What happened to Laura Benanti in Waitress?

[natashalost]

Posted: 12/16/18 at 11:23am

For awhile we were hearing Laura was doing the workshops for the show and then at some point, Jessie took over. Does anyone know why Laura was replaced? I can't even imagine her playing Jenna now--vocally it's just not her part. So did they just go in a different direction with the show? Was she just no longer interested in the show? I'd love to hear!

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 12/16/18 at 1:21pm

[theaterlyfe19]

Posted: 12/16/18 at 5:06pm

As a huge fan of Waitress...I don't know if I could picture this.

[BwayLover5]

Posted: 12/16/18 at 5:11pm

The photo is from when Laura and Heidi did The Most Happy Fella for Encores! in 2014. 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 12/16/18 at 5:36pm

BwayLover5 said: "Thephoto is from when Laura and Heidi did The Most Happy Fella forEncores! in 2014."

 

I think BrodyFosse knew that, and was making a joke

[PatrickDC]

Posted: 12/16/18 at 6:17pm

JBroadway said: "BwayLover5 said: "Thephoto is from when Laura and Heidi did The Most Happy Fella forEncores! in 2014."

I think BrodyFosse knew that, and was making a joke"

Could have also shown a pic of Laura's waitress turn in THE WEDDING SINGER. :) 

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 12/16/18 at 7:38pm

The show's book was originally supposed to be written by Paula Vogel. Yes, Indecent Paula Vogel, and I would kill to read that script sometime.

[natashalost]

Posted: 12/17/18 at 5:05pm

Alex Kulak2 said: "The show's book was originally supposed to be written by Paula Vogel. Yes,IndecentPaula Vogel, and I would kill to read that script sometime."

Did the change of Paula go hand in hand with the change of Benanti? Maybe Jessie Nelson had a different vision and Benanti didn’t fit that vision?