Bleecker Street Picks Up U.S. Rights To ‘Waitress: The Musical’ & Sets Nationwide Release Date

Diana Lodderhose

September 6, 2023 at 12:01 p.m.·2 min read

Bleecker Street has picked up U.S. rights to hit musical production Waitress: The Musical, from composer-lyricist Sara Bareilles and Jessie Nelson, following its premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in June. The distributor is teaming with Fathom Events for a December 7 nationwide release of the show, which was captured live onstage in 2021 during its long Broadway run.

Based on Adrienne Shelly’s 2007 indie feature, Waitress: The Musical stars Bareilles as Jenna Hunterson, a waitress and expert piemaker stuck in a small town and a loveless marriage. When a baking contest in a nearby county offers her a chance at escape, Jenna fights to reclaim a long-forgotten part of herself. Through the support of her fellow waitresses and an unexpected romance, Jenna begins to find the courage to take a long-abandoned dream off the shelf.

More from Deadline

The film was directed by Brett Sullivan, while Tony Award-winner Diane Paulus directs for the stage with Nelson as creative adviser. It also stars Eric Anderson, Charity Angél Dawson, Christopher Fitzgerald, Drew Gehling, Caitlin Houlahan, Dakin Matthews and Joe Tippett.

Michael Roiff, Barry and Fran Weissler, Bareilles, Nelson, and Paul Morphos serve as producers, with Alecia Parker as an executive producer.

The film opened to rave reviews following its Tribeca premiere with Deadline’s Damon Wise calling it a “heartfelt reimagining” of Shelley’s film.

Debuting in April 2016, Waitress was the first Broadway musical in history to have four women in the top creative team spots, with a book by Nelson, music and lyrics by Bareilles, choreography by Lorin Latarro and direction by Paulus. The design team features sets by Tony Award winner Scott Pask, costumes by Suttirat Anne Larlarb, lighting by Tony winner Ken Billington and sound by Tony nominee Jonathan Deans. Music supervision by Nadia DiGiallonardo.

Waitress was one of the longest-running shows in recent Broadway history, playing more than 1,500 performances at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. It returned for a limited engagement at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre to celebrate Broadway’s re-opening in the fall of 2021. Waitress was produced on Broadway by Barry and Fran Weissler and Norton and Elayne Herrick. Night & Day Pictures’ Roiff produced the original feature film.

The deal was negotiated by Kent Sanderson, Miranda King and Avy Eschenasy on behalf of Bleecker Street with FilmNation Entertainment. It marks the second partnership with Bleecker Street and Fathom Events following Guy Nattiv’s Golda, which was released on August 23 in advance of its wider theatrical release two days later.

Best of Deadline

Click here to read the full article.

HuffPost
Harvard Law Professor Delivers Chilling Prediction After Trump Immunity Ruling
Laurence Tribe explained what the Supreme Court decision means in "practical purposes" and it's "devastating."
USA TODAY Opinion
The Supreme Court just did Biden a huge favor by giving Trump immunity
Clearly President Biden had a bad debate night. But the Supreme Court gave him a possible way out.
CBC
Teen who killed sister and friend in a crash 'devastated' by her actions, judge hears
A teenager who crashed a BMW SUV while driving 190 km/h, causing the deaths of her sister and a friend, was sentenced Tuesday during an emotional hearing that saw many in the courtroom, including the judge and lawyers, struggle to contain their emotions. The girl, who was 16 years old at the time of the incident, will spend two years on probation under conditions that include community service. She is also prohibited from driving for five years. Court heard that four teens were in the car the ni
The Daily Beast
Five SCOTUS Justices’ Comments on Prez Immunity Come Back to Haunt Them
Collective amnesia seems to have struck the conservative majority on the Supreme Court, especially around the question: Is the president above the law?Five of the six conservative justices who ruled to give the president absolute immunity for “core” presidential duties seem to have made contradictory statements during their Senate confirmation hearings.“No man is above the law,” Neil Gorsuch told Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) during his confirmation hearing in 2017. Read more at The Daily Beast.Get
HuffPost
Reporter Reveals 'Real Anger' From Biden White House Aides After Debate
They were "shocked" and felt "they had not been told the truth," said Axios' Alex Thompson.
The Daily Beast
Opinion: Jill Biden’s ‘Vogue’ Cover Was Embarrassing But Ironic
Usually, a first lady looking radiant on the cover of Vogue is a PR coup for any presidential administration and a carefully-cultivated statement for a magazine that primarily covers fashion but also insists on its seriousness and depth.There have been some huge, unenforced errors in first lady features–profiling Asma al-Assad as a cosmopolitan “rose in the desert” as her dictator husband slaughtered thousands of Syrian civilians may have been the biggest–but generally, respected first lady + ta
Cosmopolitan
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck Are Selling “Prized Possessions” Amid Divorce Speculation
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are reportedly selling their prized possessions amid reports that divorce is imminent.
The Independent
Seven people - including four kids - shot by neighbor who once told them to ‘go back to where they came from’
Motive still being investigated, but shooting ‘could’ have racial element, police say
Yahoo Canada Style
Connor McDavid’s fiancée Lauren Kyle celebrates upcoming wedding at bridal shower: See their relationship timeline
The pair are set to tie the knot this summer.
People
Husband and Wife, 70 and 71, Die Together Through Euthanasia: 'There Is No Other Solution'
"I’ve lived my life, I don’t want pain anymore,” said Jan Faber before his death
Hello!
Princess Anne shares deep sadness in first public message since leaving hospital
Princess Anne has shared her first public message since leaving hospital where she received treatment for minor head injuries and concussion. Details...
The Hill
70 percent of voters have decided who they will back in November: Poll
More than 7 in 10 voters have already decided whom they will vote for in the November presidential election, according to a new poll. The Harvard CAPS/Harris poll released Monday showed 72 percent of respondents said they have already made up their minds, while 28 percent said they are still weighing their choices. That’s a…
Hello!
Emma Raducanu: Inside the tennis player's private life and split from billionaire boyfriend
Emma Raducanu is playing at Wimbledon! Discover more about the British tennis star's private life and her split from billionaire boyfriend, Carlo Agostinelli. Details...
People
Jamie Lee Curtis Marks 40 Years Since First Date with Husband Christopher Guest: 'Love Is Love'
"We married five months later and started to build our lives," the Oscar winner recalled in her caption on Instagram
BBC
Biker mum who stopped thief 'let down' by police
The taekwondo-trained mum wrestles a thief as he tries to steal her bike, but police do not arrive.
People
Kaley Cuoco Takes 15-Month-Old Daughter Matilda Swimming: ‘We Have a Water Baby’
The actress, who shares her daughter with 'Ozark' star Tom Pelphrey, declared it's 'time for swimming lessons' for her baby girl
Miami Herald
Writer said Taylor Swift isn’t a ‘good role model.’ See this tennis legend’s response
Op-ed appeared in Newsweek
The Daily Beast
Sotomayor Offers Terrifying List of Things Trump Could Do as President After Immunity Ruling
Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued a withering dissent to the Supreme Court’s presidential immunity ruling on Monday, writing that U.S. presidents will now be able to assassinate political rivals and accept bribes with impunity while they’re in office.That’s a dangerous precedent to set, Sotomayor wrote, especially as the increasingly unpredictable Donald Trump seeks a return to the White House. “The president of the United States is the most powerful person in the country, and possibly the world,”
People
Travis and Jason Kelce 'Don't Know Where to Start' When Eating British Food and Reveal Which Dish 'Creeps' Them Out
When Jason and Travis Kelce recorded a special epsiode of their 'New Heights' podcast in London, they tried a full English breakfast, afternoon tea and more delicacies
Business Insider
Russia missed probably its best opportunity to steamroll Ukraine, war analyst argues
War expert Mick Ryan says Russia failed to act decisively in the Ukraine war, missing a chance to strike a decisive blow.

Latest Stories