Local Young Actresses Cast in WAITRESS

The Tony-nominated musical WAITRESS has cast four young North Texas actresses in the role of "Lulu" for the show's Dallas and Fort Worth engagements.

Eliza Chabot, 4, of Farmers Branch, and Quinn Johnson, 4, of Grapevine will alternate the role of Lulu in Dallas. June Whitley, 5, of Arlington, and Quinn Copeland, 6, of Fort Worth will alternate the role of Lulu in Fort Worth.

WAITRESS tells the story of Jenna, an expert pie-baker who works at a local diner and is stuck in a loveless marriage. Her salvation comes in the form of her daughter, Lulu.

The girls were chosen via an audition process held at the Music Hall at Fair Park on February 20, 2018. Over 40 girls participated in the auditions, which were presided over by members of the WAITRESS company. The character of Lulu is cast locally in each tour market and four girls were chosen to share the role, two for Dallas, two for Fort Worth. Each girl chosen will perform in four performances per week during the two-week engagement in Dallas and one-week engagement in Fort Worth.

Eliza Chabot is home-schooled and spends her days singing, dancing, learning to read and write, and using her big imagination in the backyard with her siblings. This is Eliza's first time to perform with a professional company. However, she has previously performed under the direction of her older sister in the Chabot backyard theatre. Eliza was thrilled to learn she was selected, exclaiming, "They really LIKED me, Mommy!"

This is Quinn Johnson's acting debut. She has performed in three ballet recitals and just joined her first soccer team. She attends preschool at the Children's Courtyard and is very excited about acting for the first time. When asked about the audition, she said, "It was really good, when do we get to go back and be on the BIG stage?"

"I'm excited about it all," says 5-year-old June Whitely who attends Pre-K at Trinity Presbyterian Preschool. Her acting experience includes one semester of classes at Casa Manana, and she studies tap and ballet at Miss Persis Studio of Dance/Performing Arts in Arlington.

Quinn Copeland is thrilled to make her theatrical debut as Lulu. When not building Lego creations, she's an avid singer, dancer, and backyard playwright. She is in kindergarten at Tanglewood Elementary School in Fort Worth and takes acting class at Casa Mañana Performing Arts Conservatory and jazz at Texas Dance Conservatory. "It feels fantastic," says Copeland. "I am thrilled to perform on stage at Bass Hall and make friends with so many amazing actors and singers."

Brought to life by a groundbreaking all-female creative team, WAITRESS is an irresistible new hit featuring original music and lyrics by 6-time Grammy-nominee Sara Bareilles ("Brave," "Love Song"), a book by acclaimed screenwriter Jessie Nelson ("I Am Sam") and direction by Tony Award-winner Diane Paulus (Finding Neverland, Pippin, Hair).

Inspired by Adrienne Shelley's beloved film, the musical tells the story of Jenna. A waitress and expert pie-maker, Jenna dreams of a way out of her small town and loveless marriage. A baking contest in a nearby county and the town's new doctor may offer her a chance at a fresh start, while her fellow waitresses offer their own recipes for happiness. But Jenna must summon the strength and courage to rebuild her own life.

"It's an empowering musical of the highest order!" raves the Chicago Tribune. "WAITRESS is a little slice of heaven!" says Entertainment Weekly and "a monumental contribution to Broadway!" according to Marie Claire. Don't miss this uplifting musical celebrating friendship, motherhood, and the magic of a well-made pie.

Tickets for the Dallas engagement, starting at $20 (pricing subject to change), are now on sale at DallasSummerMusicals.org or by phone at 1-800-745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Music Hall at Fair Park box office Monday - Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Orders for groups of ten (10) or more may be placed by calling (214) 426-4768 or emailing Groups@DallasSummerMusicals.org.

Tickets for the Fort Worth engagement start at $44 (pricing subject to change) and are now on sale. To charge tickets by phone, call 817-212-4280 in Fort Worth; 1-877-212-4280 (toll free) outside Fort Worth; or order online at www.basshall.com. Tickets are also available at the Bass Performance Hall ticket office at 525 Commerce Street. For group sales, call 817-212-4248.

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

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