ACT OF CT BAKES A BEAUTIFUL RENDITION OF WAITRESS TO CLOSE 2024-25 SEASON
By Kiersten Bjork (May 31, 2025)
Waitress, currently playing at A Contemporary Theatre of Connecticut (ACT of CT) through June 22, is a beautiful, breathtaking rendition of the show that captures your heart from the very first notes. Featuring a talented set of principals and a strong ensemble, the team at ACT of CT delivers another powerful production to close out their 2024-25 season. With a book by Jessie Nelson and music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles, Waitress is based on the film of the same name by Adrienne Shelly. Orchestrations are by Bareilles and The Waitress Band, with music arrangement by Sony Music Publishing. The production is directed and choreographed by Sara Brians with Nicholas Connors as music director and Alex Hartman as associate director and choreographer. Brians and team infuse Waitress with tasteful choreography, elevating the story through movement. The direction is dynamic and drives the story forward successfully. Featuring Bareilles’ hit tunes such as “She Used to Be Mine,” “What Baking Can Do,” and “Bad Idea,” Waitress is an excellent production from start to finish.
Waitress follows Jenna, a waitress at a local diner as she faces the possibility of being pregnant with the child of her abusive husband, Earl. At her side are her supportive friends and coworkers, Dawn and Becky, who each are juggling their own love lives with varying states of success. Each day, Jenna serves up a new pie from scratch that ranges from the colorful and sweet “Mermaid Marshmallow Pie” to the darkly humorous “Betrayed By My Eggs Pie,” all the while struggling to make the difficult decision to leave Earl. Waitress explores themes of love, self-worth, family, and more, blending it all with a catchy score and witty dialogue to create a heartwarming, though heartwrenching, musical tale.
Waitress, currently playing at A Contemporary Theatre of Connecticut (ACT of CT) through June 22, is a beautiful, breathtaking rendition of the show that captures your heart from the very first notes. Featuring a talented set of principals and a strong ensemble, the team at ACT of CT delivers another powerful production to close out their 2024-25 season. With a book by Jessie Nelson and music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles, Waitress is based on the film of the same name by Adrienne Shelly. Orchestrations are by Bareilles and The Waitress Band, with music arrangement by Sony Music Publishing. The production is directed and choreographed by Sara Brians with Nicholas Connors as music director and Alex Hartman as associate director and choreographer. Brians and team infuse Waitress with tasteful choreography, elevating the story through movement. The direction is dynamic and drives the story forward successfully. Featuring Bareilles’ hit tunes such as “She Used to Be Mine,” “What Baking Can Do,” and “Bad Idea,” Waitress is an excellent production from start to finish.
Waitress follows Jenna, a waitress at a local diner as she faces the possibility of being pregnant with the child of her abusive husband, Earl. At her side are her supportive friends and coworkers, Dawn and Becky, who each are juggling their own love lives with varying states of success. Each day, Jenna serves up a new pie from scratch that ranges from the colorful and sweet “Mermaid Marshmallow Pie” to the darkly humorous “Betrayed By My Eggs Pie,” all the while struggling to make the difficult decision to leave Earl. Waitress explores themes of love, self-worth, family, and more, blending it all with a catchy score and witty dialogue to create a heartwarming, though heartwrenching, musical tale.
The company of Waitress at ACT of CT, 2025 (ACT of CT)
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The company of Waitress during tech rehearsals at ACT of CT (ACT of CT)
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Abigail Sparrow is wonderful as Jenna. She deftly handles Bareilles’ score, her voice incredibly well-suited to the role. Jenna dances the fine line between strength and fear, and Sparrow delivers a truly powerful performance throughout. Her “She Used to Be Mine” received lengthy, thunderous applause from the audience. The relationship between Sparrow and her fellow waitresses, Dawn (Shaylen Harger) and Becky (Amma Osei) is endearing, and the three of them share touching interactions and great chemistry each time they are together. Their harmonies and connection on “A Soft Place to Land” were beautiful. Harger is delightful as Dawn, bringing the fun, quirky character to life with a burst of energy. Her rendition of “When He Sees Me” had the entire audience smiling. Likewise, Osei is fantastic as Becky. Osei has a powerhouse voice that shines on “I Didn’t Plan It” and she commands the stage in each scene that she is in. I particularly enjoyed her interactions with Joseph Torello’s Cal, the cook at the diner, as the two performers really played up the humor in each moment. Torello is a riot, waving his spatula and issuing vague threats to fire the three women with little actual intent to do anything about it. He has the audience chuckling on numerous occasions.
Cody Jenkins knocks it out of the park as Earl. Earl is a character you love to hate, and Jenkins has built just that kind of presence with his portrayal as he storms through his scenes and manipulates Jenna. “You Will Still Be Mine” is a song that intentionally makes the audience uncomfortable, and Jenkins delivers in spades.
Dr. Pomatter, Jenna’s gynecologist who becomes her “Bad Idea” is played by John Alejandro Jeffords. In a cast of strong performances, Jeffords may be one of my favorites. He is charming and sweet, just the right amount of goofy on the surface while hiding the pain that Dr. Pomatter himself is experiencing. He has a great voice and succeeds in the comedic and serious moments of the track. As Nurse Norma, Dr. Pomatter’s right hand, Ariana Valdes is absolutely hilarious – her timing and delivery are perfect.
One of my favorite characters in Waitress is the crotchety regular, Joe. David Sitler steals the scene the moment he enters, grouching about this and that and demanding a very particular breakfast order be brought out. His “Take It From an Old Man” will bring a tear to your eye, and by the end of the show, you may have shed quite a few more.
Another standout performance comes from Wesley Slade as Ogie. Slade is incredibly animated every single moment that he is on stage. Each lyric, line, and movement is punctuated with a burst of energy, particularly his “Never Ever Getting Rid of Me” and “I Love You Like a Table.” Slade gives 1000% to each scene and will steal your heart as he aims to steal Dawn’s.
Rounding out the company are Tara Forseth, Kai Horvit, Lauren Marut, Val Moranto, Jason Ivan Rodriguez, Justin Waite, and Christopher Brian Williams, with Raúl Calderón and Liz Davis as swings. Forseth shines in her featured moments as Mother, and joining the ensemble at the end of the show is the adorable Maeve Marbury as Lulu.
Cody Jenkins knocks it out of the park as Earl. Earl is a character you love to hate, and Jenkins has built just that kind of presence with his portrayal as he storms through his scenes and manipulates Jenna. “You Will Still Be Mine” is a song that intentionally makes the audience uncomfortable, and Jenkins delivers in spades.
Dr. Pomatter, Jenna’s gynecologist who becomes her “Bad Idea” is played by John Alejandro Jeffords. In a cast of strong performances, Jeffords may be one of my favorites. He is charming and sweet, just the right amount of goofy on the surface while hiding the pain that Dr. Pomatter himself is experiencing. He has a great voice and succeeds in the comedic and serious moments of the track. As Nurse Norma, Dr. Pomatter’s right hand, Ariana Valdes is absolutely hilarious – her timing and delivery are perfect.
One of my favorite characters in Waitress is the crotchety regular, Joe. David Sitler steals the scene the moment he enters, grouching about this and that and demanding a very particular breakfast order be brought out. His “Take It From an Old Man” will bring a tear to your eye, and by the end of the show, you may have shed quite a few more.
Another standout performance comes from Wesley Slade as Ogie. Slade is incredibly animated every single moment that he is on stage. Each lyric, line, and movement is punctuated with a burst of energy, particularly his “Never Ever Getting Rid of Me” and “I Love You Like a Table.” Slade gives 1000% to each scene and will steal your heart as he aims to steal Dawn’s.
Rounding out the company are Tara Forseth, Kai Horvit, Lauren Marut, Val Moranto, Jason Ivan Rodriguez, Justin Waite, and Christopher Brian Williams, with Raúl Calderón and Liz Davis as swings. Forseth shines in her featured moments as Mother, and joining the ensemble at the end of the show is the adorable Maeve Marbury as Lulu.
Waitress plays through June 22 at ACT of CT
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The company of Waitress at ACT of CT, 2025 (ACT of CT)
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Scenic design by Kristen Martino immediately brings the audience into the diner from the moment you first enter the theatre. The kitchen, counter, tables, chairs, refrigerator case, and more outfit the stage with all the trappings of a cozy local diner, and performers set and strike pieces as needed to change locations as the story progresses. The diner quickly and smoothly can transform into Dr. Pomatter’s office or Jenna’s home as needed. A special shoutout to the props team that supplied the countless pieces and different ingredients used throughout the production.
Lighting designer Dalton Hamilton paints with light and color, crafting a beautiful look for the show. Spotlights and shadow are utilized nicely to highlight specific moments. Sound design by Shannon Slaton is very effective – the band and performers are well-balanced throughout. Costumes by designer Leslie Bernstein are right at home in the world of the show. My particular favorites were Dawn and Ogie’s period costumes. Likewise, wig, hair, and makeup design by Carissa Thorlakson is well done.
Waitress at ACT of CT is an impressive production that you won’t want to miss. While tickets are currently sold out, you can join a waiting list by calling the box office at (475) 215-5497.
Waitress plays May 29-June 22, 2025, at ACT of CT in Ridgefield, CT. Learn more and purchase tickets at actofct.org/waitress or by calling the Box Office at (475) 215-5497.
Kiersten Bjork is a professional theatremaker, performer, and reviewer (Connecticut Critics Circle) from Branford, CT.
Lighting designer Dalton Hamilton paints with light and color, crafting a beautiful look for the show. Spotlights and shadow are utilized nicely to highlight specific moments. Sound design by Shannon Slaton is very effective – the band and performers are well-balanced throughout. Costumes by designer Leslie Bernstein are right at home in the world of the show. My particular favorites were Dawn and Ogie’s period costumes. Likewise, wig, hair, and makeup design by Carissa Thorlakson is well done.
Waitress at ACT of CT is an impressive production that you won’t want to miss. While tickets are currently sold out, you can join a waiting list by calling the box office at (475) 215-5497.
Waitress plays May 29-June 22, 2025, at ACT of CT in Ridgefield, CT. Learn more and purchase tickets at actofct.org/waitress or by calling the Box Office at (475) 215-5497.
Kiersten Bjork is a professional theatremaker, performer, and reviewer (Connecticut Critics Circle) from Branford, CT.