'Waitress the Musical' serves up Sara Barielles score in Chicago debut
When the 2016 Broadway hit “Waitress the Musical” makes its local touring debut at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, the acting ensemble will feature a quartet of veteran and novice Chicago-area performers.
Windy City native Donterrio Johnson and former Oklahoma-to-Chicago transplant Sklyer Adams are in the “Waitress” ensemble, with both understudying leading roles. They're joined by 5-year-old Camyrn Cavaliero of Barrington and 4-year-old Liana Gurevich of Buffalo Grove, who were both locally cast in the walk-on role of Lulu for the Chicago run.
“It's a simple, yet complicated story of female empowerment,” Adams said. “It's very real and accessible.”
“Waitress” marks the Broadway composing debut of pop singer-songwriter Sara Barielles (“Love Song,” “Brave”), and both Adams and Johnson cite her score as a major part of the musical's success.
“She's approached it beautifully. Her music fits perfectly into the story,” said Johnson. “Sara was in rehearsals with us while we were in New York, and she's very hands-on with the show and very giving. She was willing to try new things for the tour.”
“Waitress” is based upon the hit 2007 film of the same name by the late actor/director/screenwriter Adrienne Shelly. It's about a small-town pie maker named Jenna, a role played on tour by Desi Oakley, but originated on Broadway by Tony Award-winning Evanston native Jessie Mueller.
When Jenna becomes pregnant by her abusive husband, she starts to make some questionable choices, including an affair with the town's new OB/GYN, Dr. Pomatter (Adams is actor Bryan Fenkart's main understudy in this role).
“Waitress” is the first national tour for Johnson, who performed for many years in Chicago storefront theater productions such as Mercury Theater's “Avenue Q” in 2014 and Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre's 2015 run of “Jesus Christ Superstar” (which won him a Jeff Award for playing Judas). In “Waitress,” Johnson understudies Broadway veteran Larry Marshall as Joe, the exacting diner owner.
“It's such a pleasure to understudy Larry because he's done so much,” Johnson said. “He was Simon in the movie version of 'Jesus Christ Superstar,' and growing up that was one of my favorite things to watch.”
Both Johnson and Adams are eager to be back in Chicago. But it's a bittersweet return for Adams, since it will be his first time back since the recent death of local director/choreographer Rachel Rockwell.
“She was one of the guiding forces to my entire career,” Adams said, adding that Rockwell convinced him to make Chicago his home right out of college in 2011.
Rockwell cast and directed Adams as Claude in “Hair” in 2012 at Aurora's Paramount Theatre and as Marius in “Les Misérables” in 2014 at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace.
“She took me under her wing and instilled in me that I was special,” Adams said. “For her to be taken from us way, way, way too early is just one of the biggest heartbreaks of my life so far. It's really hard to grasp that she's not going to be around with all of her guidance and insight.”
One of the ways that Adams draws from his experiences of working with Rockwell is through another one of his “Waitress” jobs as the show's dance captain. It's Adams' responsibility to maintain Lorin Latarro's choreography and to help integrate, or “put in,” any new ensemble members.
“(Rockwell's voice) is still ringing in my head. And hopefully I can carry a bit of that legacy whether it's onstage or off,” Adams said. “That's up to us - everyone who got to spend time with her and share her gift. If we all carry on a fraction of that, it won't be in vain.”
“Waitress the Musical”
<b>Location:</b> Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago, (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com
<b>Showtimes:</b> 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday (also July 8; no show Wednesday, July 4); 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Wednesday and Sunday; from July 3-22
<b>Tickets:</b> $27-$105