Tag: waitress

A Musical Journey to Empowerment

A Theater Review by Julinda D. Lewis

By: Virginia Repertory Theatre (Virginia Rep), The Barksdale Season

At: the November Theatre Arenstein Stage, 114 West Broad St, Richmond VA 23220

When: June 21 – August 3, 2025

Ticket Prices: $39-$68  

Info: (804) 282-2620 or www.virginiarep.org

It’s summer, and that means it must be time for a great big musical. That is exactly what VaRep delivered with Waitress, a popular musical, based on a 2007 film. The staged version ran on Broadway from April 2016 until January 2020 and returned for a limited engagement in 2021. Now, it’s right here in River City and friends who know wear big smiles as they tell me – who did not see it on Broadway – that the set is “just like” the Broadway set.

Whether it is or not, Mercedes Schaum’s scenic design is filled with simple, multi-tasking moving parts that evoke the feel of a small-town southern diner, but easily transforms into a living room, an ob-gyn office, or a bus stop. The diner even serves as a wedding venue for one of the waitresses.

Jenna, played by Emelie Faith Thompson, is the main character. Jenna, a waitress and pie chef at Joe’s Pie Diner, is trapped in an abusive marriage, and at the beginning of the show she discovers – much to her chagrin – that she is pregnant. The thick of the plot involves joining along on the journey as Jenna navigates the twists and turns of life, following an unlikely path to empowerment.  Along the way, she has an unlikely affair with her doctor, resorts to hiding money from her husband, Earl, and explores the possibility of following her dreams via a pie baking contest. Her goal – and the moral of the story – is to achieve a life that is more than just “happy enough.”

Currently based in the Washington, D.C. area, Thompson may be familiar to Richmond audiences who saw Mamma Mia on this same stage the summer of 2022 [https://jdldancesrva.com/2022/06/26/mamma-mia/]. Thompson was well cast as Jenna, bringing empathy and authenticity to the role. Jenna is a complex character, given to indecisiveness and questionable choices, while balancing – no, while juggling – kindness, caring, the need for self-fulfillment, and the restrictions of real life. Thompson does all of this with the help of a strong voice that soars in all the right places – and the assistance of a stellar supporting cast.

Fellow waitstaff Becky (Miya Bass) and Dawn (Kylee Márquez-Downie), and the sometimes curmudgeonly Cal (William Vaughn) the short order cook and manager of Joe’s Pie Diner are the regulars who form the backbone of the diner and the musical. Becky appears to be the oldest of the three. She offers wisdom and wit, both of which come with the territory of having a disabled husband at home. Like Jenna, she enters into a surprising relationship. Dawn is the youngest and her social insecurities and awkwardness make her appear even moreso. All three share an unshakable, enviable love and loyalty.

Equally essential are Terence Sullivan as Dr. Pomatter – a caring and supportive physician who takes things beyond the intent of the hypocritic oath, and Jenna’s controlling and insecure husband, Earl, played by Greg Twomey. Dawn’s love interest, Ogie (Bear Manescalchi) is an unforgettably quirky and endearing character, but my personal favorites among the supporting characters are Nurse Norma (played by Imani Blair Crosby) and Joe, the owner of Joe’s Pie Diner, played by none other than Joe Pabst.

Nurse Norma turns a blind eye to the shenanigans perpetrated by Jenna and Dr Pomatter , and Crosby’s facial expressions, double-takes, and comedic timing in the most awkward situations are pure gold. Did I say that Cal was curmudgeonly? I should take that back. Joe takes the prize for being curmudgeonly, but he is quietly observant and becomes a significant source of support for Jenna. Since this was my first time seeing Waitress, I cannot imagine anyone other than Pabst in this role. Warm, prickly, paternal but not patriarchal in the toxic sense – Pabst/Joe is the source of the pivotal, transforming moment that changes everything for Jenna.

While filled with music and comedy, Waitress is also about friendship, loyalty, empowerment, self-efficacy, and the healing power of baking. Yum!

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Julinda D. Lewis is a dancer, teacher, and writer who was born in Brooklyn, NY and now lives in Eastern Henrico County. When not writing about theater, she teaches dance history at VCU and low impact dance fitness classes to seasoned movers like herself and occasionally gets to perform.

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WAITRESS  

Book by Jessie Nelson

Music and Lyrics by Sara Bareilles

Directed by Rick Hammerly

Based upon the motion picture written by Adrienne Shelly

Cast

Jenna ……………………………..          Emelie Faith Thompson

Becky ……………………………..          Miya Bass

Dawn ………………………………         Kylee Márquez-Downie

Cal …………………………………        William Vaughn

Joe …………………………………        Joe Pabst

Earl ………………………………..        Greg Twomey

Nurse Norma/

Ensemble/U/S Becky….. Imani Blair Crosby

Dr. Pomatter ……………………..      Terrance Sullivan

Ogie ………………………………      Bear Manescalchi

Ensemble, U/S Jenna …………..     Lindy Pokorny

Ensemble, U/S Dr. Pomatter……Calvin Malone

Ensemble, U/S Dawn……………     Brie Ramirez

Ensemble, U/S Ogie ……………      Mason Jett

Ensemble, U/S Earl ……………..     Patrick Rooney

Ensemble, U/S Cal………………       David Ramirez

Ensemble, U/S Nurse Norma…. Sarah White Pruden

Ensemble ………………………..           Audrey Baker

Ensemble ………………………..           Jennifer Lent Hamilton

Ensemble ………………………..           Garrett D. Reese

Lulu ……………………………….             Emily Goodman, Phoebe Janosik, Josie Sledd

Swing ……………………………..            Maria Carpinelli

Swing ……………………………..            Joey Gravins

Band

Keyboard 1/Conductor  ………..    Leilani Fenick

Keyboard 2 ………………………..        Ian Krauss

Guitar 1 …………………………….         Forrest Link

Guitar 2 …………………………….         Jeremiah Martin

Cello ………………………………..           Ned Haskins

Bass …………………………………           Beatrice Kelly

Drums ………………………………        Bentley Cobb

Direction & Design

Directed by ………………………           Rick Hammerly

Music Direction ……………………     Leilani Fenick

Choreography …………………….       Paul Dandridge

Scenic Design ……………………..       Mercedes Schaum

Costume Design …………………..     Sarah Grady

Lighting Design ……………………     Joe Doran

Production Design  ………………..   Dasia Gregg

Sound Design  ……………………..      Jonathan Pratt

Stage Management ……………….   Abby Bobb

Fight & Intimacy Direction …..   Casey Kaleba

For This Production

Assistant Stage Manager ………   Donna Warfield

Production Assistant …………….   Katie Willard-O’Neill

Dance Captain ………….……………   Calvin Malone

Assistant Lighting Designer ….  Kacey Yachuw

Carpenters ………………………………  Liz Allmon, Avery Glenn, Van Montes

Scenic Artist …………………………… Julie Gallager

Electricians ……………………………..  Liz Allmon, Weston Corey

Stitchers …………………………………           Genna Beth Davidson, Sarah Grady,

                                                                        Mary Nagler

Deck Crew …………………………           Lilith Fulcher-Davis, Daryus Gazder, Amber

                                                                        Hooper, Devon Kistler

Fly Rail Operators …………………           Justin Janke, Mark Persinger, Shawn

                                                                        Goodman, Hans Paul

Wardrobe Supervisor …………….           Emily Andrew Mateos

Dresser ……………………………..           Rowan Sullivan

Audio Engineer ……………………          Jonathan Pratt

Light Board Engineer ……………..          Jeff Meisner

Follow Spot Operators ……………          Terra Comer, Logan Graves, Reese Hardy,

                                                                        Kacey Yachuw

Photographer ………………………          Aaron Sutten

Videographer ………………………          Austin Lewis

Front Cover Photography …………          Ben White

Ticket Information

Box Office: (804) 282-2620

www.virginiarep.org

Ticket Prices: $39 – $68

Performance Schedule

June 21 – August 3, 2023 with performances

Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:00 PM, Saturdays at 2PM, Sundays at 3PM, and select Wednesday evenings and matinees.

Run Time

The play runs for approximately 2 hours 15 minutes; with one 15-minute intermission

World Premiere produced by the American Repertory Theatre at Harvard University, August 2, 2015

Originally Produced on Broadway by Barry and Fran Weissler, Norton and Elayne Herrick

Musical Numbers

Act 1

What’s Inside ………………… Jenna and Company

Opening Up ………………..….  Jenna, Becky, Dawn, Cal and Company

The Negative ………………….  Jenna, Becky, Dawn

What Baking Can Do ………. Jenna

When He Sees Me ………..…. Dawn

It Only Takes a Taste ………. Dr. Pomatter, Jenna

You Will Still Be Mine ……… Earl

A Soft Place to Land …………. Jena, Becky, Dawn

Never Getting Rid of Me …… Ogie and Company

Bad Idea …………………………….. Jenna, Dr. Pomatter

Act 2

I Didn’t Plan It ………………. Becky

Bad Idea (Reprise) …………. Jenna, Dr. Pomatter, Becky, Cal, Dawn, Ogie

                                                            and Company

Mama’s Pie Song …………… Jenna

You Matter to Me …………… Dr. Pomatter, Jenna

I Love You Like a Table ….. Ogie, Dawn and Company

Take It From An Old Man ….. Joe and Company

She Used to Be Mine …………… Jenna

What’s Inside (Reprise) ……… Company

Everything Changes (Part 1) .. Jenna, Becky, Dawn

Everything Changes (Part 2) .. Jenna and Company

Opening Up (Finale) ……………… Company

Photo Credits Aaron Sutten