Waitress

Sep 12–21, 2025

Jefferson Performing Arts Center
6400 Airline Dr, Metairie, LA

Tickets

Music by Sara Bareilles | Book by Jessie Nelson

Sara Bareilles' uplifting and inspiring musical celebrating friendship, motherhood, and the magic of a well-made pie.

Jenna, a waitress and expert pie maker, is stuck in a small town and a loveless marriage. Faced with an unexpected pregnancy, Jenna fears she may have to abandon the dream of opening her own pie shop…until a baking contest in a nearby county and the town's handsome new doctor offer her a tempting recipe for happiness. Supported by her quirky crew of fellow waitresses and loyal customers, Jenna summons the secret ingredient she's been missing all along — courage.

Content Warning

Waitress contains mature themes that may not be suitable for all audience members. The story addresses issues such as domestic and emotional abuse, infidelity, sexual situations and innuendo, discussion of unwanted pregnancy, and emotional manipulation. While these subjects are woven into the characters’ journeys with humor, music, and heartfelt storytelling, they may be triggering for some audience members.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text “START” to 88788. You can also visit thehotline.org for more resources. You are not alone.

Creative Team

Click headshot for bio

Leslie Castay

Director

Blake Coheley is currently the Director of Student Services and was the Chair of Dance and Musical Theatre at the prestigious New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) for 12 years. He started dancing at the age of three and has been in the studio ever since. He has toured internationally with The United States Air Force Tops in Blue, as well as toured nationally and internationally with Oliver, West Side Story, Gypsy, Fiddler on the Roof, Bye-Bye Birdie, 42 Street and Annie. He is an award winning director/choreographer of musical theatre, industrials, and National competition winners. He has directed and choreographed numerous plays and musicals like SideShow, Working, Floyd Collins, Anything Goes, Godspell, Nunsense, The Fantastiks, Steelpier, 110 in the Shade, A Chorus Line, Godspell, The Who’s Tommy, Singing in the Rain, Jane Eyre, Bat Boy, SWING, Secret Garden, Carnival, Next to Normal, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Aida, Heathers and Big Fish, Fun Home, All is Calm - The story of the Christmas Truce of 1914, Chicago and Noises Off. He was selected to create, direct and choreograph a new original show at a brand new venue (The Stage Door Canteen) at The National World War II Museum, entitled “Let Freedom Swing” and also the brand new multi sensory theatrical live experience portion of “Expressions of America''. He has had the opportunity to inspire many young dancers/singers/artists along the way. His passion is dance and performing arts, but his love is animals. Blake now serves as the President of Dance Teachers United, a premiere non-profit dance teacher organization that serves dance teachers and educators throughout the country. Blake has the honor of winning several awards for his work over the last several years including - best Choreography/Theatre and the best Choreography/Classical Arts in the same year by the Big Easy Entertainment Awards sponsored by GAMBIT. He was awarded Dance Teacher of the Year in 1998 and 2015. He serves as Executive Director for Anne Reinking’s “The Broadway Theatre Project” and continues to teach for their intensive training program. Blake was recently awarded the International NETWORK of Schools for the Advancement of Arts Education, Teacher of the Year. He is a multi-talented-award winning actor, director and choreographer who loves to demand excellence from his cast, his ensemble and his students.