Jessie Shelton News

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Happy Friday! Finish off your week by catching up on the latest Broadway news!

Hadestown begins preview performances tonight, March 22, at the Walter Kerr Theatre, ahead of a Wednesday, April 17 official opening night. Get to know the cast below as they begin Broadway performances!

Hadestown is gearing up for Broadway! The new musical, which begins previews on Friday, March 22 ahead of a Wednesday, April 17 opening night, has announced its digital lottery, general rush, and standing room policies.

The box office of the Walter Kerr Theatre (219 West 48th Street) opens tomorrow at 10 AM for Hadestown, the eagerly anticipated new Broadway musical. The Kerr's normal box office hours will be Monday through Saturday from 10 AM until 8 PM. On Sunday, April 21, the box office will be open from 10 AM until 8 PM. Starting April 28, normal Sunday box office hours will be noon until 6 PM. Additionally, tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 877 250 2929.

Today, producers Mara Isaacs, Dale Franzen, Hunter Arnold, and Tom Kirdahy announced complete casting for Hadestown, the new musical by celebrated singer-songwriter Anais Mitchell, developed with innovative director and Tony Award nominee Rachel Chavkin.

Jenna, a small town waitress and genius pie maker, is broke, pregnant, and stuck in an abusive marriage. When she finds out about a baking contest held in a nearby county that offers a $25,000 award, she begins to see her pies as her a ticket out of a dangerous marriage and a pathway to a new life.

WAITRESS is a 2015 musical with music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles and a book by Jessie Nelson, which is based on the 2007 film of the same name, written by Adrienne Shelly. It tells the story of Jenna Hunterson (Christine Dwyer), a waitress in an abusive relationship with her husband Earl (Matt DeAngelis). When Jenna unexpectedly becomes pregnant, she begins an affair with her gynecologist, Dr. Jim Pomatter (Steven Good). Looking for a way out, she sees a pie contest and its twenty thousand dollar grand prize as her only chance.

Since its 2015 premiere at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts - a popular laboratory for some of Broadway's most recent smash hits -Waitress, with music and lyrics by the indomitably popular songstress Sara Bareilles and a book by Jessie Nelson, has made defying the theater community's wildest expectations look easy as pie. Somewhat quietly, Waitress has baked a more than 1100 performance run (and counting) on Broadway, spanning nearly three years, no small feat for a modern musical, particularly one that does not rely upon spectacular stage effects, grandiose chorus numbers, a well-known jukebox catalog or Disney source material. Adapted from Adrienne Shelly's 2007 film of the same name - which was by no means a box office juggernaut - the musical incarnation of Waitress has none of these things. What it does have, however, is a fantastic score, relatable and likeable (with one exception) characters, and a well-mixed blend of humor and heart.

Ever since WAITRESS first premiered at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 2015 and soon after on Broadway in 2016, audiences have fled to see this wonderful show. The original movie opened in 2007 and was written by the late Adrienne Shelly. It became widely successful and soon after a creative team was assembled in 2013. Sara Bareilles was a star in her own right by this time and she is responsible for the wonderful music and lyrics of this well-done musical. With Jesse Nelson writing the book, she wrote the story using unfinished scripts by Adrienne Shelly to bring Ms. Shelly's voice into the project.

Joe's Pie Diner will open up with Richard Kline in the role of 'Joe' when the tour is in Spokane, WA just prior to its Sacramento engagement. Waitress is the hit Broadway musical from Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles inspired by Adrienne Shelly's 2007 motion picture. The Broadway On Tour presentation of Waitress runs at Sacramento Community Center Theater from Dec. 27, 2018 through Jan. 5, 2019.

Joe's Pie Diner will be Opening Up with Richard Kline in the role of 'Joe' on December 14th when the tour is in Spokane, WA at First Interstate Center for the Arts. Waitress is the hit Broadway musical from Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles inspired by Adrienne Shelly's 2007 motion picture.

Can you recall the last time you were truly enamored by a stage musical? Well, that is exactly what transpires while watching the all-together endearing hit Broadway musical WAITRESS, which continues its national tour stop at Orange County's Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa through November 25, 2018. Like the warmest of embraces, the yummiest of comfort food, and the most cherished camaraderie of dear friends or loved ones, WAITRESS is, overall, quite an adorable, extremely likable show. Even its forgivable flaws are trounced by its irresistible delicacy and its winsome machinations.

Maiesha McQueen RETURNS in the role of Becky in the national tour of Waitress - the Broadway musical from Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles inspired by Adrienne Shelly's 2007 motion picture.

The diner will be 'Opening Up' with Steven Good in the role of 'Dr. Pomatter' on October 26th when the tour is in San Francisco, CA at The Golden Gate Theatre. Waitress is the hit Broadway musical from Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles inspired by Adrienne Shelly's 2007 motion picture.

The Las Vegas engagement of Waitress will be 'Opening Up' with Jessie Shelton and Matt DeAngelis in the roles of Dawn and Earl when the tour opens in Las Vegas on Tuesday, October 9th at The Smith Center. Waitress is the hit Broadway musical from Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles inspired by Adrienne Shelly's 2007 motion picture.

The New York Musical Festival (NYMF) announces the performer and composer lineup for two of their concert events: Intersecting Chords and How The Light Gets In.

Theater (Jonathan Bank, Producing Artistic Director) will present the New York Premiere of Miles Malleson's political love story Conflict. Performances will begin May 25th and continue through July 21st at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street). Opening Night is set for June 21st.

Ars Nova is pleased to announce the line-up for its 11th Annual ANT Fest (June 4-28), four non-stop, throw-down weeks of live entertainment mayhem, featuring fresh material from the next wave of dynamic, indie-theater makers. Tickets go on sale today for this festival of new indie theater/music/comedy featuring all new talent, all the time.

Theater (Jonathan Bank, Producing Artistic Director) will present the New York Premiere of Miles Malleson's political love story Conflict. Performances will begin May 25th and continue through July 21st at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street). Opening Night is set for June 21st.