*This story has been edited to include a comment from Sara Bareilles.
The PBS premiere of the filmed live capture of the Sara Bareilles musical Waitress, originally scheduled for November 15 as part of the Great Performances series, has been canceled.
A PBS spokesperson confirmed to Playbill, "The production of Waitress: The Musical was removed from the PBS fall schedule due to unforeseen contractual circumstances."
Bareilles posted in a comment on Instagram: "Fear not babes! We ❤️ @pbs and things find their way! No worries."
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 shutdown.
The live stage capture of Waitress premiered at Tribeca Film Festival before getting a wide theatrical release in December 2023. It was then made available on demand online.
In the filmed musical, captured during the show's 2021 return, Bareilles stars as Jenna Hunterson and is joined by Waitress'
complete 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.
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 served as music supervisor with casting 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 was executive producer of the screen capture, with Michael Roiff, Barry and Fran Weissler, Bareilles, Nelson, and Paul Morphos serving as producers.
PBS' previously announced fall season will include programs with John Leguizamo, Cynthia Erivo, Kristin Chenoweth, and more.
