Rehearsals Begin Monday for Broadway's WAITRESS, Starring Jessie Mueller

Rehearsals begin Monday, February 8 for the spring Broadway production of Waitress, following its sold-out limited engagement at the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA. Waitress opens on Sunday, April 24, 2016 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 West 47th Street), with previews starting on Friday, March 25, 2016.

Waitress stars Tony Award-winner Jessie Mueller as Jenna, with Drama Desk nominee Eric Anderson (Cal), Tony Award nominee Nick Cordero (Earl), Tony Award nominee Christopher Fitzgerald (Ogie), Drew Gehling (Dr. Pomatter), Kimiko Glenn (Dawn), Dakin Matthews (Joe), Tony Award nominee Keala Settle (Becky), and Charity Angél Dawson, Thay Floyd, Henry Gottfried, Molly Hager, Aisha Jackson, Max Kumangai, Jeremy Morse, Ragan Pharris, Stephanie Torns and Ryan Vasquez.

Jenna (Jessie Mueller) is 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.

Based upon the 2007 motion picture written by Adrienne Shelly, Waitress is the first Broadway musical in history to have four women in the four top creative team spots, with book by Jessie Nelson, score by five-time Grammy Award-nominated singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles, choreography by Lorin Latarro and direction by Tony Award-winner Diane Paulus.

The design team features set by three-time Tony Award-winner Scott Pask, costumes by Suttirat Larlarb, lighting by Tony Award-winner Christopher Akerlind and sound by Tony Award-nominee Jonathan Deans. Music supervisor is Nadia DiGiallonardo. Casting is by Telsey + Company. Music contractor is John Miller. Production Stage Manager is Thomas J, Gates. Tech supervision is by Juniper Street Productions.

Waitress will be produced on Broadway by Barry and Fran Weissler and Norton and Elayne Herrick.

Jessie Mueller (Jenna) won the 2014 Tony Award, Drama Desk Award and a 2015 Grammy Award for her performance as Carole King in Beautiful, The Carole King Musical. She made her Broadway debut opposite Harry Connick Jr. in On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, for which she received Tony Award and Drama Desk nominations. She was also seen on Broadway in The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Drama Desk nomination) and Nice Work If You Can Get It. In her native Chicago, Mueller has won acclaim for starring roles in She Loves Me (Joseph Jefferson Award), Guys and Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof, Curtains and Carousel (Joseph Jefferson Award), among other musicals.

Eric Anderson (Cal) created the role of Cal in the A.R.T. production of Waitress. Broadway: South Pacific (Stewpot), original casts of Kinky Boots (Mutt), Rocky (Gazzo/Tommy Crosetti), The Last Ship (Freddy Newlands), Soul Doctor (starring as Shlomo Carlebach; Drama Desk nomination for Best Actor). Recipient of the inaugural Joel Hirschhorn award for outstanding achievement in musical theatre by the L.A. Drama Critics Circle. TV: "The Good Wife," "Law & Order," "Alias," and "Live From Lincoln Center." Married to Jessica Rush, with a new daughter called Elliot.

Nick Cordero (Earl) was last seen on Broadway playing Cheech in Bullets Over Broadway, for which he received 2014 Tony Award and Drama Desk Award nominations, and won both an Outer Critics Circle Award and a Theater World Award. Prior to Bullets, Nick appeared on Broadway as "Dennis" in Rock Of Ages, after playing the role across the country in the 1st National Tour. Off-Broadway Nick recently appeared in Nice Girl at the Labyrinth Theater, Brooklynite at the Vineyard Theater and in 2009 he created the title role in The Toxic Avenger Musical (Outer Critics Circle Award - Best Off-Broadway Musical), a role he previously played regionally at George Street Playhouse. Other regional credits include Little Shop Of Horrors (KC Rep), Pirates Of Penzance (BRT), The Last 5 Years (Heritage Theater), Equus (Citadel Theater), Blood Brothers (Theater Aquarius), Fiddler On The Roof (Manitoba Theater Center). This February, Nick will appear as Sonny in the world premiere of Chazz Palminteri's A Bronx Tale - The Musical at The Paper Mill Playhouse, music and lyrics by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater, directed by Robert De Niro and Jerry Zaks. TV/Film: "Queer As Folk" (Showtime), "Lilyhammer" (Netflix), "Law & Order: SVU" (NBC/Universal), A Stand Up Guy (2B Films), Going In Style (Warner Bros./New Line) Nick's music has appeared on TV shows such as "Degrassi: Next Generation" (Nickelodeon), "Flashpoint" (CBS) and "Heartland" (CBC).

Christopher Fitzgerald (Ogie) Broadway: An Act of God, The Merchant of Venice, Finian's Rainbow (Drama Desk Award, Tony and Outer Critics Circle nominations), Young Frankenstein (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle nominations), original cast of Wicked, Amour, (Drama Desk nomination), Chicago. Off-Broadway: The Winter's Tale (Public), Gutenberg! The Musical! (Actors' Playhouse), Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme (Lincoln Center), Saturday Night (Second Stage, Drama Desk nomination), Wise Guys (New York Theatre Workshop), Corpus Christi (Manhattan Theatre Club), Fully Committed (Cherry Lane Theatre), The Cripple of Inishmaan (Public), Stairway to Paradise, Babes in Arms and Broadway Bash (City Center Encores!), the title role in Barnum at the Chichester Festival (UK), and 13 seasons with the Williamstown Theatre Festival. TV: "Almost There" (DirecTV), "The Good Wife" (CBS), "Elementary" (CBS), "Twins" (series regular, WB), "Next Caller" (NBC), "The Electric Company" (PBS). Film: Opposite Kristin Wiig and Annette Bening in Girl Most Likely, Larry Gaye: Renegade Male Flight Attendant, Personal Velocity, and Dedication. MFA American Conservatory Theater.

Drew Gehling (Dr. Pomatter) created the role of Dr. Pomatter in the A.R.T. production of Waitress. Broadway: On A Clear Day You Can See Forever, Jersey Boys. Off-Broadway: A Minister's Wife (Lexy), Lincoln Center; Billy & Ray (Sistrom), Vineyard Theatre; I Believe, Lincoln Center; Anne of Green Gables (Gilbert Blythe), Lortel. Regional: Johnny Baseball, A.R.T.; Moby Dick; Jersey Boys; Hello Dolly, Paper Mill; Utah Shakespeare. Workshops: American Psycho, The Searchers, Big Fish, Sunset Boulevard. TV/Film: "Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight" (HBO), "30 Rock," "Smash," "The Daily Show," "Unsung Carolyn Leigh" (Live from Lincoln Center). Carnegie Mellon University.

Kimiko Glenn (Dawn) is best known for her work as Brook Soso in the award-winning Netflix series "Orange is The New Black," as well as her recurring role on FX's "Married". She also made a cameo on Comedy Central's "Broad City" as the evil hipster store clerk at Beacon's Closet. Theatre credits include the First National Tour of Spring Awakening as Thea and the title role in The Flaming Lips musical Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, which had its world premiere at La Jolla Playhouse. Kimiko will appear in the Lionsgate feature Nerve, releasing in 2016. She is represented by Don Buchwald & Associates.

Dakin Matthews (Joe) created the role of Joe in the A.R.T. production of Waitress. Broadway: The Audience (Winston Churchill), Rocky (Mickey), The Best Man (Senator Carlin), A Man for All Seasons (Cardinal Wolsey), Henry IV (Warwick/Glendower, Bayfield and Drama Desk Award). Off-Broadway: Measure for Measure, All's Well That Ends Well, Public Theater; Where's Charley, Encores!; Freedomland, Playwrights Horizons. Regional: All The Way, A.R.T.; Prince of L.A., A Midsummer Night's Dream, Old Globe; Three Sisters, Uncle Vanya, A.C.T.; Shadowlands, Misalliance, South Coast Repertory. Film: Lincoln, True Grit, Zero Charisma. TV: "Gilmore Girls," "Desperate Housewives," "King of Queens."

Keala Settle (Becky) created the role of Becky in the A.R.T. production of Waitress. Broadway: LES MISERABLES 2014 Revival (Madame Thénardier), Hands On A Hardbody (Norma Valverde; Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Award nominations, TheaterWorld Award winner), Priscilla Queen Of The Desert (Shirley). Off-Broadway: Violet, Encores! Off-Center. First National Tours: Hairspray (Tracy Turnblad), South Pacific (Bloody Mary), Lincoln Center. Regional: Side Show, La Jolla Playhouse; Joseph..., Ogunquit Playhouse. Workshops: The Last Ship. TV/Film: "The Big C." Film: Ricki and the Flash.

Jessie Nelson (Book) wrote, directed, and produced Corrina, Corrina with Whoopi Goldberg and I Am Sam with Sean Penn, who received an Academy Award nomination for his performance. Recently she directed Love the Coopers with Diane Keaton and John Goodman, which is in current release. Jessie co-wrote Step Mom and The Story of Us, and produced Danny Collins with Al Pacino and Annette Bening and Fred Claus with Vince Vaughn. Jessie co-wrote Alice By Heart with Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik, which was developed at The National Theatre. She began her career in the theater working with Mabou Mines and The New York Shakespeare Festival. Jessie co-wrote the children's book Labracadabra. She has been the Artistic Director of the Sundance Institute's Writers Lab.

Sara Bareilles (Music and Lyrics) first achieved mainstream critical praise in 2007 with her hit "Love Song," which reached #1 in 22 countries around the world from her debut album Little Voice. Since then, the Eureka, CA native has sold millions of albums worldwide and received five Grammy nominations including Song of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Love Song." Bareilles' highly anticipated sophomore release Kaleidoscope Heart debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 chart in September 2010 and has gained praise everywhere including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, People and Los Angeles Times. The album yielded the hit single "King of Anything," which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and was certified platinum by the RIAA. In 2011, Bareilles joined the judges' panel on the hit NBC show "The Sing-Off." Soon after, she released her highly revered Once Upon Another Time EP, produced by singer/songwriter and fellow "Sing-Off" judge Ben Folds. Sara's highly acclaimed third studio album, The Blessed Unrest, released in 2013 via Epic Records, debuted at #2 on the Billboard album chart and was nominated for two Grammy Awards including "Album of the Year" and "Best Pop Performance" for her hit single "Brave." Bareilles' book, Sounds Like Me: My Life (So Far) In Song, was released on October 6 by Simon & Schuster. On November 6, Sara released a solo studio album, What's Inside: Songs from Waitress, on Epic Records. For more information, please visit www.sarabmusic.com

Lorin Latarro (Choreographer) choreographed Broadway's Waiting For Godot with Sir Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen and is the Associate Choreographer of The Curious Incident of the Dog In The Night-Time and American Idiot. Lorin choreographed Queen of the Night (Drama Desk Award), The Public's The Odyssey at the Delacorte, Ira Glass and Lin-Manuel Miranda's 21 Chump Street and Peter and the Wolf at BAM, Encores' Fanny at City Center, Beaches The Musical at Drury Lane, Best Is Yet To Come (Drama Desk Award), Kiss Me, Kate at Barrington. She is an Artistic Associate at Bucks County Playhouse under Robyn Goodman, where her choreography includes Company, Ain't Misbehavin' and Rocky Horror. Lorin performed in 14 Broadway shows, founded Artists Against Gun Violence flash mobs- artammo.org seen on PBS, CNN, Rachel Maddow, NYTimes and is a graduate of The Juilliard School. She is married to neurosurgeon Dr. Brian Kopell and lives in Williamsburg with their 20-pound cat, the Notorious PHATTY.

Diane Paulus (Director) is The Terrie and Bradley Bloom Artistic Director of the A.R.T. at Harvard University, and was selected for the 2014 TIME 100, TIME Magazine's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Paulus is the 2013 recipient of the Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical (Pippin). A.R.T.: Crossing, Finding Neverland (currently on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre), Witness Uganda, Pippin, The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, Prometheus Bound, Tod Machover's Death and the Powers: The Robots' Opera, Best of Both Worlds, Johnny Baseball, The Donkey Show. Her other recent work includes Cirque du Soleil's Amaluna, currently on tour in Europe; The Public Theater's Tony Award-winning revival of HAIR on Broadway and London's West End. As an opera director, her credits include The Magic Flute, the complete Monteverdi cycle, and Don Giovanni, among others. Diane is Professor of the Practice of Theater in Harvard University's English Department. She was selected as one of Variety's "Trailblazing Women in Entertainment for 2014" and Boston Magazine's "50 Thought Leaders of 2014."

Nadia DiGiallonardo Theater credits include: Diane Paulus' productions of Waitress (A.R.T.); Pippin (A.R.T. and Music Box Theatre ); HAIR (Music Director), Delacorte Theatre and Hirschfeld Theater; Harps & Angels (vocal arrangements), Mark Taper Forum; The 101 Dalmatians Musical (arrangements with music by Dennis DeYoung; Nerds (arrangements), Philadelphia Theatre Company; The Calgary Stampede (vocal arrangements); Monica! The Musical; Mario Cantone's Laugh Whore. Television credits: on-air pianist/sidekick for ABC's "The Tony Danza Show"; original music for the syndicated game show, "Temptation" and various commercials. Nadia continues to supervise touring companies of HAIR. She is currently the music supervisor for the upcoming production of Nerds: A Musical Software Satire at North Carolina Theatre. As a singer, Nadia was recently seen at the 92nd Street Y with her sisters, as part of the Lyrics & Lyricists series. The DiGiallonardo Sisters are frequent guests on "A Prairie Home Companion" and will be with them at Town Hall this December. They will be recording a new CD this May from a live performance at the Virginia Arts Festival. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Vassar College with a degree in Urban Planning.

John Miller (Music Contractor) Broadway: over 100 shows, including: Something Rotten!, Dr. Zhivago; Gigi; It Shoulda Been You; On the 20th Century; On The Town; Les Miserables; Beautiful; Jersey Boys; Newsies; Pippin; Rock of Ages. Musician (bass): Leonard Cohen, Eric Clapton, Frank Sinatra, Carly Simon, BB King, Bette Midler. His album Stage Door Johnny - John Miller: Takes on Broadway is available on PS Classics Records. www.johnmillerbass.com

Telsey + Company (Casting) Broadway: Paramour, Fiddler on the Roof, China Doll, Misery, Allegiance, On Your Feet!, Sylvia, Spring Awakening, Hamilton, Something Rotten!, American in Paris, Finding Neverland, King and I, Hand to God, Kinky Boots, Wicked. Film: Fun House, Tallulah, Ithaca. TV: "Grease: Live," "The Wiz Live!," "Flesh and Bone," commercials. telseyandco.com

Thomas J. Gates (Production Stage Manager) Broadway: The Visit, Pippin, Newsies, Finian's Rainbow, Hairspray, High Fidelity, Brooklyn, Noises Off. Tours: Brooklyn, White Christmas, Chicago, Joseph..., Grease. Numerous Off-Broadway/Regional. Proud Equity member.

Juniper Street Productions (Tech Supervisor) is Hillary Blanken, Joseph DeLuise, Guy Kwan, Ana Rose Greene, Victoria Bullard and Johnny Kruger. Over the last 17 years, JSP has helped create more than 60 Broadway productions, over 20 national tours and numerous Las Vegas productions. Selected shows include The Color Purple, Spring Awakening, Fun Home, Something Rotten!, Finding Neverland, It Shoulda Been You, Gigi, Dr. Zhivago, Side Show, On the Town, Disgraced, Here Lies Love, Beautiful, Spider-Man, Memphis, Company, The Producers and Fosse.