Skylight Music Theatre presents WAITRESS

Alex Merkel, Julia Levinson, and Raven Monique Dockery in WAITRESS with Skylight Music Theatre in Milwaukee, through October 27. Photo by Mark Frohna.

By Mary Boyle

​Though it may be hard to believe, Skylight Music Theatre is celebrating their 65th season in Milwaukee, which is a good long run for any theatre company – a testament to the people’s love of musicals and to the organization’s strong leadership over the years.  Lending to the appeal is certainly the gorgeous Cabot Theatre (Milwaukee’s best theatre venue, IMHO), located within the Broadway Theatre Center in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward.  Built in 1992, the Cabot is a recreation of an 18th Century French opera house and is a lovely and intimate space for musical productions.  To kick off the season, Skylight managed to snag the Midwest Premiere of WAITRESS, the four-time Tony Award nominated Broadway musical featuring music and lyrics by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles and book by Jessie Nelson.

I had never seen the 2007 film Waitress by Adrienne Shelly, and starring Keri Russell, that this musical is based on, but the storyline is the same.  Jenna (Julia Levinson) is a master at creating pies – a skill she learned from her mother when she was just a child.  Unfortunately, baking wasn’t the only thing Jenna inherited from her mother; both women found themselves stuck in an abusive relationship.  Working as a waitress and making her pies at a local diner with the cook, Cal (Andrew Varela) and her two coworkers, Becky (Raven Monique Dockery) and Dawn (Alex Merkel), doesn’t pay much, but what little Jenna makes goes to her controlling husband, Earl (Jared Brandt Hoover).  When Jenna learns she’s pregnant, she becomes desperate to find a way out of her marriage. Surprisingly, her ticket out comes from her most difficult customer, Joe (Robert A. Zimmerman), a surly elderly widow who also happens to be the owner of the diner.  A big fan of Jenna’s pies, Joe encourages Jenna to enter an upcoming pie contest offering a large sum of money as the prize.  While Jenna begins to stash away money to enter the contest and struggles with the idea of becoming a mother, she stumbles into another complicated relationship with her new doctor, Dr. Pomatter (Matthew Kacergis).

Directed by Trey Compton and Lisa Shriver, with music direction by Janna Ernst, WAITRESS is as sassy and sweet as Jenna’s pies, on the surface, but also contains a surprising amount of depth as you get through it.  Julia Levinson, who makes her Skylight debut as Julia, is more than up to the vocal challenge of Bareilles’ music and truly perfect for the role.  Skylight favorite Andrew Varela is nearly unrecognizable as Cal the cook and, lacking the types of vocally complex characters he normally plays, shows his acting skills are every bit as good as his voice.  Local actors and Skylight alumni Jared Brandt Hoover and Raven Monique Docker are both impressive in their roles as Earl and Becky, respectively, and Alex Merkel, who is a recent Marquette University graduate, is delightful as Dawn.  Also making a Skylight debut is Matthew Kacergis as Dr. Pommater, who is a lovely accompaniment to Levinson, and Brade Bradshaw, who is an absolutely hysterical scene-stealer as Dawn’s blind date, Ogie.

WAITRESS made Broadway history because the entire production team is made up of women.  The musical was popular enough that a filmed version of the 2021 show, starring Bareilles as Jenna, was released in 2023.  While the musical has some unnecessarily embarrassing love scenes that lean towards being crass, the overall message of love and kindness is one the world needs, right now.  Jenna finds it easy to love and care for people through her baking, but it turns out that loving ourselves is not as easy as pie – yet the results can be life changing for those who find the courage.  A strong and talented cast, combined with great set design by Jonathan Berg-Einhorn and costumes by Lisa Quinn, makes for an excellent opening production for Skylight’s 65th season; plus, a delightful little surprise awaits at the end of this feel-good show that may well be the cherry on the top.  Don’t miss it!
 
WAITRESS runs through October 27th at the Cabot Theatre, located within the the Broadway Theatre Center at 158 N. Broadway in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward. Tickets may be purchased by calling the box office at 414-291-7800 or by visiting www.skylightmusictheatre.org.
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Don’t miss Skylight’s amazing 2024-2025 season! Celebrate the Holidays with Oliver!  (November 15 – December 29, 2024), experience a Modern and Hilarious Take on a Classic Love Story with Juliet and Romeo  (January 17 – February 2, 2025), take in the Midwest Premiere of Frankenstein: The Musical  (February 21 – March 9, 2025), and be there for the Season Finale and Skylight Premiere of Sister Act  (April 4 – 27, 2025)!
 
About Skylight Music Theatre
Skylight Music Theatre is a professional theatre company that produces high-quality musical productions that entertain, educate, and inspire. We are committed to providing a platform for local talent and showcasing the best of Broadway and beyond. Founded in 1959, Skylight is Milwaukee’s professional Equity music theatre company and the state's largest employer of Wisconsin actors. Skylight produces the full range of music theatre, from blockbuster Broadway musicals to reimagined operas, and from exciting world premieres to contemporary off-Broadway hits. Skylight’s mainstage home is the Cabot Theatre in the Broadway Theatre Center, which was built by Skylight in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward in 1992. Considered to be one of Milwaukee’s most beautiful theatres, the Cabot Theatre is based on the design of an 18th-century French opera house. With just 350 seats it offers audiences great views of the action onstage and an undeniable connection with the performers. Skylight Music Theatre marks its 65th season in 2024-2025. Skylight Music Theatre is a proud Cornerstone Member of the United Performing Arts Fund.