Last night, the scent of possibility hung in the air like a warm piece of pie as supporters of A.C.T. of Connecticut gathered for a special Sneak Peek of WAITRESS, the final production of the 2024–2025 season. Served fresh and unvarnished, the evening offered more than a taste—it offered the heart of the story, plated with raw truth and grace.
When Artistic Director Daniel C. Levine chose WAITRESS, he wasn’t simply picking a show. He was issuing a love letter to resilience, an ode to the unspoken strength of women. “I felt strongly that a female-centered story should be included,” Levine said. “I try to think about my audiences and want to make sure there is something for everyone. The story of WAITRESS resonates strongly with so many people. The themes—resilience, self-discovery, friendship—they matter. They’re worth exploring.”
And explore them they will.
A Story Baked in Truth
At its core, WAITRESS is a bittersweet recipe of heartbreak and hope. Jenna, a gifted pie maker and diner waitress, is stuck—trapped in a toxic relationship and stifled dreams. But like the flour-dusted counters of the diner she works in, she’s also a blank slate—a surface waiting for the right ingredients to rise.
Abigail Sparrow, who stars as Jenna, spoke from the stage, visibly moved: “She’s so real. The characters in this show are written like people you know—like you. Like me. For me, it’s not about playing her—it’s about being her. This role… it changes you.”
And it’s meant to. The show doesn’t shy away from bruises, both literal and emotional. But neither does life. And that’s what makes WAITRESS sing—Sara Bareilles’ soulful score doesn’t sugar-coat; it lifts, it mourns, it rejoices. It lets us feel it all.
A Feminine Force
This isn’t just a musical—it’s a moment. WAITRESS made history as the first Broadway musical with an all-female creative team, and A.C.T. of CT honors that legacy not with imitation, but intention. Levine—who often directs the productions himself—stepped aside. “As much as I love this show, I didn’t feel it was appropriate for me to direct it,” he shared. “I wanted to honor how it was created—by women, with a female voice.”
Enter Sara Brians. Director. Choreographer. Storyteller. Soul-sculptor. “This show balances so much,” Brians said. “There’s violence. There’s humor. There’s pain. There’s joy. It’s like life—we experience all of it in a single day. WAITRESS lets those moments breathe. It honors them.” It is Jenna’s friends, co-workers, who lift her up, Brains says, “like guardian angels”.
The World Inside the Diner
There are no velvet ropes or polished silver here. The set—a teal-and-chrome 1950s-style diner—feels worn-in, loved, and lived in. The floor tiles are scuffed. The stools squeak. The coffee pot hums with the grind of everyday life. Sara Brians and her team deliberately designed the diner not to dazzle, but to cradle. “It envelopes the audience,” she explained. “Rounded walls, imperfect textures—it’s feminine. It’s real.”
Nothing here is perfect. Not the hair, not the aprons, not the lives being lived. And that’s the point. The waitress isn’t a fantasy—she’s the woman you saw this morning, carrying too much but smiling anyway.
Crafted With Care—and Speed
A.C.T. of CT isn’t just producing this show—they’re performing magic under pressure. With just under a month to rehearse, A.C.T. of CT builds Broadway-caliber productions from the ground up. “Where are we in the process right now?” Levine asked the audience last night. “We’re finishing up week three. Designers come tomorrow. Then it’s lights, costumes, microphones, sound. Tech starts. And then—just like that—we open.”
It’s a high-wire act they’ve mastered season after season. This time, with 19 actors (compared to the original Broadway’s 28), a staggering 350 props, and an immersive set design, A.C.T. leans into creativity and precision. Ensemble members serve as a kind of Greek chorus—moving between characters, and offering innovative, seamless transitions.
Nicholas Connors, Music Director, guides the Bareilles score with reverence and spark. Folk rock mingles with diner jukebox. The result? A sound that feels like a memory you’ve never had but somehow recognize.
Get Your Slice Before It’s Gone
WAITRESS runs from May 29 through June 22. It is the grand finale to A.C.T.’s seventh season—and it’s no ordinary closer. It’s a reminder. That art can heal. That stories can empower. That women’s voices, when amplified and unfiltered, can change the room.
This isn’t just theater. It’s nourishment. A hot slice of truth, served with a side of hope.
Don’t miss your moment to be part of it.
Tickets are on sale now: www.actofct.org/waitress
Your seat at the counter is waiting.