Pie. It’s basically the first thing you smell when you walk into the Brooks Atkinson Theatre—or at least it was back in 2016. They had these little convection ovens baking real cinnamon-heavy pies in the lobby just to get the scent into the vents. It’s a sensory memory that sticks with you. But as much as the smell of sugar and nutmeg defined the atmosphere, it was the Waitress musical original cast that actually gave the show its soul.
Honestly, casting a musical based on a beloved indie film is a massive gamble. You’re competing with Keri Russell’s quiet, luminous performance from the 2007 movie. If the chemistry between the leads is off, or if the "squad" of waitresses doesn't feel like a real work family, the whole thing just collapses into a pile of saccharine tropes. Luckily, the 2016 crew was lightning in a bottle.
The Power Trio: Jessie Mueller, Keala Settle, and Kimiko Glenn
The heart of the show isn't the romance. It’s the friendship between the three women working at Joe’s Diner.
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Jessie Mueller as Jenna Hunterson was a masterclass in restraint. Fresh off her Tony win for Beautiful, she brought this grounded, weary, but hopeful energy to a woman trapped in a localized hell. When she sang "She Used to Be Mine," you could hear a pin drop in that theater. She wasn't just singing notes; she was processing a decade of lost self-esteem in four minutes.
Then you had the backup. Keala Settle (before she became a global powerhouse in The Greatest Showman) played Becky. She brought a brassy, "don't mess with me" vibrato that cut through the air. And Kimiko Glenn, known to most as Soso from Orange Is the New Black, was the perfect neurotic, history-obsessed Dawn.
The way these three blended their voices during "The Negative" or "Soft Place to Land" felt organic. It didn't sound like "Broadway singing." It sounded like three tired women leaning on each other at the end of a double shift.
The Men of Joe's Diner
While the show is undeniably female-centric—boasting the first all-female creative team in Broadway history—the men in the original lineup were pivotal.
- Drew Gehling (Dr. Pomatter): He played the awkward, "sugar-butter-flour" loving gynecologist with a sort of frantic, endearing clumsiness. His chemistry with Mueller was palpable because it felt like two people who knew they were doing something wrong but couldn't help themselves.
- Christopher Fitzgerald (Ogie): Look, "Never Ever Getting Rid of Me" shouldn't work. On paper, it's a song about a stalker. But Fitzgerald’s physical comedy and manic energy turned it into the show-stopper of the night. He actually won a Drama Desk Award and got a Tony nod for this role for a reason.
- Nick Cordero (Earl): We have to talk about the late Nick Cordero. Playing Earl is a thankless job because the character is a black hole of charisma and kindness. Cordero played him with a simmering, quiet menace that made the stakes of Jenna’s escape feel terrifyingly real.
- Dakin Matthews (Joe): The crusty owner with a heart of gold. His performance of "Take It From an Old Man" provided the paternal warmth the show desperately needed.
Why the Original Cast Recording is the Gold Standard
If you listen to the cast album today, you’ll notice things that later replacements—as talented as they were—didn't quite capture. There’s a specific "pop-folk" texture to the voices that Sara Bareilles clearly wrote for.
Bareilles didn’t write "standard" theater music. She wrote songs that require a lot of vocal "breaks" and breathy transitions. Jessie Mueller’s voice was the perfect instrument for this. She has this way of flipping into her head voice that feels like a sigh.
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The Small Details Most People Miss:
In the track "Opening Up," the rhythmic clinking you hear isn't just percussion. The cast was actually trained by a baker to handle dough, crack eggs, and sift flour in time with the music. If you watch the filmed version or saw the original run, they aren't faking those movements. They are literally "baking" the rhythm of the show.
Where Are They Now? (The 2026 Update)
It’s been a decade since the show first started its journey at the American Repertory Theater before moving to New York. The legacy of that original group has spread everywhere.
Keala Settle is a legitimate movie star now. Kimiko Glenn has become one of the most prolific voice actors in the industry. Jessie Mueller continues to be the "actor's actor," taking on complex roles in everything from Carousel to The Minutes.
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Interestingly, the show is seeing a massive revival in 2026. A major UK and Ireland tour is currently making waves with Carrie Hope Fletcher taking on the mantle of Jenna. While it’s a new interpretation, you can still see the DNA of Mueller's original performance in the way the character is blocked and directed.
The Impact of the "All-Female" Creative Team
You sort of can't discuss the cast without the women who put them there. Diane Paulus (Director), Jessie Nelson (Book), Sara Bareilles (Music/Lyrics), and Lorin Latarro (Choreography) created a workspace that the actors frequently described as "egoless."
This mattered. In a story about domestic abuse and unplanned pregnancy, having that female perspective in the room allowed the cast to explore the "messy" parts of the characters without them becoming caricatures.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Theater Students
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the world of the original production, here’s how to actually experience it today:
- Watch the Pro-Shot: In 2023, a filmed version of the musical was released. While it features Sara Bareilles as Jenna (who is obviously incredible, she wrote the thing), much of the supporting cast, like Drew Gehling, Dakin Matthews, and Christopher Fitzgerald, reprised their original roles. It is the closest you will get to the 2016 magic.
- Analyze the Orchestrations: Listen to the original cast recording and pay attention to the "Waitress Band." They are on stage for the whole show. The interaction between the actors and the musicians (like the cello and the toy piano) is a huge part of why the original production felt so intimate.
- Study the "Lulu" Rotation: The role of Jenna’s daughter, Lulu, was played by a rotating cast of local toddlers in every city the show visited. In the original Broadway run, it was Claire and McKenna Keane. This tradition of using local kids kept the show feeling "fresh" and community-oriented.
The Waitress musical original cast didn't just perform a script; they built a community that turned a "little indie adaptation" into a Broadway staple that is still being performed globally in 2026. They proved that you don't need huge pyrotechnics or falling chandeliers to win over an audience. Sometimes, you just need some sugar, butter, flour, and a lot of heart.