Nik Dodani and Ben Thompson to Join the Cast of WAITRESS Alongside Jennifer Nettles

The producers of Broadway's Waitress announced today that on Tuesday October 19, Nik Dodani will take over the role of Ogie and Ben Thompson will step into Earl's shoes. They join Jennifer Nettles, who will play Jenna through November 24.

Nik Dodani (Ogie) is an actor, writer and comedian making his Broadway debut. He's best known for his role as Zahid in Netflix's "Atypical," Pat in the CBS revival of "Murphy Brown," and Jared in the film adaption of Dear Evan Hansen. Dodani is currently developing Blue Boy, a feature film he wrote based on the novel by Rakesh Satyal. He also has bad knees.

Ben Thompson (Earl) has appeared on Broadway in Waitress (Earl), Matilda (Trunchbull), Holler if Ya Hear Me (Griffy) and American Idiot. TV/film: "Leverage: Redemption," "Single Drunk Female," "Chicago PD," "Little Voice," "Law & Order: SVU," "Daredevil," "BULL," The Seagull, Freedom. Vocals: The Greatest Showman, Dear Evan Hanson, Tick Tick Boom, In the Heights, Vivo, and the "Sesame Street" podcast Foley and Friends.

Waitress is back on Broadway for a limited engagement now through January 9, 2021 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street, NYC).

The current Broadway cast includes Grammy winner Sara Bareilles (Jenna), Eric Anderson (Cal), Ashley Blanchet (Dawn), Christopher Fitzgerald (Ogie), Drew Gehling (Dr. Pomatter), Dakin Matthews (Joe), Maiesha McQueen (Becky) and Joe Tippett (Earl). The ensemble is Tyrone Davis, Jr., Matt DeAngelis, Andrew Fitch, Henry Gottfried, Molly Jobe, Emily Koch, Max Kumangai, Anastacia McCleskey, Gerianne Pérez, Stephanie Torns, Hattie Cecelia Tutalo, Nyla Watson and Nora Lincoln Weiner.

Tickets are available in person at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. Box office hours are Monday 10:00am till 6:00pm, Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00am till curtain, and Sunday Noon till curtain.. Tickets are also available at WaitressTheMusical.com, Telecharge.com and by calling 212-239-6200 or 800-447-7400.

Based on the 2007 motion picture written by Adrienne Shelly, Waitress is the first Broadway musical in history to have four women in the four top creative team spots, with a book by Jessie Nelson, music and lyrics by Grammy Winner and Tony and Emmy Award-nominated Sara Bareilles, choreography by Lorin Latarro and direction by Tony Award-winner Diane Paulus.

The Waitress design team features sets by Tony Award-winner Scott Pask, costumes by Suttirat Anne Larlarb, lighting by Tony Award-winner Christopher Akerlind and sound by Tony Award-nominee Jonathan Deans. Music supervisor is Nadia DiGiallonardo. Casting is by Telsey + Company.

Debuting in April 2016, Waitress is one of the longest-running shows in recent Broadway history, playing more than 1500 performances at The Brooks Atkinson Theatre.

Waitress has also played successful productions on US National Tours, London's West End and around the world. New international productions, including US and UK tours, will head out as local pandemic restrictions ease up.

Waitress tells the story of Jenna, a Waitress and expert pie maker stuck in a small town and a loveless marriage. When a baking contest in a nearby county offers her a chance at escape, Jenna fights to reclaim a long-forgotten part of herself. Through the support of her fellow Waitresses and an unexpected romance Jenna begins to find the courage to take a long-abandoned dream off the shelf. Waitress celebrates the power of friendship, dreams, the family we choose and the beauty of a well baked pie.

Waitress is produced on Broadway by Barry and Fran Weissler and Norton and Elayne Herrick.

The Waitress original motion picture was produced by Michael Roiff / Night & Day Productions. The musical's world premiere was produced by The American Repertory Theatre at Harvard University, August 2, 2015 (Diane Paulus Artistic Director and Diane Borger, Producer).

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