Jennifer Nettles, a Grammy winner, will star in the Broadway production of Waitress

Jennifer Nettles, a Grammy winner, will star in the Broadway production of Waitress

Jennifer Nettles, a Grammy winner, will take over the main role of Jenna in Waitress on October 19, succeeding composer Sara Bareillies, who will leave the show on October 17. The Sugarland singer will assume the role for a short time till November 24. Due to prior commitments, Nettles will not be performing from November 1 to November 5. Waitress will run at the Barrymore Theatre until January 9, 2022, as previously scheduled.

When Nettles made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago, she vlogged for Broadway.com. In 2017, she performed in Mamma Mia! at the Hollywood Bowl. Nettles received the Lincoln Center Corporate Fund’s Artist Impact Award in 2019. She’s working on a musical about 17th-century poisoner Giulia Tofana and recently released the album Always Like New, which features showtunes.

Nettles will join a cast that includes Maiesha McQueen and Ashley Blanchet in the roles of Becky and Dawn, respectively. On October 3, Charity Angél Dawson and Caitlin Houlahan will make their final appearances in the roles, with McQueen and Blanchet taking over on October 5.

Waitress contains a script by Jessie Nelson, direction by Diane Paulus, choreography by Lorin Latarro, and music direction by Nadia DiGiallonardo, and is based on the late Adrienne Shelly’s 2007 film. The musical premiered on Broadway on April 24, 2016, and received four Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical. Before confirming its return engagement, it finished its run at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on January 5, 2020.