Sara Bareilles musical Waitress opened in Japan on March 9, 2021.
Since the theaters closed in March 2020, this is the first time that the musical Waitress returns on stage and it's time in Tokyo, Japan. And for the occasion, the musical has been translated and will be performed in Japanese.
Yet, this is not the show's international premiere. Waitress has already opened in the Philippines, the Netherlands, Buenos Aires ...
The rehearsal process was a bit special because of the virus. Some people were unable to make it to Tokyo and attended rehearsals from Zoom! This is what producer Barry Weissler explains:
“In cooking the first Japanese language production of Waitress, we were forced to move away from the original recipe. Each department had to dig through its cupboards to discover new ingredients that were unknown to exist.
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We are very grateful for the international efforts of this incredible team, scattered across the globe, navigating multiple time zones and technology platforms, and who, in the face of the unprecedented challenges of an ongoing global pandemic, managed to find the path. "
At the head of the Japanese cast, we find Mitsuki Takahata as Jenna, Mamoru Miyano as Dr. Pomatter, Emma Miyazawa as Dawn, and LiLiCo and Rinko Urashima alternately for the role of Becky.
The show will be in Tokyo until March 30 before touring Fukuoka, Osaka and Nagoya.
Waitress, What is that ?
Before Japan, the musical opened on Broadway in 2016. It was composer Sara Bareilles who adapted the 2007 film of the same name for the stage. Success on Broadway, the musical goes on tour before arriving in England.
Sadly, in London, the show unknowingly played its last performance on March 15, 2020, due to the virus.
Waitress follows the story of a young pastry chef who becomes pregnant by her abusive husband. Fortunately, she can count on these friends as well as on her gynecologist with whom she begins a frenzied relationship.
To know everything about the musical Waitress, it's this way.
Discover the first video clips of the show:
The next step would it be France? We hope !