Florida Studio Theatre Serves Up WAITRESS This November

Florida Studio Theatre invites audiences to indulge in delicious small-town secrets, sweet friendships, and unexpected romances with Waitress, the heartwarming Broadway musical that received Tony and Olivier Award nominations for Best New Musical. Featuring music and lyrics by Grammy Award winner Sara Bareilles and book by Jessie Nelson, Waitress is directed and choreographed by Ben Liebert. The production opens on November 8, 2024, and runs through December 29, 2024, at FST's Gompertz Theatre, with previews beginning November 6.

Waitress tells the story of Jenna, a waitress stuck in a loveless marriage who also happens to be an expert pie maker. When a nearby baking contest offers her the chance to escape, Jenna seizes the opportunity to reclaim her long-forgotten self. Supported by her fellow waitresses and an unexpected romance, Jenna begins to find the courage to follow her dreams. The New York Times calls it “about liberation, empowerment, and pie – three things that are easy to wholeheartedly endorse,” while The Washington Post praises the show's “disarming charm and a ton of heart” as it blends humor and heart in a way that's both touching and uplifting.

“Waitress is one of those great new shows with a catchy pop-folk score, lots of laughs, and characters you fall in love with,” says Liebert, FST resident Director. “Jenna, our titular waitress, see her dreams slipping away, her home life falling apart, and a baby entering her life. She inspires us to make the tough choices and find the resilience in ourselves to keep on going, all in a musical that goes down as smooth as a chocolate cream pie.”

Liebert has directed FST's The World Goes 'Round, Red Riding Hood and choreographed Off the Charts, Junie B. Jones: The Musical, Up On The Roof, and Laughing Matters: Variant 6. Other work includes Next to Normal, Into the Woods, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, and Ordinary Days. As an actor, he appeared on Broadway in Wicked and off-Broadway in Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish (directed by Joel Grey), and regionally in Little Shop of Horrors, Into the Woods, and Avenue Q.

Leading the role of Jenna is Kaitlyn Davidson*. Kaitlyn is making her FST debut and has appeared on Broadway in Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella and Nice Work If You Can Get It. She originated the title role in the first national tour of Cinderella and starred as Judy Haynes in Irving Berlin's White Christmas. Recently, she launched the tour of Bright Star as Lucy Grant. Her regional credits include roles at Signature Theatre, Riverside Theatre, and Cape Playhouse. Kaitlyn is a graduate of The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

Galyana Castillo* as Becky (also a first-time performer at FST), Charity Farrell as Dawn (returning to FST after Rhinestone Cowgirls and Divas3), Quinn Corcoran* as Dr. Pomatter (FST debut), James Larson* as Earl (FST debut), Jason Pintar* as Cal (returning after Network and The Wanderers), Nick Cearley* as Ogie (FST debut), and Scott Wakefield* as Joe (returning after Troubadour). Ensemble members include Madeline Bartlett Fansler*, Jazz Madison, Madalyn Macko, Aathaven Tharmarajah and Ryan Hurley all of whom are making their first appearances at FST.

Liebert is joined by a talented creative team, including Darren Server (Music Director), Axis Studios Design (Scenic Design), Chelsea Allen and Jacob Denney (Costume Design), Ben Rawson (Lighting Design), and Thom Beaulieu (Sound Design). The stage management team includes Shira Lebovich* (AEA Stage Manager), Charlotte Perez (AEA Assistant Stage Manager), and stage management interns Amoreena Tillman and Colbee Dickson.

*Indicates members of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

Don't miss Waitress at Florida Studio Theatre from November 6 to December 29, 2024. Waitress is part of a four-show subscription package. With its mission to make theatre accessible to as many people as possible, subscriptions to all four Mainstage productions for as little as $79. Also included in the Winter Mainstage subscription package is the touching comedy, The Heart Sellers about life for recently immigrated Americans, the thoughtful drama, The Cancellation of Lauren Fein, about systemic cancellation, and the jukebox musical, Jersey Boys, that tells the story of the rise of one of the biggest groups in the 20th century, The Four Seasons.

Subscriptions for all four Winter Mainstage shows can be purchased for as little as $79, and single tickets for Waitress range from $29-49. Visit floridastudiotheatre.org for a full performance schedule and to purchase tickets or call the Box Office at (941) 366-9000.

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