Waitress, the Tony-nominated musical composed by Sara Bareilles, is set to close on Broadway after a four-year run. The show’s producers revealed that Waitress will have its final curtain call at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on January 5 after nearly 1,600 performances.
The musical first premiered in August 2015 in Cambridge, Massachusetts before making a transition to the Great White Way in the spring of 2016. Critics praised Bareilles’ score and the lead acting performances, which all ultimately picked up Tony nominations that year, as well as a nod for Best Musical. While the plucky production went win-less in all categories (the 2016 Tonys was the year of Hamilton, after all), it remained a commercial and fan-favorite, not to mention a career milestone for Bareilles.
“It is such a bittersweet moment to say goodbye to our home on Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, but I am reflecting upon this enormously magical time with a tremendous amount of gratitude,” the singer-songwriter revealed in a statement. “The run of Waitress on Broadway has far surpassed my expectations and I am so very proud of what we were able to create.”
Waitress is based on the 2007 film starring Keri Russell. It centers around a woman in an abusive marriage who struggles with an unplanned pregnancy all while trying to find solace through her knack for baking. Over the course of its Broadway run, several famous faces have taken on various roles in the production, including Al Roker, Jason Mraz and Katherine McPhee. Most notably, Bareilles became the show’s leading lady on multiple limited engagements.
It is unclear if Bareilles will reprise her role for a final time before the show folds. She will embark on her Amidst The Chaos Tour this fall, which certainly makes her chances for taking the Broadway stage again slim, though not completely ruled out.
While Waitress may only have six months of performances left in the Big Apple, it continues to play in London’s West End and has an ongoing North American tour. Find tickets for the final performances of Waitress on Broadway here.