Caitlin Houlahan to Make Broadway Debut in Waitress, Starring Jessie Mueller

Caitlin Houlahan is set to make her Broadway debut when she replaces Jenna Ushkowitz as Dawn in Waitress on October 20. Ushkowitz stepped in for Kimiko Glenn over the summer while she took a temporary leave of absence, though there's still no word on when or if she will return to the Sara Bareilles musical. The Diane Paulus-helmed show, headlined by Tony winner Jessie Mueller, plays the Brooks Atkinson Theatre.

Houlahan will be seen in the final season of HBO’s Girls. She made her television debut in NBC’s Peter Pan Live! as Jane. Her stage credits include Bridges of Madison County, Parade, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Theory of Relativity and Carrie.

Waitress marks five-time Grammy nominee Bareilles' stage-writing debut. Based on the 2007 film by the late Adrienne Shelly and book by Jessie Nelson, the tuner follows Jenna (Mueller), a small town waitress stuck in a loveless marriage. As a nearby baking contest approaches (and a new doctor comes to town), she’s torn between her commitments and—thanks to her pie-making expertise—a chance at freedom.

The cast also includes Drew Gehling, Keala Settle, William Popp, Dakin Matthews, Eric Anderson, Christopher Fitzgerald, Thay Floyd, Molly Hager, Aisha Jackson, Ragan Pharris and Ryan Vasquez.