Touring Broadway’s ‘Waitress’ to make Penn State debut March 3 at Eisenhower

The Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State is thrilled to announce “Waitress” will play Eisenhower Auditorium for a limited, one-night engagement! The diner opens up starting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 3, 2022.

Purchase tickets, which are  $70 and $59 for an adult, $50 and $41 for a University Park student, and $53 and $42 for a person 18 and younger. Tickets are also available by phone at 814-863-0255 or in person at Eisenhower Auditorium from noon to 4 p.m. weekdays. A grant from the University Park Student Fee Board makes Penn State student prices possible.

Visit “Waitress” for more information. 

Meet Jenna, a waitress and expert pie-maker who dreams of a way out of her small town and rocky marriage. Pouring her heart into her pies, she crafts desserts that mirror her topsy-turvy life, such as “The Key (Lime) to Happiness Pie” and “Betrayed by My Eggs Pie.” When a baking contest in a nearby county — and a satisfying encounter with someone new — show Jenna a chance at a fresh start, she must find the courage to seize it. Change is on the menu, as long as Jenna can write her own perfectly personal recipe for happiness.

“Waitress” is recommended for ages 13 and older.

The production opened in 2016 at Brooks Atkinson Theatre. Based on the 2007 motion picture written by Adrienne Shelly, “Waitress” is the first Broadway musical in history to have four women in the four top creative team spots — with a book by Jessie Nelson, a score by Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles, choreography by Lorin Latarro and direction by Tony Award winner Diane Paulus. The “Waitress” tour features choreography recreated by Abbey O’Brien and tour direction recreated by Susanna Wolk. It also includes Scott Pask, scenic design; Suttirat Anne Larlarb, costume design; Ken Billington, lighting design; Jonathan Deans, sound design; wigs by Richard Mawbey; original music supervision by Nadia DiGiallonardo; and tour music supervision by Ryan Cantwell. Arrangements are by DiGiallonardo and Bareilles, and orchestrations by Sara Bareilles and The Waitress Band. “Waitress” is produced by NETworks Presentations LLC, with casting by Stewart/Whitley.

“‘Waitress’ is a little slice of heaven!” said Entertainment Weekly. “It’s an empowering musical of the highest order,” said the Chicago Tribune. Don't miss this uplifting and hilarious musical celebrating friendship, motherhood, and the magic of a well-made pie.

Watch a preview of “Waitress” on tour. 

Audio description, which is especially helpful to patrons with sight loss, is available for this performance at no extra charge to ticket holders. Reservations are required by Thursday, Feb. 17. Phone 814-238-0132 to reserve this service.

Designer’s Studio, Geisinger, Kish Bank, Northwest and The Village at Penn State sponsor the performance.