Florida Studio Theatre invites audiences to indulge in delicious small-town secrets, sweet friendships, and unexpected romances with Waitress, the heartwarming Broadway musical that received Tony and Olivier Award nominations for Best New Musical. Featuring music and lyrics by Grammy Award winner Sara Bareilles and book by Jessie Nelson, Waitress is directed and choreographed by Ben Liebert. The production opens on November 8, 2024, and runs through December 29, 2024, at FST’s Gompertz Theatre, with previews beginning November 6. Waitress tells the story of Jenna, a waitress stuck in a loveless marriage who also happens to be an expert pie maker. When a nearby baking contest offers her the chance to escape, Jenna seizes the opportunity to reclaim her long-forgotten self. Supported by her fellow waitresses and an unexpected romance, Jenna begins to find the courage to follow her dreams. The New York Times calls it “about liberation, empowerment, and pie – three things that are easy to wholeheartedly endorse,” while The Washington Post praises the show’s “disarming charm and a ton of heart” as it blends humor and heart in a way that’s both touching and uplifting. “Waitress is one of those great new shows with a catchy pop-folk score, lots of laughs, and characters you fall in love with,” says Liebert, FST resident Director. “Jenna, our titular waitress, see her dreams slipping away, her home life falling apart, and a baby entering her life. She inspires us to make the tough choices and find the resilience in ourselves to keep on going, all in a musical that goes down as smooth as a chocolate cream pie.”