky, Mackenzie Dunn as Dawn, Rob Mills as Dr Pomatter and John Waters as Joe, the diner owner.

The show is described as “heartwarming and empowering”, with themes of resilience, hope, friendship and second chances running through the story. Its score by Bareilles, best known in the pop world for songs such as Love Song and Brave, has been one of the production’s defining features internationally.

Producer John Frost said the show had become a “must see” musical around the world and described the Australian cast as “sensational”.

Her Majesty’s Theatre season will run ahead of a Sydney transfer in August, with Melbourne performances scheduled from Tuesday to Sunday across a mix of evening and matinee times. Tickets start from
$69 .90.

For the CBD, the staging of Waitress continues the role of major musicals in drawing audiences into the city not only for the show itself, but for the broader night-out economy around it, from restaurants and bars to accommodation and late trade.

With its mix of humour, heart and a strong central performance role, Waitress looks likely to appeal both to seasoned musical theatre audiences and to those simply after an uplifting night in town.

The Australian premiere of Waitress begins at Her Majesty’s Theatre on May 1.

Main caption: Rob Mills, Mackenzie Dunn, Natalie Bassinthwaighte, Gabriyel Thomas and John Waters. Photo: Peter Brew-Bevan. •