BWW Blog: Why I Love WAITRESS

Hi everyone! Welcome back to my blog where I bring Broadway to UVA! This week is an off week for Broadway Talks Back (www.BroadwayTalksBack.com), but we have some amazing events coming up the next two weekends! I've gotten a lot of questions about why I love Waitress the Musical lately, and I think this is the perfect forum to explain my love for the show.

I first saw Waitress in January of 2017 with Jessie Mueller opposite Henry Gottfried. Outside of Holiday Inn, it was my first Broadway show since 2011. Broadway always seemed like this foreign concept of classical show tunes that I never really was interested in, but I had joined our Broadway Acapella Group at UVA (HoosITS) and I figured it was time to get back to NYC. I saw so many rave reviews from the cast of Hamilton about the show, so naturally I got tickets and went as soon as I could!

From the second the curtain went up, I had chills. I'm a huge fan of pop music, so I instantly fell in love with Sara Bareilles' lyrics and melodies. The show was hysterical, though-provoking, heartwarming, and ultimately inspiring to someone who has never been in a theater production in her life. The story was relatable and the costumes were so simple, and I felt like I was wrapped up in the world of Joe's Pie Diner for 2 full hours. Mueller and Gottfried have incredible voices, so from the musician standpoint I was instantly sold.

Now I wish I could be more articulate as to why the show has stuck with me for so long. I bought the soundtrack the day after I saw the show, and still listen to it almost daily now. I've come to know some of the OBC and current cast personally, so that certainly makes me want to keep the diner doors open. But something about this show resonated with me so deeply that I knew I wanted to be involved in Broadway for the rest of my life. And I literally cannot tell you exactly what that is.

I've seen the show more times than I care to admit, and I am so lucky to have found a show that never fails to pick me up when I'm stressed out or having a breakdown about my exams. I've dressed up as Jenna twice for Halloween, and even won the Waitress costume contest! I also made my "Broadway Debut" singing Bad Idea at Waitress karaoke, and have gotten to hold backstage interviews and tour the stage. Maybe part of the reason I love it so much is because it gives back to me, both emotionally and literally. I've been really lucky to be so involved with it and have all of these INCREDIBLE experiences. These are things I will remember for the rest of my life, and I wouldn't change a single moment I've had with this show. So thank you Waitress for giving me such a fun few years- I hope we will have many more to come.

Photo credit: Matthew Golden