Jeanna de Waal, Drew Gehling & More Tapped for Sara Bareilles' Waitress, Starring Jessie Mueller

Next stop Broadway? Jeanna de Waal, Drew Gehling, Dakin Matthews, Keala Settle and Joe Tippett will join the previously reported Tony winner Jessie Mueller in Waitress at American Repertory Theater. Directed by Diane Paulus, with music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles and book by Jessie Nelson, the world premiere is scheduled to begin performances on August 2. The production will play a limited engagement through September 20, with opening night set for August 19.

de Waal will play Dawn; her Broadway credits include Kinky Boots and American Idiot. Additional theater credits include Carrie off-Broadway and the national tour of Wicked. Gehling takes on the role of Dr. Pomatter. His Great White Way credits include Jersey Boys and On a Clear Day You Can See Forever. Matthews will play Joe; his Broadway credits include The Best Man, A Man for All Seasons and Henry IV. Settle is set to appear as Becky; Main Stem credits include Les Miserables, Hands on a Hardbody and Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Tippet will play Earl; he recently appeared in Airline Highway on the Great White Way.

Jenna (Mueller), a waitress and expert pie maker, is stuck in a small town and a loveless marriage. When a baking contest in a nearby county offers her a chance at escape, Jenna must weigh her commitments against a rare shot at freedom and recognition. Her customers, co-workers and the town’s handsome new doctor all offer her conflicting recipes for happiness—but Jenna must ultimately decide for herself.

Based on the 2007 film by Adrienne Shelly, the production will feature set design by Scott Pask, costumes by Suttirat Larlarb, lighting by Ken Posner and sound by Jonathan Deans.