MTI Secures Rights to Smash Hit Waitress!
MTI Secures Rights to Smash Hit Waitress!
It is a true delight for MTI to announce that it has secured the rights to the Tony-nominated, beloved Broadway hit Waitress.
Inspired by Adrienne Shelly's acclaimed film, Waitress tells the story of Jenna, a waitress and expert pie maker who 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 new life, while her fellow waitresses offer their own recipes for happiness. But Jenna must find the courage and strength within herself to rebuild her life. This musical celebrates friendship, motherhood, and the magic of a well-made pie.
The Broadway production was brought to life by a groundbreaking all-female creative team, featuring original music and lyrics by six-time Grammy ® nominee Sara Bareilles ("Brave," "Love Song"), a book by acclaimed screenwriter Jessie Nelson (I Am Sam), choreography by Lorin Latarro and direction by Tony Award® winner Diane Paulus (Pippin, Finding Neverland). Waitress made Broadway history as the first musical to have four women in these four top creative team spots. In addition, the creative posts of costume design and musical direction were held by women.
Waitress has been a hit with audiences and critics alike, with the Chicago Tribune writing, "It's an empowering musical of the highest order!" and Marie Claire proclaiming it to be "a monumental contribution to Broadway!". Variety raved: "A delicious tale that's not simply about getting Prince Charming, but getting its heroine to take action and discover her worth." "The women of Waitress are changing Broadway" according to Time magazine.
Drew Cohen, President and CEO of Music Theatre International stated, "Like so many great musicals, Waitress is about its main character's aspirations and dreams and how she pursues them in the face of adversity. What allows Waitress to connect so powerfully with its audiences is that everyone can immediately relate to Jenna's deceptively simple dreams: a happy home life, a sense of community and an appreciation of her own self-worth. Sara's brilliantly heartfelt score and Jessie's engagingly real script bring Jenna, her friends and her world to life so vividly, the show is impossible to resist. We are especially proud to represent Waitress and look forward to seeing many Joe's Diners on stage around the world."
The musical opened on Broadway April 24, 2016, just in time for the 2015-2016 Tony Award cut-off date. It was nominated in four categories, including Best Musical and Best Score. Audiences immediately fell in love with the show. Sara Bareilles' own recording of the score, What's Inside: Songs From Waitress was a critical success and commercial hit, reaching Top 10 of the Billboard Album Chart.
Waitress is now embarking on its third smash year on Broadway and currently on a national tour. To find out more about the show visit www.waitressthemusical.com
Waitress is produced on Broadway by Barry and Fran Weissler and Norton and Elayne Herrick.
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Gift packs and awards all ready for tonights Schools on Stage presented by City of Casey (VIC). Wishing all participating schools the very best. How special to gather together in person once more to celebrate the joy of making theatre! #cityofcasey #schoolsonstage #theatreeducation #joyoftheatre #studentsrock
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The Red Velvet Cake War by Jones Hope Wooten In this riotously funny Southern-fried comedy, the three Verdeen cousins - Gaynelle, Peaches, and Jimmie Wyvette - could not have picked a worse time to throw their family reunion. Their outrageous antics have set tongues wagging in the small town of Sweetgum (just down the road from Fayro) and the eyes of Texas are upon them, as their self-righteous Aunt LaMerle is quick to point out. Having "accidentally" crashed her minivan through the bedroom wall of her husband's girlfriend's doublewide, Gaynelle is one frazzled nerve away from a spectacular meltdown. Peaches, the saucy number one mortuarial cosmetologist in the tri-county area, is struggling to decide if it's time to have her long-absent trucker husband declared dead. And Jimmie Wyvette, the roughhewn store manager of Whatley's Western Wear, is resorting to extreme measures to outmaneuver a priss-pot neighbor for the affections of Sweetgum's newest widower. But the cousins can't back out of the reunion now. It's on and Gaynelle's hosting it; Peaches and Jimmie Wyvette have decided its success is the perfect way to prove Gaynelle's sanity to a skeptical court-appointed psychologist. Unfortunately, they face an uphill battle as a parade of wildly eccentric Verdeens gathers on the hottest day of July, smack-dab in the middle of Texas tornado season. Things spin hilariously out of control when a neighbor's pet devours everything edible, a one-eyed suitor shows up to declare his love and a shocking high-stakes wager is made on who bakes the best red velvet cake. As this fast-paced uproarious romp barrels toward its surprising climax, you'll wish your own family reunion was this much fun! License today! #joneshopewooten #dramatistplayservice
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