The musical adaptation of Adrienne Shelly’s 2007 film “Waitress” has locked in a world premiere at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Mass., just ahead of its developmental presentation to New York theater-industry types on Friday.
No casting for the A.R.T. staging has yet been set, but Tony winner Jessie Mueller (“Beautiful”), already reportedly attached to the project, will appear in the staging tomorrow and is said to be on board for both A.R.T. and a prospective Broadway run.
Shepherded by Fran and Barry Weissler, the commercial producers behind the long-running revival of “Chicago,” “Waitress” has a score by Grammy winner Sara Bareilles (pictured above) with a book by Jessie Nelson, who’s written and directed films including “I Am Sam.” Diane Paulus, the “Pippin” director also at work on the Radio City’s “New York Spring Spectacular,” helms.
“Waitress” will launch the 2015-16 season at A.R.T., the Massachusetts regional where Broadway alums “Pippin” and “All the Way” landed prior to Broadway, as well as “The Heart of Robin Hood,” which begins previews at the Marquis Theater in March.
“Waitress” begins performances there Aug. 1, with further details of the run and the creative team still to be set.
