On Tour: Waitress

Everyone wants to know what’s inside — at the Fox Performing Arts Center.

Last week, I caught the second national tour of Waitress at the Fox Performing Arts Center in Riverside, California. I have loved the music of Waitress for a long time and pre-pandemic the stars had never quite aligned for me to see it. I’m so glad I finally had the chance to grab a ticket to the show.

Waitress tells the story of Jenna, a waitress and pie baker at Joe’s Pie Diner, who, to her own dismay, finds out she is pregnant after a drunken night with her abusive husband, Earl. She uses baking as a way to think through tough situations. Becky and Dawn, Jenna’s friends and coworkers, support and advise her through her pregnancy and suggest she leave her husband. Jenna soon finds herself entangled with Dr. Jim Pomatter, an OB-GYN who has recently moved to the area and taken over her gynecologist’s practice. Her appointments and developing relationship with Dr. Pomatter distract Jenna from the shortcomings in her relationship with Earl.

Meanwhile, Dawn, an anxious and socially awkward waitress at the diner, decides to give online dating, after being heavily advised by Jenna and Becky. After taking a chance, Dawn ends up meeting Ogie, and even though they have a rocky introduction, the pair find unlikely common ground. Becky, a strong advocate for Jenna to end things with Earl, keeps a few secrets of her own from the girls at the diner. By the time the baby comes, Jenna has a strong support system around her, and a hopeful outlook on life.

I thoroughly enjoyed this performance. From the moment the curtain rose on Jisel Soleil Ayon (Jenna), I was amazed by the strength in her voice. I felt like she played Jenna with just the right balance of grit and gentleness. Her “What Baking Can Do” and “She Used to Be Mine” were absolute showstopping numbers. It is clear she embodies the character, and though many women have played Jenna in productions around the world, it is easy to get a sense that Ayon brings her own take on the character.

David Socolar brings the lovable Dr. Pomatter to life with impeccable comedic timing and awkward stature. I wasn’t expecting to like Dr. Pomatter so much as a character, especially since his character is somewhat subdued through the cast recording. Though Dr. Pomatter doesn’t really have a solo number in the show, Socolar’s delivery of crisp comedic lines and harmonies with Ayon on stage created a memorable performance.

Dominique Kent’s Becky kept the audience rolling with her comedic timing and wowed with her powerful voice. Kent’s delivery was perfect, and I can’t wait to see what other roles she takes on in her career. I also loved Gabriella Marzetta’s Dawn, with all of her awkward and knobby nervousness. She grabs her moment in the spotlight in “When He Sees Me,” which happens to also be one of my favorite numbers in the show.

Something that really surprised me about the show was how much I loved the choreography. I always keep an eye on the choreography, and I definitely didn’t expect the show to be choreographed in the way that it was. The set design and the smooth, lusciousness of the writing call for the performers to move in a much more choreographed manner. It really feels like if a Sara Bareilles song came to life right before your eyes. I loved the attention to detail, and how the ensemble comes in and out, bringing Jenna ingredients when she was thinking of a pie, moving pieces around the diner, or even some of the movement just to change the scenery. I didn’t think of Waitress as a choreography-heavy show, but it really adds an extra touch to the movement on stage.

For a modern show, I was also impressed by the set design. I’m very used to shows in contemporary settings using a one-set setup with pieces moving in and out for scene changes, which is a style choice but is dependent on one set carrying the show. I was impressed with how Waitress was able to achieve almost a full set of a diner, a doctor’s office, and a house with ease. It was refreshing to see a show use some more traditional techniques of actual drops and set pieces that move in and out with automation.

I loved the show, and am so glad I got to see it. This cast is amazing, and you could tell every person on stage was giving 110%. If you’re still looking to catch Waitress, check out where they’re stopping near you!

Previews for Waitress began on March 25, 2016, at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, with the official opening on April 24, 2016. The production closed on January 5, 2020, after 33 previews and 1,544 regular performances. The show remounted in a limited engagement on September 2, 2021, at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, making it the first musical on Broadway to begin performances following the COVID-19 shutdown. Subsequent productions include first and second U.S. tours, Manila, London, Buenos Aires, Japan, Finland, and most recently a first UK/Ireland tour.