WAITRESS Won't Re-Open on Broadway; Show Played Final Performance on December 20
Only two weeks of performances were remaining
BroadwayWorld has confirmed that Waitress, which announced yesterday that it would resume performances this Saturday, December 25th will now remain closed, having played its final performance on December 20, 2021. The show was previously scheduled to run through January 9, 2022.
With just two weeks left in the run on Broadway, the producers have decided to curtail the remaining performances of the engagement following new cases of COVID being detected in the company and crew at the Ethel Barrymore theatre.
One of Broadway's biggest hits in recent years, playing close to 1500 performances and sending productions around the world, WAITRESS has an all-female key production team lead by Diane Paulus, with a book by Jessie Nelson, choreography by Lorin Latarro and award-winning music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles, making her theatrical music debut.
Producer Barry Weissler, speaking for his co-producer and wife Fran and himself, said, "It has been such an honor to bring WAITRESS to Broadway. We feel so blessed to have been able to continue playing when Broadway returned in September of this year. We are heartbroken that the COVID virus won't allow us to finish our glorious scheduled run.
Our brilliant creative team worked together seamlessly to create an exceptional show. Watching Sara Bareilles take her innate skills as a brilliant pop singer/songwriter to also become a natural Broadway composer/lyricist has been especially rewarding to observe. We have also been blessed with the greatest actors, musicians and other company members working in the theatre today who's dogged commitment has kept the show as fresh as the day we opened.
The Broadway community continues to take the utmost precautions in keeping everyone in our theaters safe. We encourage our patrons to visit BwayToday.com to find another show for their Broadway experience this season."
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.
