Theater News

BREAKING: Chris Evans to Become First Male Jenna in Waitress on Broadway

Is this a pretty good bad idea or a pretty bad bad idea?

Chris Evans will star in Broadway's Waitress as "Jarrod," the first-ever male version of expert pie maker Jenna.
Chris Evans will star in Broadway's Waitress as "Jarrod," the production's first-ever male version of expert pie maker Jenna.
Waitress / Seth Walters)

Days after revealing his secret passion for musical theater, the Broadway production of Waitress has announced that Captain America star Chris Evans will return to the stage as the production's first-ever male Jenna, who, throughout Evans's run, will be renamed Jarrod. He will star opposite Annaleigh Ashford, who will take on the role of his illicit lover Dr. Pomatter (fortunately no one knows that character's first name anyway).

As Jarrod, Evans will reveal his own Captain America-like skills of agility and endurance, especially as he sings the iconic Sara Bareilles ballad "She Used to Be Mine" and dances gracefully with Richard Kline as Joe. The creative team is still deliberating about how to handle the aspect of the lead character's pregnancy. Obviously, this is an April Fools' Day joke, but really, isn't this a production you want to see?

But for real, a male Jenna is a nonsense thing to do, but Chris Evans would be a legitimately great choice for Dr. Pomatter.

Now for some actual facts #NotFakeNews:
— Broadway's Waitress does have some precedent for gender-bending, having welcomed June Squibb to the production as Josie, the female version of cranky diner owner Joe.
— Evans made his Broadway debut last season in Kenneth Lonergan's Lobby Hero (starring opposite Michael Cera, Bel Powley, and Brian Tyree Henry), so a Broadway return is well within the realm of imminent possibility.
— Evans really is dying to do a musical, having namechecked several specific classics in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter including Little Shop of Horrors, West Side Story, and Bye Bye Birdie. So Broadway…your move.

Featured In This Story

Waitress

Closed: January 5, 2020