By: Jody Tuso-Key–Managing Editor

Lawrenceville–Just in time for Memorial Day weekend and running until June 15th, Aurora Theater is serving up their season closer, WAITRESS THE MUSICAL. Audiences have been anticipating this regional premiere all season, and the time has finally arrived. Aurora has assembled all the ingredients for a delicious show including a sweet production team and a robust cast. What they’ve cooked up on stage is a powerful story that will feed your soul.

Waitress is a fan favorite Broadway musical based on the motion picture written by Adrien Shelly. With a book by Jesse Nelson and Music and Lyrics by Sara Barielles, the musical also starred Bareilles on Broadway and catapulted her into fame. The show ran on Broadway from 2016-2020 and returned after the Covid pandemic for a limited engagement in 2023 when a live stage recording was filmed to play in movie theaters. It was nominated for four Tony Awards including best musical and best original score and won a Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics’ Circle Award for Christopher Fitzgerald’s performance in the category of Outstanding Male Performance in a Musical.

 
This is the story of Jenna (Chloe Cordle) a waitress at a small town Southern Diner which boasts a large variety of unique pies baked with Jenna’s loving hands. Jenna Works alongside fellow waitresses Dawn (Kari Twyman) and Becky (Daja M Rice) and the cook, Cal (Greg Hunter). The diner, known as Joe’s, bears the name of the owner (Stephan Jones) who frequents the restaurant and always tells Jenna he wants a ‘tomato on the side on its own plate’ along with his order. Jenna lives with an abusive husband named Earl, and discovers she’s pregnant, which is not good news in her mind. Joe encourages Jenna to enter a pie contest with a prize of $20,000, which would allow her to leave Earl and begin her life with her new child. Jenna soon finds herself in an affair with her OB/GYN, Dr. Pomatter (Michael Stiggers). Throughout the show Jenna bakes pies with names and ingredients that fit the situations in which she finds her friends and herself. This is a ‘slice of the pie of life’ musical full of love, laughter and heartbreak that will tug at your heartstrings with its beautiful melodies and harmonies. 

Along with delicious pies in a jar baked by Puzzle Piece Pastries at the concession stand, Aurora’s WAITRESS boasts an all female production team: Director Amanda Wansa Morgan, Musical Director Ann-Carol Pence, and Choreographer Kari Twyman were the staples in this delectable dish. Scenic designers Shannon Robert and Brandon Roak assembled a creative versatile set complete with a ‘lazy Susan’ rotating stage that brings set pieces on and off and transforms the diner into a Doctor’s office and Jenna’s house for seamless transitions. Racheal M. Blackwell’s subtle lighting design highlights scenes like whipped topping on a pie, and Anna Lee’s sound design is flawless. Properties Designer Kristen Talley had her work cut out for her as the kitchen shelves are filled with ingredients and several pies are served up, as well as a guitar that is smashed in every show. As always, Alice Neff’s costumes fit perfectly in style and substance. I especially love the Revolutionary War Reenactment costumes worn by the hilarious characters of Dawn and Ogie. 

I was especially looking forward to seeing WAITRESS because some of my favorite Atlanta actors are featured: Choe Cordle, Kari Twyman, and Greg Hunter are always a delight on stage, and these performances highlighted what they do best. Chloe was the perfect casting choice as Jenna. She has the most versatile and amazing voice, and gives 100%+ to every character she portrays. Not only did Kari play Dawn, she choreographed the show. She’s an amazing dancer and choreographer and in this role shows another side of her versatile stage presence–her comedic timing. Greg played Cal perfectly and it’s always a delight to see him on stage.

I also enjoyed Daja M Rice as Becky. She has a beautiful voice and I hope to see more of her work in the future.  It was also nice to see Stephan Jones on the Aurora stage once again as Joe. Long-time patrons might remember him from Newsies. He’s an accomplished character actor with great vocals and captured the essence of Joe. Frankie Marasa 5th as Ogie, Jenna’s love interest was hilarious and added the precise dollop of comic relief. Michael Stiggers playing Dr. Pomatter delivers velvety vocals that blend well with Chloe’s sweet as pie voice. John Bobek as Earl, Jenna’s husband plays a narcissistic and self-absorbed man-child as proficiently as he sings and plays the guitar. Finally, Kudos to the ensemble who always add so much to a performance, several of whom also do double duty as understudies; the unsung heroes of the stage. 

WAITRESS THE MUSICAL is Speakeysie recommended and we highly encourage you to get your tickets at https://auroratheatre.com/ and enjoy the show!