Waitress: The Musical

'Waitress: The Musical' is an American musical film consisting of the live recording of the musical play 'Waitress', created by Sara Bareilles and Jessie Nelson, and in turn based on the 2007 film of the same name.

The film was shot in New York in the fall of 2021 during its limited return to Broadway after the Covid-19 pandemic, being the first musical to reopen its doors after the lockdown.

'Waitress: The Musical' stars Bareilles, who also produces the show and composed its original songs, along with Charity Angél Dawson, Caitlin Houlahan, Drew Gehling, Dakin Matthews, Eric Anderson, Joe Tippett, and Christopher Fitzgerald.

Diane Paulus directs the production, with Brett Sullivan and Jessie Nelson as the film directors for cinemas. It premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 12, 2023, and had a limited release in cinemas in the United States on December 7, 2023, distributed by Bleecker Street and Fathom Events.

Despite its limited release, 'Waitress: The Musical' exceeded box office expectations, breaking into the top 10 of the most-watched films in the week of its release. This led the distributor to extend its stay in commercial theaters, originally planned for only 5 nights, throughout the holiday season.