Waitress

Waitress is an uplifting, funny musical about Jenna, a talented waitress and pie-maker searching for a way out of her small town and troubled marriage. When a county baking contest and an unexpected connection offer her the possibility of a new beginning, Jenna must decide whether to take control of her life and create her own recipe for happiness. The show celebrates friendship, motherhood, self-liberation, and the transformative power of a perfectly made pie, with desserts such as “The Key (Lime) to Happiness Pie” and “Betrayed By My Eggs Pie” reflecting Jenna’s changing circumstances.

The musical features original music and lyrics by Grammy Award winner Sara Bareilles and a book by Jessie Nelson, who wrote the 2007 film on which the musical is based. Its original creative team included director Diane Paulus and choreographer Lorin Latarro. The production was the first Broadway musical created by an all-female team and is presented as part of Waitress’s 10-year anniversary celebration.

When: December 8–13, 2026.

Showtimes: The page lists an accessible performance with American Sign Language on December 12, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., and an audio-described performance on December 13, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. The page’s general performance calendar does not provide additional individual showtimes.

Run time: 2 hours and 30 minutes, including an intermission.

Ages: Recommended for ages 13 and older.

Tickets: Price not available.

Accessible performances: The December 12 matinee includes American Sign Language interpretation. The December 13 matinee includes audio description.

Cast: Samantha Lane Scruggs as Jenna; Hannah-Kathryn Wall as Becky; Becky Alex as Dawn; Connor Lewis as Dr. Pomatter; Jason Whitton as Cal and understudy Joe; Patrick Cogan as Joe; Davey Fried as Ogie; and Anthony Cataldo as Earl. The ensemble and understudy company includes Kyle Channell, Tamara Daly, Hannah Ellowitz, Makaira Fisk, Amanda Handegan, Evan Kupersmith, Mikey Marmann, Angelina Nazario, Sabin Shrestha, Ana Viveros, and J’Khalil White. Understudy assignments include Jenna, Becky, Dawn, Joe, Earl, Cal, Dr. Pomatter, and Ogie, with additional swing performers and dance-captain responsibilities throughout the company.

Creative team: Jessie Nelson wrote the book, Sara Bareilles wrote the music and lyrics, Diane Paulus is the original director, and Lorin Latarro is the original choreographer. Abbey O’Brien provides tour direction and choreography. The design team includes Scott Pask for scenic design, Suttirat Anne Larlarb for costume design, Ken Billington for lighting design, Brian Walters for sound design, and Bernie Ardia for hair and wig design. Nadia DiGiallonardo created the arrangements, and Sara Bareilles and the Waitress band handled orchestrations. Adrienne Shelly is credited as the writer of the original film, and ARC Casting is responsible for casting.

Venue: National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004.

Group tickets: Group ticket inquiries are available for churches, schools, colleges, corporate and government groups, tour operators, senior groups, social and family groups, and other organizations. The group inquiry form also accepts seating preferences and accessibility requests.

Visit information: The National is located near dining, parking, and major Washington, D.C., landmarks. Participating restaurants offer Broadway-themed pre-theater menus and special pricing.