Casting is set for the Olney Theatre Center production of Sara Bareilles' Waitress, which will play the Roberts Mainstage February 13-March 30 in Maryland. Marcia Milgrom Dodge will direct and choreograph.

Malinda (formerly known as Malinda Kathleen Reese), winner of the 2020 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Performance in a Musical for her work as the Girl in the Olney staging of Once, will star as the pie-making Jenna. She will be joined by David Socolar as Dr. Pomatter, Allison Blackwell as Becky, Ashley D. Nguyen as Dawn, Sam C. Jones as Ogie, Ethan Watermeier as Cal, Greg Twomey as Earl, and Bobby Smith as Joe.

The ensemble will include Russell Rinker, Jessica Bennett, Wood Van Meter, Casey Martin Klein, Jay Frisby, Wynter Cook, Nadja Tomaszewski, and Nikki Kim with Lou Chubin and Iella Barr-O'Connor sharing the role of Lulu. Stellamaris Orellana and Dylan Toms are swings for the production.

Artistic Director Jason Loewith said in a statement, “I’ve been eagerly looking forward to mounting the DMV-region professional premiere of Sara Bareilles’ amazing musical. Reuniting director Marcia Milgrom Dodge with the amazing Malinda—the pair who elevated our production of Once to award-winning levels—gives this production a real opportunity to shine. Waitress is special to all of us: it’s yet another way we’re centering stories of strong women this season, sharing bonds of sisterhood in ways that inspire and delight.”

Adapted from the 2007 film and featuring a book by Jessie Nelson and a Tony-nominated score by Bareilles, Waitress was developed and premiered by Massachusetts' American Repertory Theater before debuting on Broadway in 2015, picking up four 2016 Tony nominations, including Best Musical. The work made a Broadway return at the Ethel Barrymore following the COVID-19 shutdown beginning September 2, 2021, sticking around through December 20.

The creative team for the upcoming production also includes music director Christopher Youstra, scenic designer Chen-Wei Liao, lighting designer Minjoo Kim, costume designer Sarah Cubbage, sound designer Matthew Rowe, wig designers J. Jared Janas and Cassie Williams, intimacy and fight choreographer Sierra Young, and dialect coach Lynn Watson. 

The production stage manager is Ben Walsh with assistant stage managers Becky Reed and Kate Kilbane.

Click here for ticket information.