Theatrical streamer National Theatre At Home is "opening up" its catalogue to Broadway. Waitress, filmed live from Broadway's Ethel Barrymore Theatre in 2021, will join the streamer's offerings beginning February 14, 2025. The title is the first U.S. capture for the streamer, which primarily focuses on productions filmed from London's National Theatre.
The filmed performance played movie theatres last year and is currently available for digital purchase and rental. The capture was scheduled to air on PBS via its Great Performances series, but was removed from the schedule before it aired.
In the filmed musical, Sara Bareilles is joined by Waitress' complete 2021 encore run cast, including Christopher Fitzgerald in his Tony-nominated performance as Ogie, Drew Gehling as Dr. Pomatter, Charity Angél Dawson as Becky, Caitlin Houlahan as Dawn, Eric Anderson as Cal, Dakin Matthews as Joe, and Joe Tippett as Earl. The Broadway encore company was rounded out by Tyrone Davis, Jr., Matt DeAngelis, Andrew Fitch, Henry Gottfried, Molly Jobe, Emily Koch, Max Kumangai, Anastacia McCleskey, Gerianne Pérez, Stephanie Torns, and Nyla Watson.
Adapted from the 2007 film and featuring a book by Jessie Nelson and a Tony-nominated score by Bareilles, Waitress was developed and premiered by Massachusetts' American Repertory Theater before debuting on Broadway in 2015, picking up four 2016 Tony nominations, including Best Musical. The work made a Broadway return at the Ethel Barrymore following the COVID-19 shutdown beginning September 2, 2021, sticking around through December 20. Bareilles (Into the Woods, Girls5Eva) first played Jenna as a replacement to original star Jessie Mueller; she ended up headlining two more limited engagements throughout the original run and did a stint in London’s West End prior to the coronavirus shutdown.
The 2021 return run paid tribute to the late Nick Cordero, who originated the role of Earl on Broadway. The board listing Jenna’s cleverly named confections at the diner where she works newly included “A Big Ol Slice of Live Your Life Pie”—a nod to the Cordero song that became an anthem as he battled a severe COVID-19 case. He died in July 2020, at the age of 41.
Waitress, produced by Barry and Fran Weissler alongside Norton and Elayne Herrick, features sets by Scott Pask, costumes by Suttirat Anne Larlarb, lighting by Ken Billington, and sound by Jonathan Deans. Nadia DiGiallonardo serves as music supervisor. Casting is by Telsey + Company's Pat Goodwin.
Diane Paulus directed Waitress for the stage, with Brett Sullivan directing the film capture and Nelson serving as creative advisor. Alecia Parker is executive producer of the screen capture, with Michael Roiff, Barry and Fran Weissler, Bareilles, Nelson, and Paul Morphos serving as producers.
Also newly announced to be joining NT At Home are the National's recent David Oyelowo-led revival of Coriolanus, directed by Lyndsey Turner and set to stream beginning January 2, 2025; and Clint Dyer and Roy Williams' Death of England: The Plays, filmed live at @sohoplace.
NT At Home mostly presents filmed stage productions from the theatre's NTLive series, which broadcasts to movie theatres. Titles in the NT At Home collection can be rented individually, with streaming subscriptions also available. The service is available internationally.
Visit NTatHome.com.
