Waitress

In This Program

• The Show
• Cast and Crew
• Musical Numbers
• Who’s Who
• Female Creatives on Broadway
• Print Edition
• More about The 5th

The 5th Avenue Theatre

Executive Director
BILL BERRY

In association with Theatre Under The Stars  
Presents

Book by

JESSIE NELSON

Music and Lyrics by

SARA BAREILLES

Based upon the motion picture written by Adrienne Shelly

Originally Produced on Broadway by
Barry and Fran Weissler
Norton and Elayne Herrick

David I. Berley   Independent Presenters Network   A.C Orange International   Peter May Michael Roiff   Ken Schur   Marisa Sechrest   Jam Theatricals 42.club/Square 1 Theatrics   Benjamin Simpson & Joseph Longthorn/Shira Friedman

Alecia Parker, Executive Producers

Featuring
KERSTIN ANDERSON    ROB BURGESS    KRISTIN BURCH    CARLY COREY    ALYZA DELPAN-MONLEY  ALLEN FITZPATRICK    TORI GRESHAM    NIK HAGEN   NALICA HENNINGS   KENNEDY KANAGAWA   MATTHEW KACERGIS   JORDAN KING   CHERISSE MARTINELLI   NICK MCCARTHY    TRINA MILLS    TAYLOR NIEMEYER-SYMONS   BRANDON O’NEILL   BERNADETTE RENGSTORF    SAYLA ROY    YUSEF SEEVERS   PORSCHA SHAW    ADAM STANDLEY   DANE STOKINGER    JASON WEITKAMP

Scenic Designer
JULIA HAYES WELCH

Costume Designer
DANIELLE NIEVES

Lighting Designer
ROBERT J. AGUILAR

Sound Designer
HALEY PARCHER

Hair/Wig & Makeup Designer
JASON GOLDSBERRY 

Associate Director
HATTIE CLAIRE ANDRES

Associate Music Director
BETH G. TANKERSLEY

Associate Choreographer
KATY TABB

Intimacy & Fight Director
FRANCESCA BETANCOURT

Associate Scenic Designer
BRANDON DAVID RIEL

Associate Lighting Designer
CASEY PRICE

Associate Sound Designer
KURT CONWAY

Associate Sound Designer
LIAM STECKLER

Costume Design Assistant
TY PYNE

Costume Design Assistant
JASON KRAMER

Casting Director
BRODRICK SANTEZE RYANS

Youth Casting Director
DEDRA D. WOODS

Additional Casting
CALLERI JENSEN DAVIS

Dialect Coach
ALYSSA KEENE

Senior Director of Production
JOAN TOGGENBURGER

Director of Production
RYAN GASTELUM

Technical Director
MATTHEW CARLETON

Costume, Wardrobe,
& Hair Director
SHANNIN STROM

Production Stage Manager
JR WELDEN

Music Director

MATTHEW ANTONIO PERRI

Director & Choreographer

LISA SHRIVER

Original motion picture produced by Michael Roiff/Night & Day Pictures

World premiere produced by the American Repertory Theater at Harvard University, August 2, 2015

Diane Paulus, Artistic Director and Diane Borger, Producer

Peter Duchan, Script Consultant for A.R.T. Production

Waitress is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
www.mtishows.com

Cast

(in order of appearance)

Jenna
KERSTIN ANDERSON

Cal
BRANDON O’NEILL

Dawn
TORI GRESHAM

Becky
PORSCHA SHAW

Joe
ALLEN FITZPATRICK

Earl
DANE STOKINGER

Nurse Norma
NALICA HENNINGS

Dr. Pomatter
ADAM STANDLEY

Ogie
KENNEDY KANAGAWA

Lulu
BERNADETTE RENGSTORF, SAYLA ROY

Ensemble
ALYZA DELPAN-MONLEY, NIK HAGEN, NALICA HENNINGS, CHERISSE MARTINELLI, NICK MCCARTHY, TAYLOR NIEMEYER-SYMONS, YUSEF SEEVERS, JASON WEITKAMP

UNDERSTUDIES

Understudies never substitute for listed players unless a specific announcement for the appearance is made at the time of the performance.

Jenna— TAYLOR NIEMEYER-SYMONS; Cal—YUSEF SEEVERS; Dawn—CARLY COREY; Becky—TRINA MILLS; Dr. Pomatter/Earl—MATTHEW KACERGIS; Ogie—NIK HAGEN; Joe—ROB BURGESS

SWINGS

KRISTIN BURCH, JORDAN KING

DANCE AND FIGHT CAPTAIN

ALYZA DELPAN-MONLEY

Stage Management

Production Stage Manager
JR WELDEN

Assistant Stage Manager
MELISSA Y. HAMASAKI

Assistant Stage Manager
ERIN B. ZATLOKA

Swing Stage Manager
JAMIE J. KRANZ

The actors and stage managers are members of Actors Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

Orchestra

Conductor/Keyboard 1
MATTHEW ANTONIO PERRI

Keyboard 2
BETH G. TANKERSLEY

Guitar 1
RL HEYER

Guitar 2
JUSTIN DAVIS

Bass
KELSEY MINES

Drums
TOBY BRUCE

Cello
GRANT OLSON

ADDITIONAL MUSIC STAFF

Keyboard Coordinator
MICHAEL MATLOCK

Music Assistant
KIMBERLY ROSENBERG

Rehearsal Drummer
TOBY BRUCE

Musical Numbers

ACT I

“What’s Inside”
Jenna, Company

“Opening Up”
Jenna, Becky, Dawn, Cal, Company

“The Negative”
Jenna, Becky, Dawn

“What Baking Can Do”
Jenna

“When He Sees Me”
Dawn, Company

“It Only Takes a Taste”
Dr. Pomatter, Jenna

“You Will Still Be Mine”
Earl, Jenna

“A Soft Place to Land”
Jenna, Becky, Dawn

“Never Ever Getting Rid of Me”
Ogie, Company

“Bad Idea”
Jenna, Dr. Pomatter, Company

ACT II

“I Didn’t Plan It”
Becky 

“Bad Idea (Reprise)”
Company

“You Matter to Me”
Dr. Pomatter, Jenna 

“I Love You Like a Table”
Ogie, Dawn, Company

“Take it From an Old Man”
Joe, Company

“She Used to Be Mine”
Jenna

“Everything Changes”
Jenna, Company

“Opening Up (Finale)”
Company

KERSTIN ANDERSON
she/her (Jenna) is thrilled to be back at The 5th! Broadway and National Tour: My Fair Lady (Eliza Doolittle), The Sound of Music (Maria). Other: A Little Night Music: in Concert (LCT), Cult of Love (Berkeley Rep.), Unknown Soldier (Arena Stage & Playwrights Horizon), Afterwords (The 5th), and Doubt (Westport Playhouse). She appears on albums Darling: Live in Concert, Future Demons, Her Sound, Tyrell, and Unknown Soldier. Endless love to EC, RSO, JG, BA, and "The Pie Baker.” @kerstanderson1

ROB BURGESS he/him (u/s Joe) Northwest born and bred, Rob is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Recent work: Primary Trust (Seattle Rep), The Lower Depths (Seagull Project/Intiman), The Little Mermaid (The 5th). Rob is married to Seattle-based costume designer, Melanie Taylor Burgess.

KRISTIN BURCH she/her (Swing) Incredibly grateful to be part of this gorgeous show! Select credits at The 5th: Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mamma Mia!, Rock of Ages, White Christmas. National Tour of The Little Mermaid (Andrina). International Tour of West Side Story (Anybodies). Endless love to her daughter Sienna, Mom & Dad, shout out to TJ’s #156 crew! @kristinburch

CARLY COREY (u/s Dawn) is grateful to return to The 5th, where she previously performed in A Chorus Line, The Little Mermaid, and Mary Poppins. Selected credits: Dusty in POTUS (ACT Contemporary Theatre), Grace in Cinderella (Village Theatre), and Clara in The Light in the Piazza (Showtunes). Love to G.

ALYZA DELPAN-MONLEY they/them (Ensemble) Since 2011, Alyza has been deeply immersed in Seattle’s performing art scene: serving as Velocity Dance Center’s Curating Artist in Residence in 2022 (That’s a HANDFUL!), performing site-specific durational performance with MALACARNE (How to Become a Partisan), collaborating with JRAT’s Zero Waste fashion design (CHANNEL CHANGER), devising choreographing and directing with Washington Ensemble Theatre (The Internet, Straight White Men, Dance Nation), ArtsWest (miku, and the gods.; Last World Octopus Wrestling Champion), and Noveltease (The Odyssey).

ALLEN FITZPATRICK (Joe) Allen’s 28 productions at The 5th include: Sweeney Todd (2005) -Award for Stellar Performance, Spamalot (Arthur), Hunchback; Candide. 10 Broadway shows include: Les Misérables, 42nd Street, Scarlet Pimpernel, Sweet Smell of Success. Workshops: Come From Away, and Something Rotten. Numerous shows at ACT Contemporary Theatre, Seattle Rep. Seven National Tours, including Max in Sunset Boulevard opposite Petula Clark. Shared an Emmy for Sondheim’s Passion. Bay Area Critics Award for A Little Night Music. allenfitzpatrick.weebly.com

TORI GRESHAM she/her (Dawn) has an extensive professional theatre resume that spans across the country and can be found on her website torigresham.com. She would rather list gratitude here than roles this time around. The Ruthfield’s for unwavering support. Four older sisters who shaped who she is. Mackenzie - who loves her more than she loves herself. Can Can family who helped her believe in herself again. Jeannie for not letting her give up on her dream. Mom and Dad for quite literally everything. And Tom for all the Hendricks on the rocks – with lime. (For Adrienne) 

NIK HAGEN he/him (Ensemble, u/s Ogie) Ecstatic to be back at The 5th! Hagen graduated from Whitman College and has performed in Mary Poppins, Sweeney Todd, West Side Story, Rock of Ages, and others at The 5th. Other credits: Camelot (Village Theatre), Two Gents (Seattle Shakespeare Company), Snowed In (Arts West). @nikhagen

NALICA HENNINGS she/her (Nurse Norma) select credits include Chorus in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess (Seattle Opera); Aquata/Ensemble in The Little Mermaid (The 5th Avenue Theatre); Lucille/Ensemble in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and Pilar in Legally Blonde: The Musical (Village Theatre). @nalica.performs

KENNEDY KANAGAWA he/him (Ogie) is thrilled to be making his debut at The 5th! Broadway: Into the Woods (Drama Desk & Clive Barnes nominations). Off-Broadway: Theatre Row, NYTW, 2nd Stage, BAM, York Theater Company. National Tour: Into the Woods. Recent regional credits: Frozen (Olney Theater Center), Rent (New London Barn Playhouse), The Little Mermaid (The Muny), Waitress (Ogunquit Playhouse), Tiananmen (Phoenix Theater Company), Eastbound (Village Theatre), Gold Mountain (Utah Shakes). Love to D. @thisiskennedy 

MATTHEW KACERGIS he/him (u/s Dr. Pomatter/Earl) Thrilled to be back at The 5th! Previously: Younger Brother in Ragtime, Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid (2016). Showtunes: Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard. Village Theatre: Tony in Billy Elliot, Marius in Les Misérables. Recently: Dr. Pomatter in Waitress at Skylight Music Theatre. Proud Equity Member. MatthewKacergis.com

JORDAN KING he/him (Swing) is buttered up with sweetness to join Waitress. Previously at The 5th: The Little Mermaid, White Christmas, Mary Poppins. Other credits include: Seattle Opera, Village Theatre. Proud UW alumnus. Jordan is also a dance educator and choreographer. For Mom! @thatjordanking / jordanbking.com

CHERISSE MARTINELLI (Ensemble) Debut at The 5th! She recently returned home to the Pacific Northwest after singing her way around the globe on luxury cruise ships. Select credits: Free Boy (The 5th Avenue Theatre’s Educational Touring Company), Legally Blonde and Beautiful (Village Theatre), Sister Act (Taproot Theatre). Psalms 30:11-12! 

NICK MCCARTHY he/him (Ensemble) is ecstatic to be swinging back to The 5th after last being seen as Northbrook in Mary Poppins. Additional credits include: Danny (The Magic Show), Alceste (School for Lies), and Frederic (Pirates of Penzance). Love to Em and M&D. @Nickcmccarthy

TRINA MILLS (u/s Becky) Born and raised in Seattle WA, Mills’ credits at The 5th include A Chorus Line (Sheila) and The Wiz (Glinda). Selected regional credits: Village Theatre: Legally Blonde (Paulette), Mamma Mia! (Tanya). Asolo Rep: Evita. The Muny: Jersey Boys and CHESS, Old Globe Cabaret, Kennedy Center Tommy.

TAYLOR NIEMEYER-SYMONS she/her (Ensemble, u/s Jenna) is elated to be back on The 5th Avenue Theatre stage! The 5th selected: The Music Man (Zaneeta), A Chorus Line (Bebe), The Little Mermaid, Kiss Me Kate, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, West Side Story (Ensemble). Endless love to Tim, Cedar and Winslow. @Taylorkaysymons.

BRANDON O’NEILL he/him (Cal) Previous appearances at The 5th: Something’s Afoot, Rock of Ages, Hunchback, Carousel, Pirates of Penzance. Broadway: Aladdin (Original Broadway Cast), A Bronx Tale (first replacement) Aladdin - Live from the West End (Upcoming Film Release). Select regional: Dracula, Oslo, Pride & Prejudice, A View from the Bridge, Assassins, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Beatrice and Benedict, Sondheim at the Pops, Voice of “Crow” in Bungie’s Destiny. brandon-oneill.com

BERNADETTE RENGSTORF she/her (Lulu) Debut at The 5th! As a first grader, Bernadette dances at Olympic Ballet School in Edmonds and sings with Seattle Children’s Chorus. She loves dancing, singing, making art, baking, cats, and her friends and family. She is so excited to be a part of this production!

SAYLA ROY she/her (Lulu) is thrilled to make her stage debut as Lulu in Waitress! At barely six years old, she has a deep passion for performing and has loved singing and dancing since she was little. She has gained experience through dance classes and as part of the musical theater competition team at Big Star Studios. This journey has been incredible, and she hopes the audience enjoys every moment of the show!

YUSEF SEEVERS he/they (Ensemble, u/s Cal) holds an MFA in Acting from Southern Methodist. Select credits: Blues for an Alabama Sky (Seattle Rep), Something’s Afoot (The 5th Avenue Theatre), Black Nativity (Intiman Theatre), Last Drive to Dodge (Taproot Theater), Sweeney Todd (2023) (The 5th Avenue Theatre), @blackbassclef/yusefseevers.com.

PORSCHA SHAW she/they (Becky) is a legally blind performer based in Seattle, known for her powerful vocals and heartfelt storytelling. Her credits include: The 5th Avenue Theatre’s Beauty and the Beast, Upstart Crow’s Richard III, Seattle Rep’s Four Women. Additional credits at The 5th: Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd, and Something’s Afoot. Porscha is passionate about creating meaningful connections on stage and continues to refine her craft through ongoing vocal and acting training.

ADAM STANDLEY he/him (Dr. Pomatter) came up in Austin, TX, but is now a South-Seattleite doing a lot of fishing and building houses with LCM Builders. Seattle Rep: Lydia and the Troll; ACT Contemporary Theatre: The Legend of Georgia McBride, Tribes (Gregory Award), Stupid F*cking Bird (Gregory Award Nom.), Mr. Burns; Intiman Theatre: Angels in America, part 1 & 2; The 5th: Ride the Cyclone, Something’s Afoot, How to Succeed... Love to Shanna, Penny, and The Bruce.

DANE STOKINGER (Earl) Previous appearances at The 5th Avenue Theatre: Rock of Ages (Lonny), Annie (Rooster), A Christmas Story (The Old Man), Spamalot (Sir Lancelot), The Little Mermaid (2016) (Chef Louis), and many more. Favorite regional: Guys & Dolls (Sky Masterson) at Village Theatre, Xanadu (Sonny) at Arizona Theatre Company, Pirates of Penzance (Samuel) at The Ordway, and The Wizard of Oz (Tin Man) at Seattle Children’s Theatre. Big thanks to Moore Fire Protection. Much love to Jess.

JASON WEITKAMP he/him (Ensemble) is overjoyed to return to The 5th Avenue Theatre after previous credits: Beauty and the Beast, Sweeney Todd, Little Mermaid, Something’s Afoot. Recent regional work: Village Theatre, Broadway at Music Circus, Ordway. Let’s make the world happier with some pie! Thanks for supporting live theater!

JESSIE NELSON (Book) wrote the musical Waitress with music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles. The show played on Broadway for 4 years and moved to the West End in London. Sara and Jessie went on to create the show Little Voice which they Executive Produced with JJ Abrams for Apple TV. Jessie wrote, directed and produced Corrina Corrina and I Am Sam starring Sean Penn, who received an Academy Award nomination for his performance. Among her other directing credits are Curb Your Enthusiasm and Love, the Coopers with Diane Keaton. Her writing credits include Step Mom and The Story of Us . She produced Fred Claus and Danny Collins. In London, Jessie directed Alice By Heart which she co-wrote with Steven Sater with music by Duncan Sheik at the National Theater Connections Program and again at MCC in NYC. She began her career as an actress at the Public Theater working with the award-winning experimental theater Mabou Mines and at the New York Shakespeare Festival. She wrote the children’s book Labracadabra. She has been the artistic Director of the Sundance Screen Writers Lab.

SARA BAREILLES (Music & Lyrics) Bareilles first achieved mainstream critical praise in 2007 with her widely successful hit “Love Song,” which reached No. 1 in 22 countries around the world from her debut album Little Voice. Since then, Sara has gone on to receive seven Grammy® nominations throughout her career, which include Song of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for “Love Song” and one Album of the Year for her highly acclaimed third studio album, The Blessed Unrest. Her book, Sounds Like Me: My Life (So Far) in Song, was released in the fall of 2015 by Simon & Schuster and is a New York Times best seller. Making her Broadway debut Sara composed the music and lyrics for Waitress, for which she received her first Tony® Award nomination for Best Score and a 2017 Grammy® Award nomination for Best Musical Theater Album. She also made her Broadway acting debut in 2017 by stepping into the lead role in Waitress. 2018 was a big year for Sara, she co-hosted the Tony Awards®, was nominated for an Emmy® and Grammy ® for her role in Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert and was awarded with the Songwriters Hall of Fame’s Hal David Starlight Award. Sara also teamed up with Apple as an executive producer for Little Voice a 10-episode series, for which she created the original music. What’s Inside: Songs from Waitress, her most recent solo studio album, is out on Epic Records. On April 5, 2019 Sara released her fifth full-length and first album of original material since 2013, entitled Amidst the Chaos. For this latest body of work, she joined forces in the studio with legendary Academy® Award-winning producer T Bone Burnett. As a result, the album spotlights her voice as a singer and storyteller like never before, while making an enduring statement.

LISA SHRIVER (Director/Choreographer) is thrilled to be back at The 5th! Broadway: Jesus Christ Superstar, The Farnsworth Invention, The Story of My Life, Ring of Fire. Selected Off-B’way/Regional: Into the Woods (Roundabout Theatre Co; The Old Globe; Menier Chocolate Factory); Rock of Ages (The 5th); Austen’ s Pride (The 5th, Carnegie Hall). Beautiful (Village Theatre). Film: A Beautiful Mind, Disney’s A Christmas Carol. TV: A Very Murray Christmas, Broad City, The Detour, Evil. Other: Phish’s New Year’s Eve Concert (Madison Square Garden), Disney Cruise Line, Busch Gardens. Upcoming: Austen’s Pride Pre-Broadway Tour, Disney’s newest ship, The Adventure, Melissa Errico at The Kennedy Center (The Doughboy Foundation). Thank you, Hattie Andres and Katy Tabb, for your collaboration and support. Thank you, Bill Berry and Joan Toggenburger for the invitation. Thank you, Max Grossman and UTA. Love to Brian and Viola. 

MATTHEW ANTONIO PERRI (Music Director) made his Carnegie Hall debut conducting the concert and live recording Austen’s Pride: Live at Carnegie Hall. Broadway credits: Bandstand, Come From Away; R&H’s Cinderella; How to Succeed in Business…(2011); Promises, Promises (2010); White Christmas; and The Drowsy Chaperone. Off-Broadway: Cagney. The 5th Avenue Theatre: Resident Music Supervisor (2018-2024), Sweeney Todd, Austen’s Pride, West Side Story. Television credits: The Sound of Music Live and Peter Pan Live, both on NBC; Late Night with Jimmy Fallon; The Late Show with David Letterman; and The View. Opera: Seattle Opera Creation Lab Series Music Director and Conductor for 2024 and 2025. In concert, he has served as music director and performed with Bette Midler, Kristin Chenoweth, Jessica Vosk, Kecia Lewis, and Mario Cantone. He lives in Poulsbo, WA with his wife Molly, son Elliot, and daughter Nola. matthewantonioperri.com / @matthewantonioperri 

JULIA HAYES WELCH she/her (Scenic Designer) is excited to continue her work at The 5th Avenue Theatre, where she previously designed The Last Five Years.  Her local credits include ACT Contemporary Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Intiman Theatre, Village Theatre, Seattle Public Theatre, Seattle Shakespeare, Book-It Repertory, Seattle Opera, Washington Ensemble Theatre, ArtsWest, and others. She is a recipient of the Gregory Award: People’s Choice for Outstanding Designer for her work during the 2017-2018 season.  She holds an MFA from the University of Washington and is a member of USA 829.  Much love to W, M & AJ. jhwelchdesigns.com

DANIELLE NIEVES she/her (Costume Designer) is honored to be back with the incredible artists at The 5th Avenue Theatre. Her work has been seen previously at The 5th (Spring Awakening, Sweeney Todd, Beauty and the Beast), The Old Globe, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Dallas Theater Center, South Coast Repertory Theatre, The Goodman Theatre, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, Writers Theatre, ACT Theatre, Intiman Theatre, Village Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, and Cleveland Playhouse. Off-Broadway: Pity in History, No End of Blame, Gertrude The Cry, and Lovesong of the Electric Bear for PTP/NYC at the Atlantic Stage 2. USA 829 member. www.daniellenieves.com

ROBERT J. AGUILAR he/him (Lighting Designer) Designs for The 5th Avenue Theatre include: Mary Poppins, Something’s Afoot, Sweeney Todd, Afterwords, Jasper..., How to Succeed…, The Pajama Game, Little Shop of Horrors, and Urinetown. Regional credits: Fat Ham, In the Heights, Indecent (Seattle Rep); Little Shop...(Pittsburgh Public); Angels in America (Intiman); The Curious Incident… (Portland Center Stage); R&J and The Wolves (ACT Theatre); Lizard Boy (TheatreWorks); Once on this Island, Beautiful, How to Break (Village Theatre); Full Gallop (The Old Globe); In the Heights (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park at Milwaukee Rep). Film: The Jinkx and Dela Holiday Special, Potato Dreams of America. robertjaguilar.com/@fake_robert.

HALEY PARCHER (Sound Designer) is a Seattle based sound designer who has been working with The 5th since 2018. Recent credits include: Broadway: Monty Python’s Spamalot, Regional: Something Rotten and Annie (Stratford Festival), Mary Poppins, White Christmas, Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, and The Wiz (The 5th), Schmigadoon, The 25th Annual…, NINE, Bye Bye Birdie, Tick Tick…Boom!, Sunset Boulevard, and Guys & Dolls (Kennedy Center), Cabaret (The Old Globe), Mamma Mia!, and Guys & Dolls (Village Theatre), How Can I Love You (Cave B) and We’ve Battled Monsters Before (ArtsWest). Love to her family. 

JASON GOLDSBERRY (Hair/Wig & Makeup Designer) This is Jason’s 10th season at The 5th Avenue Theatre. He started his time here as the Hair and Makeup Department Assistant, and is now running it! Pre-Seattle credits include Broadway/National tours: Evita (2012 Revival), Porgy and Bess, Memphis, Shrek the Musical, Spamalot, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Aida, Peter Pan. His designs have been seen around the world in professional opera and ballet, regional theatres, many printed publications as well as in film and television. He’d like to thank you for supporting the ARTS and especially The 5th…now sit back and escape into the world of Waitress!

HATTIE CLAIRE ANDRES she/her (Associate Director) Recent directing credits: Public Works’ The Tempest (Seattle Rep), Aloha, Say the Pretty Girls (Cornish College), Legally Blonde (Village Theatre KIDSTAGE), SpongeBob (South Carolina Children’s Theatre), and Into the Woods (The 5th’s Rising Star Project). Hattie has associate directed extensively at The 5th and Seattle Rep, and teaches across the region. As a director and producer, Hattie embraces works of ambitious scale and finds joy incubating new work.

BETH G. TANKERSLEY she/her (Associate Music Director) Previous credits at The 5th include: Mary Poppins (Associate Music Director/Keyboard 2), Something’s Afoot (Music Director/Conductor), White Christmas (Associate Music Director/Conductor), Sweeney Todd (Associate Music Director/Keyboard 1), Beauty and the Beast (Associate Music Director/Keyboard 1) and Austen’s Pride (Keyboard 1). Tour credits: Mean Girls first National Tour (Alternate Conductor/ Keyboard 1). Regional credits: Seattle Opera, Tacoma Opera, Pacific Northwest Opera, Juneau Lyric Opera, and the UW. Love and gratitude to Nick, Kevin, and Fuller.

KATY TABB she/her (Associate Choreographer) is overjoyed to return to The 5th! Past choreography at The 5th: Spring Awakening and Sweeney Todd. Other recent choreography: Legally Blonde, The Fantasticks, Mamma Mia!, Cinderella, Newsies, Singin’ In The Rain, Billy Elliot (Village Theatre); Waitress (co-choreographer with Lisa Shriver, Skylight Music Theatre), Come From Away (Theatre Aspen), Mamma Mia! (Great Lakes Center for the Arts). Thank you for supporting live theater!

BRANDON DAVID RIEL (Associate Scenic Designer) An actor and scenographer based in Seattle, Riel is delighted to be at The 5th. As a theatre artist, Riel has worked with Seattle Opera, Village Theatre, Taproot Theatre, ArtsWest, The Feast, Harlequin Productions and many more. Huge love and thanks to his community of family and friends that have and continue to support him through the slogs and joys of life in the arts. MFA: University of Washington School of Drama. Proverbs 16:9.

CASEY PRICE he/him (Associate Lighting Designer) A theatrical designer based in Seattle. Previous credits with The 5th include: Assistant Lighting Design for The Last Five Years and Cambodian Rock Band co-pros with ACT Contemporary Theatre. Other credits include lighting design for Hello, Dolly!; Clue the Musical, The Little Mermaid, On the Town, Spamalot (Arizona Broadway Theatre). Scenic Design for Dairy Of a Wimpy Kid (First Stage Milwaukee). And Seasonal Associate Lighting Designer at Village Theatre for the last four seasons. 

JASON KRAMER he/him (Costume Design Assistant) This is Jason’s first production at The 5th! Previous work: Next To Normal at Camelot Theatre/Talent, OR (Costume Designer), King John at Actors Theatre of Louisville (Associate Costume Designer), Twelfth Night at Oregon Shakespeare Festival (Costume Project Manager).

TY PYNE (Costume Design Assistant) Originally from Las Vegas, Ty Pyne is a Filipinx costume designer and Craftsperson in Seattle. They strive to support young QTBIPOC to see themselves in all aspects of storytelling. Ty seeks to work with material that highlights and honors diverse perspective.

KURT CONWAY he/him (Associate Sound Designer) Previous Seattle area credits include Legally Blonde, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Little Shop of Horrors, Songs for a New World (Village Theatre). He also designs shows for Norwegian Cruise Lines. Originally from the mountains of North Carolina, Kurt currently works for The 5th Avenue Theatre as well as freelances as a designer and mix engineer in Seattle and internationally.

LIAM STECKLER he/him (Associate Sound Designer) is a Seattle-based sound designer and engineer. Recent credits as an Associate Designer include: Tick, Tick… BOOM!, Spamalot, Sunset Boulevard (The Kennedy Center), White Christmas, The Wiz (The 5th Avenue Theatre). He has previously worked on productions with ArtsWest, Village Theatre, and Showtunes Theatre. Much love to his husband, Justan. liamsteckler.audio

FRANCESA BETANCOURT she/her (Intimacy & Fight Director) is an intimacy & fight director, actor, choreographer, and facilitator. She holds two BAs from Western Washington University in Theatre and Sociology and has trained in applied theatre at City University of New York. She has worked in theater, dance, and arts education in Ireland, India, the Philippines, New York, Florida, Wisconsin, Washington D.C., Maryland, and Washington. She is co-artistic producer of ART PARTY Residencies + Festivaland and a founding member of Pacific Northwest Theatrical Intimacy. Her work is based in trauma conscious social/emotional arts practice, agency, whimsy, and physical storytelling.

ALYSSA KEENE she/her (Dialect Coach) is thrilled to be back at The 5th where she coached Mary Poppins, Something’s Afoot, Sweeney Todd, Austen’s Pride, West Side Story, Ragtime, Paint Your Wagon, Wonderful Town, and others. She has also coached for Seattle Rep, ACT Contemporary Theatre, Village, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Pony World, WICA, Island Shakespeare Festival, Taproot Theatre, Intiman Theatre, Seattle Shakespeare Co, Book-It, Café Nordo, and Seattle Public.

JR WELDEN (Production Stage Manager) At The 5th: Mary Poppins, White Christmas, Sweeney Todd, Into The Woods, The Wiz, Choir Boy, Afterwords, West Side Story, Austen’s Pride, Rock of Ages, Hunchback, Kiss Me Kate, The Pajama Game. At ACT Contemporary Theatre: Mary Stuart, Eurydice, The Underpants, Miss Witherspoon and 16 years of A Christmas Carol. He also stage managed many productions at Seattle Rep, Intiman and Mark Taper Forum. He adopted his beautiful son, Travis, after becoming a licensed foster parent.

MELISSA Y. HAMASAKI she/her (Assistant Stage Manager) is pleased to join the cast and creative team for this production. Favorite credits at The 5th include: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Memphis. Training: Allen Lee Hughes Stage Management Fellow at Arena Stage, Washington, DC; Technical Apprentice, Santa Fe Opera, NM. 

ERIN B. ZATLOKA she/her (Assistant Stage Manager) is always grateful to be back at The 5th where she was last the Assistant Stage Manager on Mary Poppins. Some previous favorites: Ragtime, Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, and White Christmas. All the love to Greg and Zoey.

JAMIE J. KRANZ she/her (Swing Stage Manager) is excited to be back at the 5th! Credits include: White Christmas, Something’s Afoot, and Spring Awakening. Jamie has also worked with Seattle Opera, Seattle Rep, Seattle Children’s Theatre, ACT Contemporary Theatre and Village Theatre, as well as Guthrie Theater, Utah Shakespeare, and Everyman Theater." REMOVE: subsequent lines "Jamie is a proud member of Actors' Equity and AGMA. Love to NS. 

THEATRE UNDER THE STARS (TUTS) is Houston’s nonprofit home for world-class musical theatre. Founded in 1968, TUTS is committed to bringing artistry, education, and community together in spectacular fashion. With a history of Broadway-caliber productions, including the 1993 world premiere of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, TUTS has created memorable productions including Disney’s Frozen, Sweeney Todd, Mamma Mia!, and the lauded production of Oklahoma! utilizing more than 20 dancers from the Houston Ballet. TUTS also offers multiple training and educational programs through the Humphreys School of Musical Theatre training the beginner to the Broadway bound. Notable alumni include Chandra Wilson, Sadie Sink, and Mallory Bechtel. The River offers training in the performing and visual arts for students with disabilities and their siblings. Every year over 800 students participate in classes,  camps, and main stage productions. Follow us on social! @tutshouston and @tutseducation

ADDITIONAL STAFF

Production Assistants
Larcyn Burnett, Bayla Jaffe

Production Runner
Ty

Child Actor Guardian
Amy Jurkiewicz

Scenic Builders
Meghan Boyle, Joe Leporati, Peyton Talley

Electric Builders
Zanna King, Tim Wratten

Props Artisan
Inna Peck

The 5th Avenue Theatre is a member of the League of Residential Theatres (LORT), a nationwide association for not-for-profit theaters.

The actors and stage managers employed in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.

The Director / Choreographer are members of the STAGE DIRECTORS AND CHOREOGRAPHERS SOCIETY, a national theatrical labor union.

Backstage employees are represented by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (or IATSE) Local #15 and IATSE Local #488. Costume shop and Wardrobe staff and Child Actor Guardians are represented by IATSE Local #887. Hair and Makeup staff and scenic painters are represented by IATSE Local #488.

All the musicians playing in the orchestra for this performance are represented by the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada, Local 76-483, AFL-CIO.

The scenic, costume, lighting, and sound designers in LORT theaters are represented by United Scenic Artists local USA-829 of the IATSE.

The 5th Avenue Theatre is a member of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre. Founded in 1985, NAMT is a national service organization dedicated exclusively to musical theatre. Members, located throughout 34 states and abroad, are some of the leading producers of musical theatre in the world, and include theatres, presenting organizations, higher education programs, and individual producers.

The 2007 film Waitress was the brainchild of Adrienne Shelly, an independent film actor and director. Shelley wrote the screenplay for Waitress, directed and co-starred in it, co-costumed and co-set designed the film, and composed a song for the soundtrack. With such a strong female hand guiding the film’s production at every step of the process, it might seem like a foregone conclusion that a musical adaptation should be also helmed by female artists. However, Waitress made history when it opened on Broadway in 2016 with the first ever all-female creative team: Jessie Nelson (Book), Sara Bareilles (Music & Lyrics), Diane Paulus (Director), and Lorin Latarro (Choreographer). Here at The 5th Avenue Theatre, we are proud to carry on that tradition with an all-female directing and choreography team as well as several female designers.

All The Worlds A Pie

Have you ever wondered how much pie is needed for Waitress?
We sat down with Production Prop Head, Tristan Hansen, to talk about the process of creating pie props.

3 tech rehearsals
+ 2 orchestra dress rehearsals
+ 3 preview performances
+ 17 performances
x 3 slices of pie per night
= 75-81 pie slices total

To learn more about female creatives on Broadway and Waitress pies, Visit our website to read our full “Inside the Musical” Guide!

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