WAITRESS to Take a Taste of Life on the Road; National Tour Will Launch from Cleveland in 2017!

Following on from yesterday's triumphant opening night at Broadway's Brooks Atkinson Theatre, the producers of Waitress have announced that the national tour of the acclaimed new musical will begin at Cleveland's Playhouse Square on October 17, 2017.

Since Broadway previews began a month ago, Waitress has been playing to capacity houses and impressive weekly box office grosses.

WAITRESS has so far been nominated for four Outer Critics' Circle Awards (including Outstanding New Broadway Musical) and two Drama League Award Nominations (Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical and a Distinguished Performance Award for Jessie Mueller).

Based upon the 2007 motion picture written by Adrienne Shelly, Waitress is the first Broadway musical in history to have four women in the 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.

On the announcement, Gina Vernaci, Playhouse Square Executive Director said, "I am thrilled that Waitress, one of the new theatrical gems this Spring on Broadway will launch at Playhouse Square next year. We are so fortunate to continue our relationship with the supremely creative Diane Paulus, who most recently staged Pippin with us, and to welcome a remarkable new theatre voice, Sara Bareilles, who has conquered Broadway as brilliantly as she became one of the most respected and popular musicians of our time."

Waitress began as a sold-out limited engagement at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, MA. Waitress is produced on Broadway by Barry and Fran Weissler and Norton and Elayne Herrick.

Waitress tells the story of Jenna, an expert pie maker in a small town, who dreams of a way out of her loveless marriage. A baking contest in a nearby county and the town's new doctor may offer her a chance at a new life, while her fellow Waitresses offer their own recipes to happiness. But Jenna must find the courage and strength within herself to rebuild her life. This new American musical celebrates friendship, motherhood, and the magic of a well-made pie.

The design team features set by three-time Tony Award-winner Scott Pask, costumes by Suttirat Anne Larlarb, lighting by Tony Award-winner Christopher Akerlind and sound by Tony Award-nominee Jonathan Deans.