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American Repertory Theater’s ‘Waitress’ is bound for Broadway

From left: Composer Sara Bareilles, Jessie Mueller, who stars in “Waitress,” and director Diane Paulus.KAYANA SZYMCZAK FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE

The Cambridge-to-Broadway pipeline is still up and running.

"Waitress," American Repertory Theater's latest world-premiere musical, will open next April at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on Broadway. Though the details were announced Thursday by producers Barry and Fran Weissler, a Broadway move was widely expected — the ART even offered up tickets to the then-unannounced Broadway run at its fundraising gala in March.

Based on the 2007 film, "Waitress" marks the theatrical debut of singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles, who wrote the music and lyrics. Hollywood screenwriter Jessie Nelson ("I Am Sam") wrote the book, about a young waitress who has better success baking pies than picking husbands, and who weighs a potentially life-changing choice.

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This is the second New York City directing gig that ART artistic director Diane Paulus has booked for the season; "Invisible Thread," which played in Cambridge under the title "Witness Uganda" last year, will open there at Second City. "Waitress" also joins "Finding Neverland," the 2013 revival of "Pippin," and "The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess" as productions Paulus has directed at ART before steering them toward Broadway.

The casting for the Broadway run of "Waitress" is not yet known. Jessie Mueller, who won a 2014 Tony for "Beautiful," stars in the ART production that began performances this month and runs until Sept. 27.


Jeremy D. Goodwin can be reached at jeremy@jeremydgoodwin.com.