Waitress: Final SB Weekend- Sat or Sun?

[sarabove]

Posted: 2/19/17 at 3:00pm

I live in MD and am not a frequent theatre-goer, although I'd like to be.  Need some advice from you experts!  

I'm looking to buy tickets to Waitress the weekend of June 10th/11th, which happens to be the last weekend of Sara Bareilles' stint starring in the musical.  I am debating whether to get tickets for her 2nd-to-last performance on Saturday Night or the Sunday matinee, which would be Sara's final curtain call with the show.  Do you have any opinions about seeing a headliner's last performance with a show? Does it tend to be more emotional or have more audience interaction afterwards?  Or do you think her last Saturday Night performance would be just as or more emotional? Thanks!

[mc1227]

Posted: 2/19/17 at 3:52pm

I'm not sure either will be highly emotional unless that Sunday performance is the final one for the play itself.  Sara will only be performing for 10 weeks and it's probably only to prevent a drastic drop off in tickets sales once Jessie leaves on 3/26.  I would imagine that Jessie's final performance will be much more emotional.  

[sarabove]

Posted: 2/19/17 at 3:59pm

Good point, mc1227.  I'm a teacher and can't really enjoy a weekend in NYC until June, but I would love to see Jessie's performance too. It will be interesting to hear how SB's acting skills develop over the next few months!

[mc1227]

Posted: 2/19/17 at 4:11pm

I've seen Jessie play this role 3 times and each time her performance is what moved me to tears even though I knew what was coming.  She embodies the character and even though I have heard Sara sing these songs several times with her own style and passion, it doesn't move me  anywhere near as seeing Jessie perform them.  That's not to,say that Sara cannot do a good job, but singing while acting requires more and I'm curious to see if she can pull it off.  But not curious enough to,spend another $160 to find out.  I'm happy with the memory of Jessie's wonderful performances. 

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 2/19/17 at 5:16pm

I am thinking that as appealing as Jessie is.... when her understudies are on, the audiences are very moved by whomever is playing the lead. It's rare the understudies don't get standing ovations as Jenna is a moving character no matter who plays her. I'm sure Sara will have her own charm and will make the role her own as do Stephanie & Molly when they've been on. Comparing is fruitless. 

Personally I would prefer a last performance on a Sunday over a Saturday night. That said I think it's Tony weekend when you are coming and not sure if that will affect anything.  

Updated On: 2/19/17 at 05:16 PM

[sarabove]

Posted: 2/19/17 at 8:44pm

TONY weekend?  Does anyone know if that would affect the Sunday matinee show (especially if it is Sara B's supposed last performance)? Again, I'm pretty much an amateur, so I know very little about the logistics of all of this. Thanks again.

[jbird5]

Posted: 2/20/17 at 8:26am

Waitress isn't eligible this year so it shouldn't be affected at all.

[Alexander Lamar]

Posted: 2/20/17 at 8:37am

And even many shows that are eligible still perform matinees on Tonys Sunday.