Jessie Mueller to star in Sara Bareilles' WAITRESS musical

[broadwayboy223]

Perhaps Laura will be a replacement for waitress? Maybe they need Jessie to open the show. I'd love to see Laura also be a replacement for Kelli In K&I

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

We'll see if Jessie would only be taking over for Laura Benanti for the ART run like what Jeremy Jordan was doing for Matthew Morrison in Finding Neverland...

[thebeautyis3]

Well. Morrison is a TV star (ish), Jordan is not. Mueller and Benanti are both Tony winners, I doubt one would replace the other at least in that respect. Not really the same situation.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Morrison was already attached to Finding Neverland in the workshops. Plus, Laura Benanti is now kind of becoming a TV star.

[Sutton Ross]

One episode on the Good Wife, a handful of Nurse Jackie episodes, and 8 episodes of Nashville doesn't really equal a tv star. She is getting more television roles, though.

[thebeautyis3]

And Mueller is a recent Tony winner, Jordan is not.

[Phillypinto]

lol Benanti is not a replacement

[gleek4114]

According to this casting call, almost all of the principal roles have been offered and accepted. We can guess that a Jessie will be playing Jenna, but all of the others are big question marks. Any ideas, insight, or insider info? My dream cast for this (I really like the movie):

Jenna: Jessie Muller
Earl: Jeremy Jordan
Dawn: Annaleigh Ashford
Becky: Sherie Rene Scott or Orfeh
Dr. Polmatter: Raul Eaparza
Cal: Anyone really, maybe an unknown?
Joe: Joel Grey
Lulu: Some unknown, up and coming child star

I think Joel Grey is pretty far fetched, but it is, after all my DREAM cast :)

[RWalsh1776]

In the recent workshop, am I correct that Bryce Pinkham played Dr. Polmatter, Barrett Weed played Dawn, Keala Settle played Becky, and Andy Karl played Earl? Would love to see some of them continue with the show, especially Bryce Pinkham.

[dramamama611]

From what I remember of the film, Jessie does seem like a better fit for the role. I have always found Benanti to be hard. (Would love to see her back on the boards, too!)

[RippedMan]

Jessie is probably the better fit vocally for the score. I haven't heard it, but given her style of music, I think Jessie is a better fit. Remember Benanti in Wedding Singer? Pop music isn't for her.

And people love Pinkham, but i don't think he's that strong of an actor or singer. He was terrible in Ghost (but the music he was given was awful) and I didn't think he was anything special in Gentlemen's Guide. To each his own!

[gleek4114]

I noticed, I forgot to post a link! Here's the casting call I was referring to: http://www.playbill.com/jobs/job_detail/339164

[skylight2]

Hope Bryce Pinkham sticks around for ART and if it goes to Broadway.

[carlodowd]

Benanti needs to be back on Broadway soon!!! This seems like an interesting project, so I'm very excited to see what becomes of it!

[muscle23ftl]

I'll save my $ and time.

[LarryD2]

Bryce Pinkham is doing THE HEIDI CHRONICLES and then returning to GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE; he's not moving forward with WAITRESS.

[NJ_BroadwayGirl]

I've been excited about this show since I first heard a recording of Sara Bareilles singing "She Used to Be Mine" (a song from Waitress) during her tour this summer. I'm a huge fan of Bareilles - as both a vocalist and a writer. She writes beautiful, complicated music and lyrics and I'm always happy to hear more of her work.

I hope that having Jessie Mueller leading the show will be the icing on the cake. Should be interesting to see how it all comes together up in Boston and hopefully a transfer follows. Again, if the show is good, having Mueller's name attached will undoubtedly help toward that goal.

[Sutton Ross]

I love her music, and the casting sounds great. Looking forward to this.

[a-mad]

This feels totally Jessie to me...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qfr3KpwysAs

Can't wait for this. Loved the movie. This could truly be special.

[NJ_BroadwayGirl]

Yes! It does! That's the song I referenced and if it's any indication of the rest of the score, it's a good sign.

[promisespromises2]

I'm actually on a Bareilles high right now, constantly listening to her music. And I've already loved Jessie from the moment I heard her!

I really can't wait for this.